Seth Kauffman’s musical biography is enough to excite anyone who has a deep passion for music. The pedestal that his label have set him upon (New West Records) haven’t ignored the fact that his current location is also close to what was a revolutionary artistic institution.
Kaufmann is based in a small studio in the shadow of Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. He’s not far from the once famous experimental institution Black Mountain College which produced many an artist that went on to push forward avant-garde in the America of the 1960s. Whilst he’s not pushing the avant-garde (yet) his natural enthusiasm for musical discovery has led him on quite a unique personal journey that has inspired and expanded his creativity, something that wouldn’t be that far removed from the ghosts down the road. Classical violin from the age of four could have led him down a pre-determined classical path but thanks to discovering guitar at 15 he untrained his classical mind. Outside the constrains of classical music he grew, experimented and tackled numerous instruments. That 15 year old boyhood decision allowed him to become the the creative giant he is today…so listen up kids!
He’s travelled a lot as well…from Africa to Jamaica soaking up the music from those cultures like blotting paper. His musical influences continue to spread as he strives for that musical magic you get in the moment. His success in this field has not been lost on others. Dan Auerbach engaged his help on a number of projects and according to his label Jenny Lewis asked him onstage at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC, to play the violin with her band.
That’s all very wonderful but where it’s really happening is within his own work under the moniker Floating Action. We’ve a little taster of that with Taking Me A Little While which is our Song of the Day. The song features on his new album ‘Body Questions’, this is really just the tip of what’s on offer.
Body Questions is out now… “lyrically cinematic, structurally sound and texturally intoxicating.”