Sean Hurley

Sean Hurley (born September 21, 1973) is an American bass guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He is a successful touring and session musician based in Los Angeles.

Hurley began his career as Arlo Guthrie's bassist for two years. He then gained prominence as a member of the Washington DC-based rock band Vertical Horizon, playing on their number-one hit "Everything You Want" (1999). Hurley moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to work with Robin Thicke and began working as a general session bassist in the area in 2002. He received a co-songwriting credit on Thicke's 2006 hit "Lost Without U". That same year, he began working with John Mayer, playing on his tours and albums; as of 2024, their collaboration is still going. Other musicians Hurley has worked with include Miley Cyrus, Colbie Caillat, Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani, Ringo Starr, Alanis Morissette, Lady A, Lana Del Rey, and Lizzy McAlpine.

Hurley has been recognized for his simple, yet versatile style of bass playing. He has been described as "a staple of the LA session scene" and a "session great". In 2013, the Fender Custom Shop introduced the Sean Hurley Signature Precision Bass.

Biography Sean Hurley was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He first played the saxophone in fourth grade before taking up bass guitar at age 11. As a teenager, Hurley played in local bands as well as his school's jazz band and worked at a music store, giving bass lessons.

At age 16, Hurley was invited on tour with folk singer Arlo Guthrie, after meeting Guthrie's son while gigging around. After graduating, Hurley spent one semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he replaced Matt Garrison in a Yellowjackets cover ensemble, before returning to touring with Guthrie. Lead singer Matt Scannell said of Hurley in 2014: "Sean is so stunningly talented ... His opportunities are better served for him to not be going out and playing tours with us. But we joke that his goal is to never have anyone else play bass on a Vertical Horizon record."

Also in 2006, Hurley began his professional relationship with John Mayer. Hurley had met and been friendly with Mayer, as well as played with his guitarist David Ryan Harris, but they first worked together that December when Mayer, after learning Hurley played R&B, invited him to play on "Lesson Learned" by Alicia Keys, on which Mayer was a featured artist. and a "session great". and, around 2012, opening his own studio in North Hollywood with session drummer Victor Indrizzo. Hurley also referenced Bob Dylan records from the time. Writing for Bass Player, Chris Jisi describes Hurley's playing on the album as a "modern take on a classic, minimalist form"; According to Hurley, throughout the album's development Mayer "would occasionally encourage me to step out more and 'take a moment. He explained: "I'm always looking for a McCartney-esque melodic line. Even though the song has a bit of an Allman Brothers vibe, I'm still channeling Paul. ... I just played my adapted version of [ the Beatles'] "Tomorrow Never Knows". he used it on "Everything You Want"

In 2012, while working on Born and Raised, Hurley found himself putting pieces of foam under the strings by the bridge of every bass he used on the record. This was to mute the strings and replicate the short decay of the basses he had heard on the reference records for the album.

Selected discography Alanis Morissette Havoc and Bright Lights (2012) Annie Lennox Songs of Mass Destruction (2007)

Arlo Guthrie Alice's Restaurant: The Massacree Revisited (1996)

Colbie Caillat Breakthrough (2009) All of You (2011) Christmas in the Sand (2012)

Gwen Stefani You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017)

Jason Mraz "More than Friends" (featuring Meghan Trainor)

John Mayer Born and Raised (2012) Paradise Valley (2013) Sob Rock (2021) Lady A Heart Break (2017)

Lana Del Rey "Beautiful People Beautiful Problems" (featuring Stevie Nicks) Leonard Cohen "Treaty" (2016)

Lizzy McAlpine "All Falls Down" (2024) Lukas Graham "Share That Love" (featuring G-Eazy) Melissa Etheridge Fearless Love (2010)

Michael Bublé Nobody but Me (2016) Higher (2022) Miley Cyrus Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus (2007) Breakout (2008) Can't Be Tamed (2010) Mya Fear of Flying (2000)

Ringo Starr Liverpool 8 (2008) Rob Thomas Cradlesong (2009)

Robin Thicke A Beautiful World (2002) The Evolution of Robin Thicke (2006)

Vertical Horizon Everything You Want (1999)