Sean Ardoin's infectious Zydeco - gets in ya soul and makes ya tap into exponential happiness.

Sean Ardoin and his band,  Eldrick Washington (Bass), Mitch Hayes (Drums), Trey Ardoin (Guitar), Sam Dickey (Guitar), Sean Ardoin II, (Scrubboard, 2nd lead and background vocals) and Zane Gipson (keys) play happy music, party music and good time music. Sean Ardoin talks of a bright future, a simple tagline that is MUSIC CULTURE SWAG = KREOLE ROCK AND SOUL and of the infectious Zydeco that gets in ya soul and gives you the opportunity to tap into exponential happiness.

Vizions of Rock:  How did the band come together and how long have you been together?

SEAN ARDOIN:   I have had the band with different instrumentalists for since 1999.  This particular combination has been for about a year.  I led a band with my little brother for 10 years and when we went our separate ways, I formed Sean Ardoin-n-Zydekool.  In 2017 I created my own genre, Kreole Rock and Soul and that has kinda become the name of the band as well. 

Vizions of Rock How would you describe your sound?

SEAN ARDOIN:  I’m glad you asked that question.  Kreole Rock and Soul! You will hear influences from all of my musical influences, funk, reggae, pop, gospel, rock, hip hop, rnb and of course zydeco… all passed through my Creole filter… that means you get to hear those influences through my Louisiana experience... it’s gonna be earthy, real, powerful, energetic, super musical, while being totally relatable and extremely spicy!

Vizions of Rock:  We have interviewed several bands that hail from Louisiana.  What is it in your opinion that makes Louisiana such a rich musical area?

SEAN ARDOIN:  We are rich in culture and experience and all of that comes out in our music.  We are a very friendly and social people, so this forced “coronacation” is really messin with our mojo! Lol… We hug and shake hands and like being in big crowds cuz we generally have big families and that welcoming vibe always translates into our writing and musicality but especially through our performance!! It’s always high energy. It always connects with the audience. It always brings them in, and they feel like they’ve been invited into our world, even when it’s in a crowd of thousands! lol

Vizions of Rock:  It seems to me that the Zydeco is ensconced in Louisiana culture and its proud history; how is the zydeco perceived around the world?

SEAN ARDOIN:  Zydeco is well received all over the world... so much so that there are zydeco bands all over the world! Japanese, Dutch, English, Welsh, Scottish, French, and German as well as zydeco bands in every major city in the US.  Every stage I’ve ever been on in other countries has been filled with people who love what I do… they usually have knowledge of the history of our music as well, which is really kool.  Zydeco is infectious and gets in ya soul and gives you the opportunity to tap into exponential happiness!

Vizions of Rock:  As a follow-up:  You represent both the rural roots and progressive future of Louisiana’s Creole-Zydeco sound.  Where do you see the Creole-Zydeco sound going in the future?

SEAN ARDOIN:  I want to be the one to take my version of our culture to the world.  I’ve been all over the world with Zydekool but now, I believe, this genre can cross over into that level of touring that’s large but not TV mainstream, like my friend Trombone Shorty does.  Sea of people every show and fans who happen to be famous frequenting the west and east coast shows… yeah I see it being huge! My next project will be the catalyst for the spread of Kreole Rock and Soul!

Vizions of Rock:  How does your song come together, where do you get your inspiration?

SEAN ARDOIN:  I am inspired in different ways, in different times. Sometimes, the melody will come and I build around that…sometimes it’ll be a beat or an accordion line… sometimes it’s a bass line... a LOT of the times for me it’s a bass line lol… or just chord changes.  I have no set way of recording, but I do know this, when the creative spirit is flowing?  You cannot stop... sometimes I’ll go with like 3 hours sleep for a few days while I create and finish songs. That’s what happened with Kreole Rock and Soul, the Grammy nominated cd?  I got about 20 to 30 hours of sleep a week for almost a month while recording it… I had to go until the creative juices were satisfied!

Vizions of Rock:  Is there a message that you are trying to communicate with your music?

SEAN ARDOIN:   I play life music.  I look at life and I write about different parts of life. One thing I can tell you is this, I don’t mind writing about a problem but I will always tell you how the story ended and I will always try and put a positive ending.  My music is happy music, party music, good time music.  I have serious songs and love songs as well but for the most part, my music is a reflection of a good life lived, the good, the bad, the ugly and the hilariously ironic and sometimes petty ;-) but life nonetheless

Vizions of Rock:  How did you get involved in the Creole hall of fame?

SEAN ARDOIN:  I created it! I did so because we have never been the ones to honor us, it’s always come from the outside and I didn’t want that to be the case for the Creole Culture. So, I got the 501C3 up and we’ve inducted two classes already with a third to come this year if we can figure out how to do with the “coronacation” going on.

Vizions of Rock:  Do have any advice for up and coming musicians who want to follow in your footstep, aside from “Stay in school” and “Don’t quit your day job”?

SEAN ARDOIN: My advice is count the cost.  If you want to be in this business, decide which part of the business you want to be in. Then write it down…be specific!  Do you want to be a top tier artist, famous on tv all the time, or someone who makes a REAL good living touring but most people don’t know your name… be specific.  Then, say condense that to a sentence or three and say your goal out loud in the morning and evening and then GET TO WORK making it happen!  My motto is SEE IT, SAY IT, GET TO WORK!  Nothing will happen if you don’t work and if you don’t write it down it’s just a dream and will more than likely, never become reality cuz dreams don’t come true without WORK!  Network, network, network ,and then network some more… and finally, since I can’t give you all the juice, lol, look like who you say you are.  If you’re a rock and roll singer, I should be able to tell that by looking at you. Live it till you LIVE it.

Vizions of Rock:  Who are your influences?

SEAN ARDOIN: Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, KISS, EAGLES, Take 6, Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, all the 80s groups… man I’m all over the place, cuz I listen to it all for real.. I’m really digging new country right now cuz it’s basically RNB with a twang, I love it!

Vizions of Rock:  Is there a tag line that describes SEAN ARDION?

SEAN ARDOIN:  MUSIC CULTURE SWAG = KREOLE ROCK AND SOUL

MY CATCH PHRASE IS “FROM THE BOTTOM OF DA BOOT , STRAIGHT TO THE TOP!”

Vizions of Rock:  What is on the horizon for the future? 

SEAN ARDOIN:  I’m focused on working with my manager Rueben Williams to get my career rolling so that when we come out of this “coronacation” I will be just gaining momentum to be able to shoot out of the gates flying and bring my music to every corner of the world with a vengeance! I see myself playing major festivals worldwide... getting back on TV and movies, me and my music. I see myself connecting with a few brands and becoming a brand partner with them…Adidas give me a holla!  Most of all, I see millions of fans “discovering” my music and loving it and me bringing them on a journey with Kreole Rock and Soul “…. from the bottom of Da Boot, Straight to the Top!”

Vizions of Rock:  How can we find you music?

SEAN ARDOIN: My music is everywhere you stream, buy, and see music…please check me out, Like my Spotify Artist profile Sean Ardoin and my Facebook fan page, @seanardoin , follow me on Instagram @seanardoin and subscribe to my YouTube channel Sean Ardoin Music