Seth Schaeffer's debut track, "I Found A Monster," is a dynamic, genre-blending anthem that breaks personal and musical boundaries. Drawing inspiration from artists like Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor, and Billie Eilish, the song crafts a vivid world filled with sound and emotion. It conveys a powerful message: live fully, fearlessly, and unapologetically. From its hauntingly delicate introduction to its explosive climax, this track serves as both a cathartic release and a bold artistic mission statement. Schaeffer's fearless openness sets the stage for a career that embraces risk and creativity.
Seth Schaeffer delves into the vision behind "I Found A Monster," offering candid insights into the emotions, creative process, and narrative that inspired its creation.
1. "I Found A Monster" has been described as a 'primal scream against inner oppression.' What personal experiences or emotions inspired the creation of this track?
A few years ago, I woke up realizing "I had it all figured out" at the same time as having nothing figured out. I presented a version of myself that mostly fit the expectations of the world; Nice and safe. I had confirmed the bias that people liked "that guy," while giving neither them nor me the opportunity for a more honest version of me to exist.
The "Monster" in "I Found a Monster" is the version of me I've unintentionally hidden out of fear of judgment, waiting to wake up and fully live this life thing. The tone of the song is based on my frustration with lost time, and it evolves into an exposé and a proclamation to live life to the fullest.
Most people can relate on some level, but I wrote this (like all of my music) to process what I was feeling and needing, both lyrically and musically.
2. You've cited Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor, and Billie Eilish as influences. How did you channel those cinematic and experimental vibes into your sound on this track?
When I write, I set aside expectations, listen to what the song needs, and create music that I'd want to experience. Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor, and Billie Eilish all have a beautiful capacity to practice restraint before hitting you over the head with surprises. They all carry you into a world that explores its limits, all giving you trust that the author of the story is taking you somewhere. I feel like I hear this influence in what "I Found a Monster" turned into.
3. There's a strong sense of emotional urgency in the song. What message were you hoping listeners would walk away with after hearing it for the first time?
We have one life that's worth living to the fullest. Don't dim yourself to make others happy. Honor your experience as worthy of love, and if you find yourself muting your existence, defend yourself and bring out the inner monster you've been hiding. You're worth it, yesterday's gone, and now's the only time you have to do it.
4. The track feels like a genre-blending experience. How intentional was the genre fusion, and what were you aiming to achieve sonically with this hybrid approach?
I don't speak the language of genres well. Knowing I'm "supposed to" fit in a genre has muted my musical expression for years. I've decided not to worry about it and see what happens.
When I write, I hear things in my head that scratch an itch of curiosity or fulfillment, and the rabbit trail I follow creates the sound I get. This track gets aggressive. They'll all have a surprise in one form or another. I think of music the same way I do films. I'm building a world, and the story needs to unfold. I'm unsure how to work within genre constraints while allowing a song to evolve naturally.
5. Can you walk us through your creative process in producing "I Found A Monster"? From the first spark of inspiration to the final mix, what did that journey look like?
I was in the dark corner of a sketchy gas station in some town while I was on a trip. A guy showed up with the acoustic bass I found on Facebook marketplace, and it was immediately apparent this thing had issues. The strings on it were way too heavy, pulling the action high. It buzzes inside the body when you play a note at almost any audible level. The highest string broke in the parking lot before I bought it. To see how things settle, I tuned the strings way low and let it sit. When I came back to it a week later, it was like the opening riff was waiting for me to be brought into this world. I just kept playing it over and over like I was in a trance. At some point, the words "I found a monster" fell out. I knew I had something. I knew it meant something.
As I started working through the lyrics on the intro, I just felt it was headed for an explosive moment. I laugh now thinking about the awkward moments I'd try to sing the cello part to friends to explain what they would do on "this big section." I'll say the vision I had didn't quite translate.
Once I started recording, it was evident that I couldn't play it loud at all. The vintage Westrex 1474 preamp was cranked on a U87 AI, and it felt almost impossible to capture my fingernails barely touching the strings without picking up the sound of my breath or the guitar body moving against my leg. It felt dangerously delicate.
