Alumni Case Study Dave O’Grady

Dave O’Grady is a professional musician, songwriter, and the driving force behind the Americana rock & roll outfit Seafoam Green. A staple of the international touring circuit, Dave’s career has taken him from the bars of Liverpool to expansive tours across the USA and Europe. 

Despite having no undergraduate degree, Dave’s life has been an education in the industry. From his early days as a session vocalist for the likes of Bon Jovi, Seal, and Ringo Starr, to being mentored by Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes, Dave has maintained an unwavering determination to build a sustainable music career. In October 2025, he added a new milestone to his CV: graduating with an MA in Songwriting from WaterBear (accredited and awarded by Falmouth University), completed entirely online while navigating his life on the road and becoming a father. 

WaterBear had been on Dave’s radar for a long time, however it was a Zoom call with founder Bruce John Dickinson that truly sealed the deal. Bruce explained that the MA was designed with the working professional in mind, offering the flexibility Dave needed to study while continuing to tour and record. 

For Dave, the motivation was twofold: he wanted to find a formal avenue into teaching songwriting, and he needed a course that could adapt to his busy schedule as a recording and touring artist and – as of a few months into the program – a new father. 

His time at WaterBear was defined by a massive balancing act, so his time management skills were put to the ultimate test. He found the WaterBear tutors particularly supportive: 

“I had a baby in March, and WaterBear knew my circumstances. They highlighted things to take advantage of, like extensions, which was incredibly helpful.” 

The course offered Dave a fresh perspective on his own craft. While he was already a seasoned songwriter, tutors like Jamie Sellers helped him deconstruct music mechanics and understand the nuances of writing to a brief. On the technical side, working with Stu Brewer provided the mixing and mastering insights Dave needed to take his self-produced work to the next level. Beyond the music, the course pushed him academically; writing his first-ever essays taught him the value of constructive feedback and the importance of not taking professional critiques personally. 

By the final week of the course, Dave was applying his new knowledge to his own releases in the final project, where he was able to fill in the gaps that he was previously unaware of when releasing records. In the last year, Dave has also opened his own recording studio which provides an extra stream of income, a move bolstered by the technical mixing and mastering knowledge he gained during his MA. 

Seafoam Green remains as active as ever, currently signed to Rekognition Sound (headed by Jesse Wood and Sean Genockey). After finishing his studies, Dave hit the road for a three-week tour of Germany, following a year that saw the band collaborating in the studio with legendary figures like Ronnie Wood. 

Professional Songwriting 

Advanced Technical Production 

Academic Foundations (researching, writing essays)  

Work-Life Integration 

Teaching Pathways