“I Found A Monster” by Seth Schaeffer Unleashes the Inner Desires in You!

Filmmaker and composer Seth Schaeffer has released a new track that will energize you to the core. Based out of Nashville, the artist is a multitalented human with an ability to captivate the audience with everything he does. In this release he has collaborated with Emily Hatch, Judah Schaeffer, Marco Pescosolido, Nikos Mavridis, and Vigilance Brandon to produce a unique musical track. 

Seth Schaeffer

Seth Schaeffer’s “I Found A Monster” is an awakening call for the suppressed dreams within you. 

“I Found A Monster” is a fierce and dark track about self realization and embracing life to the fullest. For the ones hiding their desires and dreams under the blanket, this song stands as a motivating factor. The track’s haunting vibes and deep vocal textures of Seth transport you straight into your most desired dreams and pushes you to take that step to fulfil them. Seth has truly outdone himself with a unique craft in this song. 

We also got a chance to interview Seth Schaeffer on his recent release and here’s what he has to say:

1. Tell us about the key contributors to this project. Who were the main individuals involved? How did you meet, and how did their contributions help shape the release?

I am a filmmaker and composer based in Nashville, TN. This track was birthed from a deep desire to wake up and go big in life. The sound was inspired by an old, broken acoustic bass that only has three strings and needed new life. The song grew through many revisions eventually welcoming in key collaborators like Emily Hatch (in New York) for the haunting female vocals, Judah Schaeffer for vocal effects and production advice, Marco Pescosolido and Nikos Mavridis (via Musiversal) to bring the string sections to life, and Vigilance Brandon (via Musiversal) to fill in the trumpet lines. Mixed and Produced by Seth Schaeffer and Sam Moses brought everything to completion with his mastering mastery.

2. Who are your influences who creatively show up in your song?

I created "I Found A Monster" by creating exactly what I want to hear and feel without giving credence to genre or influence. That said, I'm influenced by so many great artists like the palpable emotions of Hans Zimmer, the textural aggression of Trent Reznor, restraint of Atticus Ross, and the do-what-you-want of Billie Eilish & FINNEAS. All of these artists' influences can absolutely be heard throughout "I Found A Monster."

3. What's the story behind this release?

I've been a professional artist my whole adult life, but I realized I was still afraid of judgment. Worried about what others would say if I'm not good enough. I realized the voices I feared from others were really the self-judgment I had for not being good enough. I had built masks to fit in and play a part I knew others liked. "I Found a Monster" is about waking up the truest version of inner-self, and loving the hell out of it before it's too late.

4. What makes this release stand out?

I've composed music for films I've directed for over 20 years. "I Found A Monster" is my public debut. It's about waking up and championing myself in hopes others feel permission to champion themselves. It's a rally call to cut acceptance of mediocrity and fall in love with a truer purpose while we still have time left in our life.

5. Where was this recorded?

I have spent the last three years building a spaceship in my house. The studio's a representation of everything I need for this music journey. Incredible gear, killer vibes, any real instrument and noise-making toy I can think of is at my fingertips, and with remote collaborations available with the best musicians in the world, it brought this all to life. I'm beyond stoked with this first release (of many).

6. What was the recording process?

Recording was a process of leaning into the "errors." The broken Acoustic Bass Guitar would rattle if you played a note much louder than what's barely audible. So we took an old Westrex 1474 Pre-Amp with no pad (loud AF) and placed the mic just inches from the strings to get a signal. You can hear the tubes breathing. The low piano strings from a 1960s Yamaha G5 carry overtones that sing their own melody with a single note. We used the infamous Neumann TLM-103 to bring out those clashing overtones in a beautiful way. The vocal effects were both in and out of the box. The first verse has a hard-panned combination of a WA-47 going through the Westrex Pre-Amp and a U87-AI going through a classic Red One Focusrite. I wanted the harmonies to drift in and out of the expected notes, so clusters of slides from the strings and vocals laid the foundation of the track in its finished form.

7. Memorable quote

“I Found a Monster” is for anyone who’s waking up in a world that no longer makes sense. It’s a building cinematic anthem for people who feel the pressure to stay silent but choose to stand up against the world's expectation of them. It’s about the cost of hiding who you are, the pain of conformity, and the courage it takes to break free. The ‘monster’ is the truest version of us finally waking up. This song belongs anywhere people are fighting back, speaking the truth, or no longer refusing to hide.

I love the way another blogger (R+) put it: "The 'monster' embodies the repressed, true self—finally awakened to shatter society’s masks. Beyond a song, it’s a rallying cry against silencing: break molds, wield vulnerability as strength, and reclaim your identity. With its atmospheric production and piercing lyrics, "I Found a Monster" doesn’t just play—it feels like a primal scream against inner oppression.

8. Anything else you would like to add?

I'm a filmmaker and write music that plays out scenes in my head. Films are boring with repeated scenes without movement. I approach music the same way. It's my first language (playing piano before speaking). It's how I process the deepest parts of me I don't have words for. It's how I tell my truest stories.

Test the melody down here:

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