While many people grow up wanting to be famous musicians, Eon Sinclair, bassist of Toronto’s reggae/ska trio Bedouin Soundclash, grew up aspiring to be a teacher.
“Ten years ago I saw myself teaching in a classroom somewhere,” he says. “I have an interest in education. I probably would have envisioned myself as an elementary teacher somewhere.”
Not many fans of the band would think a fairly successful musician like Sinclair would ever have aspired to be anything but that, especially not something as comparatively mundane as an elementary-school teacher.
But, while the life of a musician seems glamorous from the outside, all the travelling involved with the business can easily become overwhelming and get in the way of other, more important things.
“I definitely miss a lot of great events and great moments in peoples’ lives, and things that I would have been happy to have been there for,” explains Sinclair. “When we are really busy it can be hard to maintain romantic relationships.”
Musicians have to make sacrifices for their career, and coping with the inevitable separation from one’s peers, family, and loved ones is a difficult struggle. Luckily, Sinclair is able to manage the strenuous task of touring and keeping his relationships strong.
“It’s all about maintaining relationships with people who know you independently of the band,” he says. “And just knowing how you’re doing as a person. It’s about developing and maintaining those relationships; finding people that care about you in those ways, that makes it a little bit easier. It can be tricky when you’re on the road.”
Sinclair remains optimistic, and plans to remain involved in the music industry, despite the challenges that it presents.
Of course, he also hopes that that he can squeeze in some time for a family, too.
“Hopefully, I’ll still be a musician or as a producer, or as a contributor to more label parts, keeping that going,” he says, “especially with a nice family or a nice partner in my life.”
Bedouin Soundclash
Friday, December 2
Club 9ONE9, $24
atomiqueproductions.com