Oliver Sean (born Oliver Sean Alvares; 11 October 1979) is a singer-songwriter, based in Algarve, Portugal. His brand of music is known for its Americana influence with acoustic rock, world and contemporary undertones.
Born in Goa, India, Sean has lived most of his life abroad, including Dubai and the UK. His eclectic global music style is the trademark for his brand. It's attributed to his mixed Portuguese and Goan Lineage. Sean's discography with WOA International started in 1999 with his single "There She Is Again" at the age of 19, having recorded it three years earlier.
As a composer, record producer and filmmaker, Sean's productions have been broadcast on international channels including MTV and VH1 and he has had several No.1 chart listings, and major top 10 chart rankings worldwide. Some of the highlights of his recognition has been Nomination for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 and hitting the Billboard Top 10 charts across multiple genres, including the Billboard Blues Album Charts and World Singles Charts. Some of his breakout chart successes have been Billboard Top 10 at number 6 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Charts in 2019 with "Doing That (Time. Love. Happiness)" and #8 on the Billboard Top 10 Blues Album Charts with his album Devil is Back in August 2020. The singer songwriter also secured his first UK top 50 on the Official UK Album Download Charts Official Chart Company. In 2020 the artist made it into the Billboard Top 10 Artist charts and secured another Billboard Blues Album Chart hit with his 2021 lockdown album Garage Sessions, Vol.1,
He is a member of the Recording Academy and a voting member for the Grammy Awards.
Life and career
Early life
Oliver Sean grew up in Goa, India. His mother is Goan Portuguese and his father is American. He was born to a musically inclined family as all of his uncles were musicians. He started to write songs when he was 11 years old and had a band at school. At the age of 13, Sean turned into a professional and played for weddings in his uncle's band. Oliver Sean's career was launched in his teens. When he was 17, he formed his own band called Cloud 9.
Breakthrough years (1999-2004) Sean's breakthrough is traced back to 1999 when his discography with W.O.A. Entertainment began, featuring the single "There She Is Again". His debut album was I Like It. This album was nominated for 'International Album of the Year' by AVMax in 2003/04. Also, one of the key moments was in the UK, when a studio head secured him a spot on Showcase TV that was aired on Sky/Granada TV.
Musical career (2005-2010) In 2006, Sean was involved with writing music for the French Government for the tourism campaign of the Massif Region and official song for the Goa Floats at the India Republic Day Parade that won the top honors in 2006. In 2008, Sean came out with his second studio album called Darna Chod Do. The name of this album comes from Goan street slang.
So Good and All I Remember (2011-2012) Sean's third studio album So Good (2011) hit the Vh1 Top 10 for his single "Movies" from the album on 4 June 2011, Featured album spot at the Virgin Megastores in Dubai, a Vh1 Specials feature in India and the MTV Europe Music Awards 2012 nomination in the MTV EMA Best India/Worldwide Act category. Sean released an Americana single titled "All I Remember" in 2012. It was released in the US simultaneously announcing his first major US Tour. The music video for "All I Remember" was a featured video on Vh1 India's music channel and went on to hit the No.1 Spot on the Artist Aloud Charts (India Today Group). Sean made his debut in film music as a music director when he composed the Soundtrack for a popular Bollywood International film Cutting Chai released in 2012.
Christmas and Animal Welfare (2013-2015) Making a foray into holiday music Sean recorded his version of the Charles Brown hit "Please Come Home for Christmas" in 2013 followed by his Christmas EP Unplugged Christmas releasing shortly thereafter. In February 2015 Oliver Sean released a live and unplugged EP titled Bootleg Recordings Vol.1 dedicated towards animal welfare and followed that up with the Stripped Down Summer Tour across New York, Costa Rica and England.
Focus on world and film music (2016-2018) Going deeper into world and film music in 2017, Sean composed the title track to a Goan (Konkani) feature film titled Devachem Planning. The singer's 4th studio album Devil in Blue Jeans was released on 31 August 2017.