Anson Seabra reminisces magical childhood memories and the influence of fairytales on his creative process.
Kansas City-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Anson Seabra grants us the idyllic escape we crave in his music. Like a warm embrace, he sings, “I guess Peter Pan was right / Growing up’s a waste of time / So I think I’ll fly away / Set a course for brighter days.” His latest single, ‘Peter Pan Was Right’, was the singer’s attempt at capturing the disillusionment of growing up.
“When we were kids, we were very in touch with who we were and the magic of the world around us. As we grow older, we come to the realisation that maybe the world is not what we thought it would be,” he opens up.
‘Peter Pan Was Right’ isn’t the first song of Anson Seabra to evoke imagery of fairy tales. In fact, those who spend hours on TikTok like me would be familiar with his debut single, ‘Welcome To Wonderland’ that gained momentum on the platform years after its initial release for its otherworldly whimsical lyrics and melody. A love letter to his imagination, the song represents a pure place in the singer’s heart and encapsulates a safe and magical wonderland to heal our inner child.
On writing songs that contain references to children’s literature, Anson shares that he is drawn to the magical quality of fairy tales and how they bring back the magical feeling in our childhood in a palpable manner. He adds, “they are very childlike and I think they are the closest that we can get to real magic in our lives.”
While his comforting voice reminds us of our youthful childhood and has us all yearning to go back in time, Anson also shares with us a personal memory that he wishes to relive. “I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house in Michigan when I was young. She had a farm and we always had a very good time whenever we went. I would play with my sister and my grandmother would set up scavenger hunts for us. We would also go for long walks in the woods, tractor rides in the field – it was just very ideal and beautiful,” he fondly recalls.
As a listener, I note that Anson seems to be the representative of the ‘sad boy’ genre with songs that allow those listening wallow in their sorrows. In response to that, he confesses that he is not one to marinate in their sadness. Rather, he uses songwriting as a coping mechanism. While he is no longer in that dark place anymore, he feels that his “suffering then is justified now because it is helping people retroactively.”
Beyond being just a ‘sad boy’, Anson hopes to be known as a kind person that tries to write good music. A testament and a step closer to this goal, the singer has been holding impromptu intimate meet-ups with his fans all over the world to connect with them face-to-face, the most recent one held in a park in The Netherlands. Who knows, Anson might do a quick stopover at Botanic Gardens during his probable Asia tour.
For those enthralled and looking to get into Anson Seabra, ‘Magazine’ and ‘Walked Through Hell’ are other standout tracks recommended by the singer. Through his music, Anson will be there whenever you need him.
Anson Seabra’s latest singles ‘Peter Pan Was Right’ and ‘One Day Less’ are now available on all streaming platforms.
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