The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Musician makes childhood dreams a reality

bayonne_03Fresh off his European tour, Burlington will host one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “10 New Artists You Need to Know” this November.

Bayonne, Roger Sellers’ stage name, is performing Nov. 9, at Higher Ground.

An Austin, Texas native, Sellers became interested in music at a very young age, and started putting on shows by banging on paint cans for his parents at the age of three.

Seller’s parents bought “Eric Clapton & Friends: Live 1986,” with Phil Collins playing drums, and it remains one of his biggest musical influences to this day Sellers said.

His music combines the pop-inspired, experimental elements found in the music of Animal Collective and Dosh, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Under his own name, Sellers released three studio albums, the first of which made its debut in 2011. His latest album, “Primitives,” was originally released in 2014 and recently reissued by New York label Mom + Pop Records under his new stage name, Bayonne.

“[My music is] very energetic and crazy,” Sellers said. “I go kind of hard. There are a lot of layered, dense loops with a strong melody over it.”

Many fans originally mistook him for a DJ, as his sound heavily relies on electronic music. However, Sellers is a self-taught drummer and performs on stage live at every show, he said.

“Fans can expect a lot of energy from my shows; however, the music is still minimalist and melodic,” he said.

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Musician makes childhood dreams a reality