Ambitious Southport synth-poppers Seattle Yacht Club may be newcomers but their music carries a purpose and determination beyond their years. They sculpt their infectious sound from a blend of synths, guitar hooks and tight harmonies learned from their love of alt-pop and classic songwriting.
Tom Dale and Denis Brice are best friends whose bond was sealed in childhood. Yet to release an album, their latest single Same Old Questions has bagged them kudos from BBC6 Music’s Tom Robinson, the BBC Introducing team and XFM’s John Kennedy, as well as support slots with Sam Sparro.
We spent 30 seconds with them to find out what else they’ve got in store…
We first started writing music because…
Our early lust for song and dance led us to want to harness our creativity and bundle it up in a well wrapped parcel to make the perfect gift. Together we have had a love for music since a very early age (we’ve always lived next door to each other). We loved listening to similar music of the time and as we grew up our passion for music entwined harmoniously. As our musical admiration grew, we developed a thirst to create music of our own and we always consulted each other about songs and artists we've fallen for and from such discussions - and arguments - we have developed a very tight bond which helps us now read each other’s minds when songwriting.
We have been making music since…
We were about 13. We were initially inspired by dancing around the lounge to NOW compilation CDs, trying out song ideas. As the songwriting process and exploration developed we would argue about whether Alien Ant Farm were better than Wheatus!
The beautiful thing about writing is that even now it still feels like only yesterday that we started; our love for writing is still as fresh and strong as ever, it’s a gift that keeps giving. When we started writing, we were on the other side of the tennis court, being served at; relating to songs that we loved. Now we’re serving.
Our music is…
Electro-art-pop! A term we've coined ourselves as we believe it just about sums up what we create - a combination of pop music with interesting synth and guitar hooks, strong melodies, a certain unpredictability and quirky feeling vibes and grooves that won’t allow your hips to stay still.
Our music stems from the music we loved as kids such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Roxy Music and popular nineties teen bands. These sounds have had a huge impact on how we approach our songs; the importance of making songs accessible while still encompassing a fresh approach..
You’ll like us if you listen to…
We take a lot of inspiration from the greats, such as Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, as well as more modern artists such as Laura Mvula, Hot Chip, Two Door Cinema Club and Arcade Fire.
Our favourite venue is…
Notting Hill Arts Club. Every time we are there we are humbled to play; it’s always rammed full of music lovers who are there to have a great time and consume a fine array of cocktails, both musical and alcoholic! We've played with some killer bands there and made some great friends. We can’t wait to play there again.
Music is important because…
It offers escapism. Music allows anyone in any walk of life to imagine being somewhere else, it has the magic to change a person’s mood instantly even save your soul from reality. Music is important to us because it is something we are truly grateful to be involved in, it’s hard to beat the feeling of playing our own set live to an audience, and learning that when people listen to our songs they have an effect on them as much as they do us.
Our biggest inspiration is…
Seeing a band live that has every person in the room under their spell. Seeing an artist engage with the audience on a whole new level, performing to thousands of people as if there is just one person present is like a firework display to us. Watching them make the experience so personal that everyone feels touched, allowing everyone in the audience to see straight into the soul of that person, pouring out their greatest weaknesses/fears/lusts in life.
Our dream collaboration is…
With Quincy Jones. It would be an absolute dream to work with a producer with such an incredible mind and approach towards songwriting. His production is something we often refer to for inspiration, the way he uses sounds and places hooks in the songs for maximum impact, you’d never think that all of his hits were four and half minutes long, as they’re perfectly executed, they always end too soon. We’re always amazed by how few sounds there are in his mixes, yet they have an incredible amount of impact. The guy is a genius.
To try us out, listen to our song…
Same Old Questions. It optimizes what we are all about.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Well, when we were kids our dream was to have an ice cream van together, although we used to squabble about who would have to drive and who could eat all the ice cream. At the time we only wanted one, but as we've both worked hard studying degrees our business minds developed and we now realise we could have a whole fleet of ice cream vans, spanning the country far and wide.
In 10 years time we want to be…
Stood in a local bakery buying fresh bread and cakes, being asked by a little old darling for an autograph for her grandchild, that would be a delight! We want to progress as far as we possibly can, who says the sky is the limit, we want to be in another universe, figuratively speaking!
