Spotlight On... Sean Focus and The GRDN Sesssions

Ahead of the launch of The GRDN Sessions this Thursday 2 June, we shine a spotlight on Sean Focus to find out more

Feature by Tallah Brash | 01 Jun 2022
  • Sean Focus
Sean Focus is a name that's come up a lot over the past couple of years, so a good place to start would be by getting to know you a bit better, so can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your music?

My name is Sean Focus, an artist based in Edinburgh, originally from Zimbabwe. I make a genre called Afrocentric. All my sounds are afro-centred. I fuse a lot of sounds with the Afrocentrism that also integrates into my fashion. As well as making music I’m a sound engineer by profession, executive producer and run workshops as well as running my label IMVAIZE Music Group. Under IMVAIZE we manage 4TUNE and LOVEMENOT.

You’re about to launch The GRDN Sessions, an idea you initially came up with during lockdown – what led you to this idea, and how has it evolved since those early lockdown sessions?
The GRDN Sessions were born during lockdown when I was disconnected from everybody, I couldn't see my friends and I had been thinking of how else I could promote my music and keep myself busy. I asked my partner to film me in our back garden. I never aimed for this to be received the way it was, but I did four episodes of it and, fast forward to 2021, my agent Emma liked the garden sessions I had done and thought to approach Creative Scotland for some help. Fortunately for us, they liked the concept!

The GRDN Sessions will run weekly throughout the month of June where, as well as yourself, you’ll be showcasing four other artists from across Scotland – tell us about the talent you’ve got lined up to perform! What can people expect?
This lineup has exceptional talent and I believe Scotland and the rest of the world will enjoy these back garden, intimate performances. We wanted the audience to connect with their favourite artist in a raw and intimate way – get to know your artist from their own back gardens.

4TUNE: They gel well and are predominantly R'n'B. There's a rapper among them as well, which makes is super interesting for me anyway! I have two producers and a team that works around them and we have been building a catalogue for them for the right time; they were offered slots in TV shows but I think they are still growing as average 21-year-olds do.

Gidd Gamz: A super talent, I met him through my friend who’s a rapper (Ransom FA) and from then I always thought he was hard and UNIQUE.

Bemz: I’ve known Bemz since about 2016. Super talent, very hungry, eager to learn and understands the ins and outs. He’s got loads to come for him and I’m super excited to watch him grow.

James Liandu: Now James is a dope one. I doubt he knows that I’ve been a fan of his music, but his acoustic levels are ridiculous. It’s basically music I listen to on a chilled one, contrary to what others may think of my playlist – he fits right in! Overall, he’s a hard working music lover – and I know this cause he dissects my music for me when I’m with him, it’s dope!

What are you hoping to get out of the sessions? Do you have any ambitions for them beyond June?
I'm hoping that from these GRDN Sessions, we can make this a yearly thing discovering and promoting more of Scotland's musical talent. We'd love to work with artists all across the Scotland and into the Highlands and Islands. I really like watching artists strip back their music and perform it in a live lounge setting.

What does the rest of the year look like for you and your music?
The summer is gonna be amazing. While The GRDN Sessions are running, I have shows and festivals lined up. I'm playing Mzansi Festival down South and Eden Festival in Dumfries and Galloway. I consider myself a seasonal artist, and summer is my favourite time of the year to come out and play, so I've also got my first 90 minute acoustic show, just me and my band this year! And on 17 June I have my new single Boudoir coming out with further projects planned for later this year – hope to catch you at one of my shows!


The GRDN Sessions run every Thursday in June, starting with Gidd Gamz on the 2nd at 6pm; they'll be available to stream via the IMVAIZE YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/ImvaizeTv