Sean Lakeman
Encyclopedia
Sean Lakeman is an English folk musician and producer.
, near Yelverton
, Devon
with his brothers, fellow folk musicians Seth Lakeman
and Sam Lakeman
. He began playing guitar at the age of six, playing with his parents and brothers.
was a guest singer for two tracks.
Kathryn Roberts
and Kate Rusby
asked the Lakeman Brothers to accompany them as a backing band for a tour of Portugal in September 1994. On their return to the UK the five agreed to form a permanent band and ’Equation’ was born. Shortly after Cara Dillon
replaced Kate Rusby in the summer of 1995, they signed a record deal with Blanco y Negro
(part of Warner Music Group
) and recorded an album at Peter Gabriel
's Realworld Studios in winter 1995-'96. The album, entitled Return to Me, was produced by David Bottrill
. There was a single release, "He Loves Me", with an accompanying promotional video. The band performed on MTV
and VH1
, but weeks before the release of the album the record label shelved it. It was not released in 1996, but in 2003 it saw a release under Rough Trade
after Geoff Travis
(the band's former manager) bought its rights. The band toured throughout the UK, Europe and completed 10 tours in the USA. The line-up would change over the years but Sean and Kathryn were constants as the Equation went on to produce four albums: Return To Me (recorded 1996, released 2003), Hazy Daze (1998), The Lucky Few (1999), First Name Terms (2004), and The Dark Ages EP (2001).
Alongside this, Sean has toured and recorded two albums with Kathryn Roberts
: 1 recorded in 2001 and 2 recorded in 2003, as well as continuing to tour with his brother Seth in his backing band.
Sean has forged a reputation as an astute record producer. He produced and recorded the first four albums for his brother Seth, including Freedom Fields, which went gold in the UK, and Kitty Jay, and Poor Man's Heaven which were both certified Silver in the UK. His production credits also include albums for The Levellers, Show of Hands and Rev Hammer.
, and they have twin daughters, Poppy and Lily, born 1 July 2007.
Early life
He was brought up in the village of Buckland MonachorumBuckland Monachorum
Buckland Monachorum is a village and civil parish in the West Devon district of Devon, England, situated on the River Tavy, about 10 miles north of Plymouth.In 2006 the neighbourhood had an estimated 1,511 residents and 654 dwellings....
, near Yelverton
Yelverton
Yelverton may be:Places* Yelverton, Devon, England* Yelverton, Norfolk, England* Yelverton Pass, a pass on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, CanadaOther* the Yelverton case, a nineteenth century Irish law case* Henry Edward Yelverton, 19th Baron Grey de Ruthyn...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
with his brothers, fellow folk musicians Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman
Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...
and Sam Lakeman
Sam Lakeman
Samuel Charles Lakeman is an English musician, songwriter, and producer and co-owner of Charcoal Records.-Biography:He was brought up in the village of Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton, Devon, with his brothers, fellow musicians Seth Lakeman and Sean Lakeman...
. He began playing guitar at the age of six, playing with his parents and brothers.
Career
In his early career he partnerered Tom McConville on the UK folk club circuit, and from the early 1990s, played as part of the ’Lakeman Brothers’, with brothers Seth on violin and Sam on piano. The trio wrote and produced the album Three Piece Suite’' (1994), upon which Kathryn RobertsKathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts is an English folk singer, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Her first released recordings were on the album Intuition, a collection of songs by various South Yorkshire folk artists which also included her friend Kate Rusby...
was a guest singer for two tracks.
Kathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts is an English folk singer, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Her first released recordings were on the album Intuition, a collection of songs by various South Yorkshire folk artists which also included her friend Kate Rusby...
and Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
asked the Lakeman Brothers to accompany them as a backing band for a tour of Portugal in September 1994. On their return to the UK the five agreed to form a permanent band and ’Equation’ was born. Shortly after Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon is an Irish folk singer. In 2001, she launched her career as a solo artist in the UK with the eponymous Cara Dillon album...
replaced Kate Rusby in the summer of 1995, they signed a record deal with Blanco y Negro
Blanco y Negro
Blanco y Negro can refer to* Blanco y Negro in Spain.* Blanco y Negro Music, a record label in Spain.* Blanco y Negro Records, a record label in the U.K....
(part of Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
) and recorded an album at Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's Realworld Studios in winter 1995-'96. The album, entitled Return to Me, was produced by David Bottrill
David Bottrill
David Bottrill is a Canadian record producer. He has won three Grammys. Currently, he owns Rattlebox Studios in Toronto, Ontario with producer Brian Moncarz...
. There was a single release, "He Loves Me", with an accompanying promotional video. The band performed on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, but weeks before the release of the album the record label shelved it. It was not released in 1996, but in 2003 it saw a release under Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
after Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis is the founder of both Rough Trade Records and the Rough Trade chain of record shops. A former drama teacher and owner of a punk record shop, Travis founded the Rough Trade label in 1978.-Biography:...
(the band's former manager) bought its rights. The band toured throughout the UK, Europe and completed 10 tours in the USA. The line-up would change over the years but Sean and Kathryn were constants as the Equation went on to produce four albums: Return To Me (recorded 1996, released 2003), Hazy Daze (1998), The Lucky Few (1999), First Name Terms (2004), and The Dark Ages EP (2001).
Alongside this, Sean has toured and recorded two albums with Kathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts is an English folk singer, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Her first released recordings were on the album Intuition, a collection of songs by various South Yorkshire folk artists which also included her friend Kate Rusby...
: 1 recorded in 2001 and 2 recorded in 2003, as well as continuing to tour with his brother Seth in his backing band.
Sean has forged a reputation as an astute record producer. He produced and recorded the first four albums for his brother Seth, including Freedom Fields, which went gold in the UK, and Kitty Jay, and Poor Man's Heaven which were both certified Silver in the UK. His production credits also include albums for The Levellers, Show of Hands and Rev Hammer.
Personal life
Sean lives with Kathryn RobertsKathryn Roberts
Kathryn Roberts is an English folk singer, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Her first released recordings were on the album Intuition, a collection of songs by various South Yorkshire folk artists which also included her friend Kate Rusby...
, and they have twin daughters, Poppy and Lily, born 1 July 2007.