To the Beat of His Own Drum

“Growing up in St. John’s, making it big didn’t impress anyone. “

Meet Sean Dalton.

Shooting the breeze and being quick on your feet are the hallmarks of being a Newfoundlander. The isolation and harsh weather are buttressed by humour.  Sean’s razor sharp wit was honed in an environment where taking yourself too seriously was done at your own peril.

After completing high school, he decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps and headed to St. F. X. , enrolling in the Jazz Studies program.  “I was the shittiest drummer in the program.  I got my ass handed to me by musicians who had been reared on jazz.”  The one saving grace from his freshman year was the French course he took from Edward Langille.  He gave Sean the most important gift: self -confidence.

In the summer of 1999, he took the Bursary program at Université Sainte Anne. He continued his studies for two years until the day he got a call from one of his cousins, wondering if he’d like to join their band.

The next 14 years were a giant blur as the Trews became one of the busiest touring bands in the country. Sean shared the stage with many legendary musicians and, while the experience was exhilarating, it took its toll.

In 2015 he packed up his drum kit and his chocolate lab dog, his only worldly possessions at the time, and headed to Nova Scotia to smell the ocean breezes and clear his head.

He contemplated cooking school but opted for something completely different: commercial fishing. His romantic notion of life on the sea lasted exactly one day, as he quickly came to understand the physical demands of the work.  But it was exactly what he needed at the time, and he spent the next six months immersed in the life of a fisher.

During his current hiatus (he plans to fish again in the spring), he has pursued a new passion of teaching others to play the drums. Dalton’s Drum Academy  has quickly developed a reputation as the go-to place to learn from one of the best.

And to keep the creative juices flowing, Sean is dabbling in the film business.

He practices Jiu Jitsu, which is good for the body and the soul. “Everybody is equal.  Once you put on the gi, you are just one of the family.  Egos are left at the door and no one is judgmental.  “The discipline is what Sean appreciates the most.  “I have learned more about life through Jiu Jitsu than anything else I’ve done.”

According to Sean, his dog, Sonny Boy, saved his life. “When I was struggling, he was my best friend.  Even when I wasn’t looking after myself, I had to look after him.”  The two are inseparable.

Sean admits that the East Coast lifestyle suits him to a tee. “Around Antigonish, I’m just Sean.  People don’t care what you did or what you are doing.  They care about who you are.”

… and the beat goes on.