I also used the U87 AI, going through an original Focusrite Red, and a WA47 tube mic, going through the Westrex, at the same time for my main vocals. I panned them hard left and right for that intro effect, and I loved the ridiculous wide sound it gave me. Not mono-compatible, I know, but I loved it.
I asked my friend Emily Hatch to sing behind me on the chorus and to help sing the women's choir parts. Marco Pescolido played cello, Nikos Mavridis played viola and violin, and Vigilance Brandon played trumpet (all from Musiversal). My son, Judah Schaeffer, added extra parts he heard were missing for the monster sounds.
Aside from the complete arc working, I wanted the textures to waver around the key while unapologetically drifting around it. We built cluster chords with the vocals and called up a jazz-influenced fanfare with the trumpet lines.
I also took every step extra slow on this song. I needed to take the time to learn so many things I didn't know about mixing. Many of my friends have heard numerous versions of the song as it evolved into its current form. They were all so gracious in helping me understand what I wasn't getting and how to get there.
Sam Moses mastered the track and helped me bring the vision to life. There was a huge balance between keeping the smaller sections musical while allowing the significant sections to feel almost suffocatingly loud. He taught me so much just through working on one song with him.
I'm thrilled with the final results. I learned a lot that I'll apply to future productions, but I'll carry forward all the skills I gained in this process to start releasing the rest of my songs on a consistent schedule without worry getting in the way of inspiration.
6. The phrase "I Found A Monster" is incredibly evocative. Who or what does "the monster" represent for you?
It is incredibly evocative. "The monster" is something I've been afraid of. It's the unrestrained, chaotic version of my 'self.' Socially, I've felt rewarded for masking and encouraged to inhibit my expression and uniqueness. It's a monstrous cry to wake up and fully honor myself. Although I mean this in every part of my life, in a profound and lasting way, my music will carry its voice for the coming months, years, and for the rest of my life.
I see it as a perfect "hello" to the world.
7. Your sound feels both cinematic and deeply personal. Did you envision this song as part of a larger visual or conceptual project (e.g., a video, album, or film)?
In my other life, I'm a cinematic, commercial filmmaker (creating short cinematic anthem films for industrial clients). Music is also very visual to me, so I'm seeing scenes and movement as I write.
I didn't create this specifically for film, and I don't have a specific placement in mind. I wrote this song for. That said, I'd love for it to be the intro to a fitting TV show or part of a film.
From a legal and technical standpoint, I've been very diligent in creating all of my sounds and ensuring I have all the necessary releases to place them. It's all ready to go, so if you know of someone creating an excellent TV series or movie, I'm all ears!
8. This song calls on listeners to break free from societal expectations. What were some of the expectations you've had to shake off in your artistic journey?
From a very young age, I was the kid who played piano. I felt like a party trick and hated the attention. I got a job playing at a piano bar when I was in high school, and was marketed to "come see this kid play." In hindsight, I appreciate everyone's intention, but it created this suffocating feeling of self-imposed judgment and fear. It's imposter syndrome. If I release my music, everyone will realize how good I'm not, which will further draw attention to me.
Other things, like filmmaking, were easy for me to jump into because my 'failing forward' process didn't involve my core identity.
Building right up until release day, I've been actively allowing myself to feel afraid while also realizing I'm new to so much of this. I'm not new to music. It's my first and native language. However, there are various tasks, such as mixing, recording, and writing answers to interviews, which are all new to me. I'm excited to fail forward on those things and let the music that comes along with it speak for itself.
9. Looking ahead, how does "I Found A Monster" fit into your broader artistic vision or upcoming releases? Is this a standalone statement or the beginning of a larger narrative?
"I Found a Monster" is an introduction to my art. It's a first statement piece to anchor the coming songs. The following songs also stand on their own but exist within the same cinematic world-building domain. Some individuals have less energy (at least on average). Some lean more toward singable pop. Ultimately, I aim to earn the trust of listeners that my songs will transport them somewhere and evoke a new feeling, regardless of their style or niche. I'm letting the story unfold, filtering as little as possible.
I expect the tone and arc of my releases to evolve with me, and in a perfect world, with a growing number of people who value the experiences I'm honored to share.
Thank you, HypeHub, for being part of this journey and asking such thoughtful questions. Thank you reader, for your interest.
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