Twitter @seattleyachtclb
www.soundcloud.com/seattleyachtclub
www.facebook.com/seattleyachtclubband
Tom Dale and Denis Brice are best friends whose bond was sealed in childhood. Yet to release an album, their latest single Same Old Questions has bagged them kudos from BBC6 Music’s Tom Robinson, the BBC Introducing team and XFM’s John Kennedy, as well as support slots with Sam Sparro.
We spent 30 seconds with them to find out what else they’ve got in store…
We first started writing music because…
Our early lust for song and dance led us to want to harness our creativity and bundle it up in a well wrapped parcel to make the perfect gift. Together we have had a love for music since a very early age (we’ve always lived next door to each other). We loved listening to similar music of the time and as we grew up our passion for music entwined harmoniously. As our musical admiration grew, we developed a thirst to create music of our own and we always consulted each other about songs and artists we've fallen for and from such discussions - and arguments - we have developed a very tight bond which helps us now read each other’s minds when songwriting.
We have been making music since…
We were about 13. We were initially inspired by dancing around the lounge to NOW compilation CDs, trying out song ideas. As the songwriting process and exploration developed we would argue about whether Alien Ant Farm were better than Wheatus!
The beautiful thing about writing is that even now it still feels like only yesterday that we started; our love for writing is still as fresh and strong as ever, it’s a gift that keeps giving. When we started writing, we were on the other side of the tennis court, being served at; relating to songs that we loved. Now we’re serving.
Our music is…
Electro-art-pop! A term we've coined ourselves as we believe it just about sums up what we create - a combination of pop music with interesting synth and guitar hooks, strong melodies, a certain unpredictability and quirky feeling vibes and grooves that won’t allow your hips to stay still.
Our music stems from the music we loved as kids such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Roxy Music and popular nineties teen bands. These sounds have had a huge impact on how we approach our songs; the importance of making songs accessible while still encompassing a fresh approach..
You’ll like us if you listen to…
We take a lot of inspiration from the greats, such as Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson and David Bowie, as well as more modern artists such as Laura Mvula, Hot Chip, Two Door Cinema Club and Arcade Fire.
Our favourite venue is…
Notting Hill Arts Club. Every time we are there we are humbled to play; it’s always rammed full of music lovers who are there to have a great time and consume a fine array of cocktails, both musical and alcoholic! We've played with some killer bands there and made some great friends. We can’t wait to play there again.
Music is important because…
It offers escapism. Music allows anyone in any walk of life to imagine being somewhere else, it has the magic to change a person’s mood instantly even save your soul from reality. Music is important to us because it is something we are truly grateful to be involved in, it’s hard to beat the feeling of playing our own set live to an audience, and learning that when people listen to our songs they have an effect on them as much as they do us.
Our biggest inspiration is…
Seeing a band live that has every person in the room under their spell. Seeing an artist engage with the audience on a whole new level, performing to thousands of people as if there is just one person present is like a firework display to us. Watching them make the experience so personal that everyone feels touched, allowing everyone in the audience to see straight into the soul of that person, pouring out their greatest weaknesses/fears/lusts in life.
Our dream collaboration is…
With Quincy Jones. It would be an absolute dream to work with a producer with such an incredible mind and approach towards songwriting. His production is something we often refer to for inspiration, the way he uses sounds and places hooks in the songs for maximum impact, you’d never think that all of his hits were four and half minutes long, as they’re perfectly executed, they always end too soon. We’re always amazed by how few sounds there are in his mixes, yet they have an incredible amount of impact. The guy is a genius.
To try us out, listen to our song…
Same Old Questions. It optimizes what we are all about.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Well, when we were kids our dream was to have an ice cream van together, although we used to squabble about who would have to drive and who could eat all the ice cream. At the time we only wanted one, but as we've both worked hard studying degrees our business minds developed and we now realise we could have a whole fleet of ice cream vans, spanning the country far and wide.
In 10 years time we want to be…
Stood in a local bakery buying fresh bread and cakes, being asked by a little old darling for an autograph for her grandchild, that would be a delight! We want to progress as far as we possibly can, who says the sky is the limit, we want to be in another universe, figuratively speaking!
Twitter @seattleyachtclb
www.soundcloud.com/seattleyachtclub
www.facebook.com/seattleyachtclubband
