John Wesley Seneca is debuted his new album, While Rome Burns, earlier this month. The album consists of 14 tracks, most of which are largely instrumental. The tracks were recorded during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic from March to November of 2020, and the album’s release comes near the three-year anniversary of the world shutting down due to the pandemic.
A veteran Capital Region performer, Seneca goes by the alter ego “Wes.” An acoustic musician, he never intended to make an electronic album but said “circumstances” led to it. At first, it was just a way to pass time during the lockdown, but it became something bigger as the world “slowly started to open up.” The singer never intended to release an album, but upon hearing again in 2022, he thought he could “curate” some of the songs into something more. The music of While Rome Burns is vastly different than what he normally makes, which is why he made the album under an assumed name.
“All for Me Gorg,” is a highlight of John Wesley Seneca’s new album. The track is a disco-inspired version of an Irish sailor’s song and lyrically quotes both “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and Shannon’s 1983 dance hit “Let the Music Play.” While the Covid-19 pandemic is certainly something many don’t want to remember, especially since it is on-going, While Rome Burns provides a glimpse into how music helped Wes Seneca cope with the most arguably some of the most disastrous months of the virus. While Rome Burns is now available, however, the album currently isn’t available to download for free. Click here for more information.
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