While working on his undergrad degree, 2010 Notre Dame graduate Jacob Seyer released his EP of solo guitar music, “A Change In Season,” in 2013. Showing success locally, he knew it was something he wanted to turn into a full album someday. Five years later, he has just released his second album, has finished his Masters in classical guitar performance, and is enjoying life as a professional musician.

 

Much of the content for Seyer’s new album developed from a series of events, which occurred shortly before and after completing his Bachelor’s at Southeast Missouri State University in 2014. Following graduation, he took a year off, and then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2015 in pursuit of his graduate degree at the University of British Columbia School of Music. The move to Vancouver brought him closer to his fiancé at the time, Deavyn, who he met as a music major at Southeast. Regarding the inspiration for his new album, Seyer said there was plenty to share.

 

“There were so many stories to tell. Stories of tragedy, overcoming tragedy, happiness, getting married, and hurting from past experiences,” Seyer said.

 

After receiving his grad degree in 2017, Seyer built up ideas and motives that he wanted to include in his new album.

 

“With the momentum I had from school, I knew I wanted to proceed with it then,” Seyer said. “Also, it all just turned around when I moved to the northwest. There are mountains all around me; it’s so surreal! There’s so much inspiration.”

 

Until settling in Vancouver, he had never lived outside of Missouri. But, although moving to a different city was a big help, the biggest reason he was able to get through the process was having a set goal in front of him.

 

“I didn’t have a choice but to survive,” Seyer said. “Pursuing a goal forces you to focus on the thing you went there for. Or else you’ll lose your sense of ground.”

 

Over the next year, Seyer put hours of his time into practice. He’s the only musician featured on the album, but he wasn’t completely alone in the process. Deavyn, now his wife, aided him in rethinking various parts. His sister, 2016 Notre Dame graduate Jordan Seyer, created three different canvas prints, which would be laid behind her brother’s original artwork for the cover art. Seyer started closing his project in June of 2018.

 

The LP contains 18 tracks, which were all recorded within three days at Turtle Recording Studios in South Surrey, British Columbia. Seyer titled it “Migration,” and it was officially released July 9. Since the LP’s release, he estimates to have had 150 sales in-person and online.

 

He’s recently been picked up by Naz Music Inc., a local British Columbia publisher, who will distribute his album to all streaming platforms and to television and film producers in over 40 countries. They hope to have “Migration” streaming by Christmas this year.

 

Now out of school, Seyer is planning to take a year to tour with the new content on “Migration,” and with earlier music from his EP.

 

“With 80 minutes of music, I can really milk it with concerts and workshops,” says Seyer. “Also, since I’m an independent artist, performing really helps to get my name out there.”

 

In this regard, he’s already hit the ground running. Shortly after the release of “Migration,” Seyer completed a visit to Retiro in Antioquia, Colombia in August for a conference called “Semana de la Guitarra.” Here, he attended workshops, master classes, and participated in several concerts at the Culturo Center El Retiro.

 

Seyer’s plans for the future include transcribing his music from “Migration” into sheet music for guitarists to study and learn, and he also has his hopes set on a European tour for next summer.

 

During his time at Notre Dame, Seyer was involved in gaming club, light and sound crews for the spring musicals, and pep band, from whom he received a donation for the release of his album. He says pep band taught him to have fun with music before anything.

 

“When I saw that they had donated [to Kickstarter], I laughed and showed everybody I knew,” Seyer said. “I sent Profé [the pep band director] a big message on how important that was to me. I was floored; it was my biggest donation!”

 

Back home, he thanks his family, Cynthia King, who had a big influence on him, and Profe, who he says helped keep music fun.

 

To read more about “Migration,” visit: www.jacobseyer.com