Jan Seides
Band Story
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 one of the songs we had heard — completely from memory. She was thrilled, and her reaction encouraged me to learn another. That early spark lit something inside me.
When I was four, my parents bought a piano. It was intended for my older sister, who had just started taking lessons. But I wasn’t content to sit back and watch. After she finished practicing, I would sneak over to the piano and try to play her songs by ear. By the time I was four and a half, her teacher had taken notice — especially after discovering that I had perfect pitch. I could identify notes as naturally as others recognize colors, and that skill opened the door to formal training.
That gift turned into a practical skill during my teenage years. Back then, songwriters needed a written copy of their music to copyright their work. I began transcribing songs for local writers — listening closely, then notating every chord, every nuance. It was a crash course in songwriting, and I soaked it all in. This wasn't just technical practice; it was an education in structure, style, and storytelling, taught through the voices of others.
I took piano lessons for 14 years, and my passion led me to the University of Texas School of Music. There, I immersed myself in a world of sound — studying not just piano performance, but also music composition. The program exposed me to a diverse range of styles: folk, classical, jazz, pop, rock, and country. Each genre brought new challenges, new tools, and new ways to express emotion. I began to see music not just as a skill, but as a language — one that could bridge cultures, memories, and moods.
Earning my music degree wasn't the end of the journey; it was the beginning of a deeper exploration. Surrounded by a community of musicians, composers, and dreamers, I started to find my own voice. My early experiences — from singing around the dinner table to transcribing songs in my teens — had all led to this: a place where I could create, interpret, and push boundaries with sound.
Music has never been just a background noise in my life. It's been a companion, a teacher, and a calling. And even now, every time I sit at the piano, I remember the little kid who just couldn’t wait for her sister to finish practicing.
When I was four, my parents bought a piano. It was intended for my older sister, who had just started taking lessons. But I wasn’t content to sit back and watch. After she finished practicing, I would sneak over to the piano and try to play her songs by ear. By the time I was four and a half, her teacher had taken notice — especially after discovering that I had perfect pitch. I could identify notes as naturally as others recognize colors, and that skill opened the door to formal training.
That gift turned into a practical skill during my teenage years. Back then, songwriters needed a written copy of their music to copyright their work. I began transcribing songs for local writers — listening closely, then notating every chord, every nuance. It was a crash course in songwriting, and I soaked it all in. This wasn't just technical practice; it was an education in structure, style, and storytelling, taught through the voices of others.
I took piano lessons for 14 years, and my passion led me to the University of Texas School of Music. There, I immersed myself in a world of sound — studying not just piano performance, but also music composition. The program exposed me to a diverse range of styles: folk, classical, jazz, pop, rock, and country. Each genre brought new challenges, new tools, and new ways to express emotion. I began to see music not just as a skill, but as a language — one that could bridge cultures, memories, and moods.
Earning my music degree wasn't the end of the journey; it was the beginning of a deeper exploration. Surrounded by a community of musicians, composers, and dreamers, I started to find my own voice. My early experiences — from singing around the dinner table to transcribing songs in my teens — had all led to this: a place where I could create, interpret, and push boundaries with sound.
Music has never been just a background noise in my life. It's been a companion, a teacher, and a calling. And even now, every time I sit at the piano, I remember the little kid who just couldn’t wait for her sister to finish practicing.
Band Members
Jan Seides Vocals, Bradley Kopp – Producer and guitarist, Lloyd Maines – Renowned pedal steel guitarist, Glenn Fukunaga – Bassist, Paul Pearcy – Drummer, Jeffrey Barnes – Multi-instrumentalist
Jan Seides Vocals, Bradley Kopp – Producer and guitarist, Lloyd Maines – Renowned pedal steel guitarist, Glenn Fukunaga – Bassist, Paul Pearcy – Drummer, Jeffrey Barnes – Multi-instrumentalist
Location: AMERICA NORTH: USA: Texas (TX)
Genre: Folk-Rock