MEMORIAM: A BEAUTIFUL SOUL| MUSICIAN/MODEL SEAN SEMMENS 1993-2015

This is from a JTC Q&A that ran back in September 2014.
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IN CONVERSATION|SEAN SEMMENS
Name|Sean Semmens Age|20 Hometown|High Wycombe, England
How did you get discovered? Through being involved in XXY Magazine's photo shoot with the band (Coastal Cities). We were invited to the issue brunch party in London where myself and our vocalist, Declan were scouted. Tell JTC about the band, Coastal Cities? The band has five members with Declan Cullen, our lead singer and guitarist. I am a guitarist as well in the band, Will Clark on synthesizers, Dan Hardy on bass and Lewis Slade on drums. We've been close friends for years and have been playing together since school. Many experiences have come to us all through the years like visiting overseas, road tripping to play at some great venues to a mixture of crowds. To describe our sound, we are stuck with the label of "Major Key Melancholy" as a description of "Genre". Our sound is typically upbeat guitar pop influenced from many sources: new wave of the 80's, punk to 50s rockabilly. What's your latest obsession? Writing electronic music Your most prize possession? My acoustic guitar, a fender DG-5, it is the first thing I get every morning once I wake up! Growing up, who did you look up to as your hero? Guitarist John Frusciante and Eminen, a incredible artist, worker and language practitioner When is the last time you said, "I Love You" to someone? Sunday, 31st of August...said "I love you" to Bianca Green Three adjectives that best describes you: Observing, Sensitive, Unpredictable and Mysterious Describe your personal style: I like to wear a lot of black or dark colours. Fitted, smart, casual yet street. Jim Morrison, I would see him as a "style inspiration". I buy almost all my clothes from charity shops. Cheap, used, characteristic and unique Your favorite place you have travel to: Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia Your favorite film and scene from the film: Into The Wild—Scene: Where "Chris" sees a moose and his eyes well up. I feel his emotion, happiness and a sense of longing with that shot Your favorite sport: Sport: Skateboading Skateboader: Tony Hawk/Birdhouse If there's a destination or item you would recommend us to check out or visit about your native country/city or town, what would you recommend? High Wycombe, England—Into the woods If you were given a indie cable show, what type of show would it be? Which song would you choose as your theme song? A show featuring street musicians/buskers improvising artist playing freely. Theme song, something self composed and mellow with African drums and guitar Favorite book: Walking by Henry David Thoreau Favorite moment in modeling: Trip to Venice for Diesel Walk Your wish for the remainder of 2014? To be back together with my girlfriend
Feb. 20, 2015—I had the pleasure to meet and get to know Sean Semmens back in September of 2014. He came to one of my casting one particular evening during NYFW. I wanted to interview and photograph him for my blog but I couldn't leave cause I was wrapping up a casting for my client. I told him to go to his other casting first and come back, in which he did. He waited for over an hour while I was wrapping up. From there, I took some pics of him on the streets of SOHO and since he was so patient, I offer to take him out to dinner and at the same time, I can interviewed him for my blog. From our conversations during the dinner, I gathered he was a special yet complex guy. I lost touch with him after NYFW (he walked a show I casted for menswear designer, SIKI IM) but often I was told by his agents at Q Model Management, that both him and his friend, Declan, have said some kind words about me supporting them as models. Learning of his passing at such a young age, saddens me...if only, he could see that a lot of people, cared a lot about him whether we kept in touch or not. I want to take this opportunity to send my condolences to his agents, friends and family. To any models that feels trouble or alone, please talk to someone...life is precious and you should make every moment count, no matter how difficult it gets, personally or professionally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. To Sean, I am glad our paths have crossed and I hope you are creating your music in a better place now. With sadness, John

Special thanks to Charlie Clark for featuring a portrait I took of Sean as part of their tribute page on the Supa Model Management blog.