Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Long Live the Low" by Sean Kiely

by Bob Makin

originally published: 09/04/2026

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Long Live the Low,” the title track single of the forthcoming LP from Jersey City-based singer-songwriter Sean Kiely. PHOTO BY ANTHONY DELIA

On Oct. 16, Jersey City singer-songwriter Sean Kiely is releasing “Long Live the Low,” the follow-up to his acclaimed 2024 LP, “Postcards of the Reckoning.”

The title track single is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

“This one may be the thesis of the record: a love letter to the weeds, the dry rot, the small stuff underfoot that nobody's looking at,” Sean explained. “An acknowledgment and ode to entropy, even when it’s coming for the stuff we love.

“The song started with a line toward the end of Theodore Roethke’s poem ‘Long Live The Weeds’: ‘Hope, look, create, or drink and die,’” he continued. “That in turn led to ‘hope is a carrot, maybe it's a trick,’ a clear-eyed take on the nature of hope. If the mansion on the hill gets a song, the weeds coming up through the sidewalk deserve one too. Give nature some time and it makes quick enough work of man’s best-laid plans.”

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Sean cut “Long Live The Low” at Restoration Sound in Brooklyn with Lorenzo Wolff engineering.

Additional recording of some of the LP was by Sean in Jersey City, as well as Andrew Ryan of 9 Horses and Railroad Earth.

“There are three stars of the show in my book: Chris Morrissey (bass) carves a through-line into the song that is both grooving and fully present with the lyric,” Sean said. “Jean Rohe (backing vocals) elevates everything she touches. And Bobby Hawk's violins call to mind early ‘70s Elton John in the best way, especially during an interlude that swells into nearly a full orchestra.”

Bobby has worked with Phoebe Bridgers and Bleachers. Chris’ credits include Norah Jones and Margaret Glaspy. Jean has recorded with Sean before and is featured on “Irises,” the opening track of “Postcards.”

An end-of-summer anthem to “the small,” “Long Live the Low” also features Chris Parker on guitar and percussion and Bill Campbell (Andrew Bird, Kurt Rosenwinkel) on drums and percussion.

“It’s an anthem to the modest, the quiet, and the real under the biggest lie you ever told,” Sean said.

Produced by Sean, the album was mixed by sought-after local engineer Adam Brisbin and mastered by Nate Wood at Kerseboom Mastering, Queens.

The album also features Juno Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and banjoist Kaia Kater on the previous single “This Is The Year."

See Sean live Sept. 4, Colony, Woodstock, NY; Sept. 26, Hamilton Park Music Festival, Jersey City; Oct. 15: Avalon Lounge, Catskill, NY; Oct. 21: Jalopy Theatre, Brooklyn, which will be his record release show.

In the meantime, you can stream "Long Live the Low” at Apple Music and Spotify.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.