Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Producer
svictores@mail.usf.edu

South Florida Psychedelic Funk/Analog Dance Music

Throughout his life, Los Angeles based singer/guitarist Sebastian Rider, formerly known as “Blue House”, has experienced a truly unpredictable and unprecedented journey. From admiring Led Zeppelin’s guitarist Jimmy Page to performing for him, from attending Berklee College of Music to playing some of the most famed festivals in the world - Sebastian Rider has done all of these things. Now, with his solo career, he’s setting off on his biggest adventure yet - musically, spiritually, and personally.

Lead single “Purify My Soul” and his full album released on August 6th, 2021, signaled Sebastian’s intent. “I’m a more spiritual kind of person now, looking for self-awareness. A lot of my songs talk about purifying your soul and that kind of spiritual growth, and that theme repeats all over the album,” he says. The album has received great press and recognition by major media such as Billboard, Spotify, Classic Rock Magazine, Berklee College of Music, and was named among the best Top 20 Albums of 2021 by Blues Rock Review. 

This new level of maturity and insight doesn’t mean Sebastian’s music is overly serious, however: this is alternative blues rock with a lot of heart, soul, and swagger. Some songs have a more pop sensibility while others are funky - but regardless of the stylistic explorations, every song features his nimble blues-influenced guitar playing and impassioned vocals.

Sebastian Rider began his musical journey at an early age. A pivotal moment came when he was thirteen years old, when his musical horizons were greatly expanded after his Uncle Martin uploaded songs onto his iPod, giving him his first introduction to Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd. “I spent an entire week in awe listening to everything,” Sebastian says. “From then, I never looked back.” But he wasn’t content to simply listen to this type of music: he wanted to create it, too, so he soon learned to play the guitar. When he was seventeen years old, he started playing shows - and immediately knew this is what he needed to do with his life. “There was just something I felt when I started playing live - it just took me to a deeper level,” he says.

Moving to the U.S. when he was twenty years old (though he’d been visiting family in America his whole life), Sebastian Rider enrolled at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston - where he promptly made his mark by remaining to true to rock, instead of the school’s typical jazz focus. In 2013, he formed the hard rock band Stone Giant with like-minded classmates.

Sebastian Rider also stood out at Berklee thanks to legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. When Sebastian was nineteen years old, he visited England and first met Page through a personal connection. After seeing Led Zeppelin perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Sebastian was invited to Page’s home. “It was such a powerful experience. He saw me play. We had an amazing chat about everything,” Sebastian says. Years later, when Sebastian was finishing his studies at Berklee (with a major in songwriting), he invited Page to attend his graduation ceremony. Page accepted, and was in the audience as Sebastian Rider and his classmates performed their final concert. “I basically ended up music directing the whole section of the Led Zeppelin music that night,” Sebastian says. (As part of these graduation events, Berklee also awarded Page an Honorary Doctorate.)

Post-graduation, Sebastian Rider continued on with Stone Giant, releasing a self-titled album in 2015. It earned praise from publications such as Rolling Stone and Billboard, and within months of its release, the band were invited to play the iconic Lollapalooza festival in Chile and Argentina. More festivals followed, where they shared stages with the likes of Gorillaz and Tame Impala. “We were on fire all over the place, but especially in South America because of those festivals,” Sebastian says. The band also released a well-received EP, NASTY CREATURES, in 2018.

Many artists would stick with a situation that was leading to greater and great successes, but Sebastian left Stone Giant three years ago. “Maybe if I had continued on that path, today we would be this big rock and roll band - but you start realizing who you want to be,” Sebastian says of this decision. “People change. The group changes. The music changes. I've always been a bit more bluesy.” 

Beyond deciding to start a solo career, Sebastian Rider reinvented the rest of his life, as well, moving to Miami in 2018 and working as a concert promoter at a company he co-founded, as well as writing and producing other artists. He also founded a music production company, LoSweet Records with his associate producer David Molho (they co-produced the first Sebastian Rider album together). He currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. 

Even while doing other work within the industry, Sebastian never lost sight of his own musical vision: “I always had that fire, wanting to pursue that artistic life.” All the experience he’s gained working in other facets of the music business have served to help him make better decision for his own career. Now, he says, “I have more control over what I say, what I write, what I play. I already had that band experience where it's more of a democracy, and now I'm excited to take full control of it.”

And these are just the start of his plans: “I feel this new Blue House era is a rebirth with a fresh new purpose - while staying connected to the reasons why I dedicated my life to music,” he says. “I’m excited to be a good influence and express my values and vision through my lyrics and sound.”

On January 2022 Sebastian Rider made his move to Los Angeles, CA and has been having a strong impact in the scene by being invited to perform at famous venues as Whisky A Go Go, Viper Room, and NAMM. 

2023 brought great opportunities for Blue House like joining Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea on March 13-17, 2023 and also finishing production of his second album to be released in 2024. 

Given all the unexpected twists and turns his life has already taken, it will undoubtedly be interesting to watch - and hear - what Sebastian Rider does next.

Better jump on the bandwagon now, before you get yo' ass left in the dust.  Beast Nation gon' rule the world, baby.

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