Jan Seides

An audience member can expect a high-quality performance of both original music and covers played artistically and with a high degree of craftsmanship. The show is family/work friendly, and the volume level appropriate to the purpose of the performance. The client can expect professionalism and a sensitivity to what their audience members expect from the performance.

A QUICK NOTE:

People often get the pronunciation of my last name wrong. It doesn’t really bother me, but just so you know it is pronounced ‘Sigh-deez‘.

My Love For Music

I first felt the pull of music when I was three. My mother would always turn on the radio while we ate dinner, and one day I surprised her by singing to her by heart one of the songs we had heard. She was pretty excited about that, so I immediately learned another.

When I was four, my parents bought a piano, but it was my older sister that was supposed to get the lessons. Well! I wasn’t having any of that! So I would go to the piano after she was done practicing and pick out and play her songs.

By the time I was four and a half, her teacher was convinced I needed lessons too — especially when it turned out I had “perfect pitch” (I can tell which note it is in the same way that most people can identify colors) I took piano lessons for 14 years and then studied piano and composition, exploring folk, classical, jazz, pop, rock and country at the University of Texas School of Music, where I graciously accepted my musical degree.

Hitting The Road

When I was old enough to leave home, I learned to play the guitar too, mainly because they’re portable, and moved to New York City, and then to Austin, Texas.

I fell in love with traveling, and out of that began touring with my music. Really, I haven’t yet decided which is in the service of the other.

I’ve left footprints in almost every state in the U.S. by now, played in many unique and rewarding venues, and had a great time. The first time I crossed the Atlantic, I found out that venue owners and audiences in Europe and the UK are very receptive to original music. Most of the time, really, all I had to do was ask.

I’ve played in some wonderful listening rooms, and met a lot of very friendly, music-loving people.

Euphoric

I understand that many people don’t get the chance to do what they most desire in their lives. More often than not, people simply work in any job just to pay the bills. I am fortunate in that I live my life involved in my most desired thing in the world – music.
I have a teaching studio, which allows me to pass on my passion and abilities to others who also share the same love for music and I have a great following, which allows me to play my music to audiences all around the world.
Seen The World

I have played gigs (to name a few) in
Texas
Kentucky
Illinois
Ohio
Tennessee
and various places in the UK
Ireland
Liverpool
Wales
Warwickshire
I have enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to play at some amazing venues, including

The Bitter End, New York City
Googie’s (upstairs at the Living Room), New York City
The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville TN
The Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Santa Fe NM
Artz Rib House in Austin, TX
Chicago House in Austin, TX
Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN
Cafe Stella Blue in Melbourne, FL
The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, CA
Genghis Cohen, Los Angeles, CA

I Think They Like Me

I have enjoyed receiving many major awards in regional to national song writing competitions, such as:

The Great American Song Contest
Mountain Stage NewSong Contest
Kerrville New Folk (regional NewFolk winner)
Metro Detroit Song writing Contest
Mid-Atlantic Song Contest
KRCL Founders Festival Song writing competition in Utah.

I was a Judge’s Award winner at Mountain Valley Arts Council Festival Song writing Competition, and most recently was awarded First Prize at both the Dallas Songwriters Association Competition and the Austin Songwriters Group Competition. My nomination for the prestigious B. IDEN PAYNE award for Outstanding Musical Director for Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah didn’t bring me an award, but it felt good to be nominated anyway.

My First Album – Slowly But Surely - In 1992 I released my very first solo album. Adventures in love and other unpredictable situations in rock, country, folk and pop settings

Second Album – Everyday People - Stories told to me by friends and strangers, accompanied by some of the best musicians in Austin, Texas

Third Album – Family Album - Then in March of 2007 I released my third CD, Family Album: Family dynamics set in a simple and loving environment.

Latest Album - Siren Song - Songs that sailed majestically into darkened bedrooms, on sunlit streets, or on airplanes. Or else arrived with the urgency of a fire engine. Accompanied by some of Austin's finest musicians.

Nothing comes to mind. If anything comes up, we can work it out on a case-by-case basis