We Lost The Sea
We Lost The Sea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
| Website | welostthesea |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
We Lost The Sea are a cinematic instrumental band from Sydney Australia. The band was originally formed by friends from multiple bands that had dissolved in 2007 from the outer west Sydney suburb of Campbelltown, NSW. The current line up is composed of Mark Owen, Matt Harvey, Nathaniel D’Ugo, Mathew Kelly and Kieran Elliott. Their third album Departure Songs gained them widespread acclaim within the post-rock and metal scenes around the world. The band have reached notable success internationally for their emotional and energetic live performances and modern and thematic approach to the post-rock genre. They are currently released through Australian independent record label Bird's Robe Records, which is distributed through MGM in Australia and independently worldwide. Dunk!Records in Europe and Translation Loss in North America.
History[edit]
The band was formed when Mark Owen approached Nathaniel D’Ugo to start a band with him after Nathaniel’s former band Omeratá had broken up. From here they called upon friends Chris Torpy on vocals and the twin brothers Grant and Brendon Warner on guitar from another local band Sound The Mute to join. The idea was to create a huge and heavy sounding project that would act like a collaborative of musicians. The band’s member line up has changed many times, at one point consisting of nine members. The band’s name doesn’t have a specific meaning. The early members wanted a name that creates an enigmatic feeling, evokes emotion and leaves interpretation up to the listener. The group often incorporates themes into their albums such as loss, grief and hope, space exploration, war and stories from history.
They released their first record entitled Crimea - engineered and mixed by Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna in February 2009 at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne, Australia. This was released only on CD and independently by the band the following year. This record was inspired by poems written about the Crimean war and heroic infamous figures such as Florence Nightingale.[1][2]
In 2010 the band went into the studio to record their second album The Quietest Place on Earth . Complications and member changes delayed the release of this record until 2012 when Grant Warner and Brad Garnham left the band and Matt Harvey (ex Omeratá) joined on guitars after receiving a last minute call from long time friend, Chris, asking him to come to a rehearsal. A short time after the band joined with Bird’s Robe Records and Matt Harvey invested money into releasing the record on vinyl and CD.
The record was received well and was followed up with a handful of highly successful local shows including their sold out album launch and supporting American post-metal band Rosetta where the band debuted the new line up and songs. Lochlan Watt from Triple J and Dave Drayton from FBi Radio both mentioned the band in the best of 2012 in Drum Media’s writers poll.[3]
In March 2013, their close friend and vocalist of the band, Chris Torpy, sadly took his own life aged only 24. This was devastating for the band and following that was an uncertain and emotional time. They played with American post-rock band This Will Destroy You on 21st March 2013 at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney as an instrumental set and the only gig they had played without Chris since the start of the band. Attended by friends and family, this was a very emotional and special event.[4][5]
On April 26, 2014 We Lost The Sea held a tribute and benefit show to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention and education surrounding depression and anxiety in association with beyondblue Australia.[6]
Departure Songs[edit]
In 2015 the band recorded and released their third LP Departure Songs initially through Bird’s Robe Records and Art As Catharsis Records in Australia. Later to be released in Europe through Dunk!Records and in North America through Translation Loss Records. This record is their first all instrumental album and was a slight shift away from their old dynamic. The most personally experimental and emotional to date. Heavily affected by the loss of Chris, Departure Songs is a concept album inspired by failed, yet epic and honourable individual journeys or events throughout history where people have done extraordinary things for the greater good of those around them, and the progress of the human race itself. Each song has its own story and is a soundtrack to that story with its own piece of art to illustrate the journeys within the songs. This record was also a cathartic tribute to Chris Torpy.
The artwork by guitarist Matt Harvey helped wrap the theme of this record together with the music and found acclaim on it’s own merit with an article in Digital Arts Magazine (UK) and reaching over 42,000 views on Behance.[7][8]
Departure Songs was widely received and reached critical acclaim all over the world in the highly regarded post-rock scene and even breaking out of the boundaries to reach different audiences everywhere. Their song A Gallant Gentleman, the main single from the album and featuring a Sydney girls school choir, has been featured on multiple radio stations, video projects, student films, and promotion for media brands and football clubs. The final and song on the album, Challenger - Part 1: Flight has been used for interpretative dance routines and over documentaries. One album stream on YouTube has almost reach 4 million views.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Tours[edit]
The album generated enough buzz for the band to pursue extensive national tours of Australia. They were also invited to support post-rock and post-metal bands Baroness, Maybeshewill, This Will Destroy You, Caspian, Pelican, Earth, Jakob (NZ) and Japan's Mono and Boris on their Australian visits. Even being offered the support for Finnish cello-metal band Apocalyptica on their Australian tour.[15][16][17][18] [19][20][21][22]
First Australian Headline Tour[edit]
The band embarked on a 9 date tour of Australia over the course of June and July 2016. The tour finished at a sold out show at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney where they played with the VOX youth choir from Sydney Philharmonia Choir.
The Last Dive Tour[edit]
In January 2017 the band did a 3 date east coast headline run to celebrate the end of the Departure Songs album cycle in Australia before heading to Europe. It also signified the last shows guitarist Brendon Warner would play with the band after deciding to leave to focus on studies. The Sydney Morning Herald listed the Sydney show at the Newtown Social Club as top 5 gig of the week next to artists like Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and Refused. Both the Sydney and Melbourne shows sold out.[23][24]
European Tour 2017[edit]
In May 2017 the band embarked on their first ever overseas tour to Europe with their debut show at the Belgian post-rock festival Dunk! This was followed by 16 shows around the continent playing some shows to sold out crowds such as A38 in Budapest and WERK-2 in Leipzig and ending with a huge sold out show in Paris. Carl Whitbread (Lo!, Omeratá) came on board as their touring guitarist for this tour. The tour also included Sydney post-rock/prog bands Meniscus and Dumbsaint. [25]
TQPOE 5 year anniversary tour[edit]
In December 2017 the group decided to tour in celebration of their second album The Quietest Place on Earth’s fifth anniversary. They felt that it was underrepresented when it was released and Chris had passed away so soon after its official release that there was only a handful of shows played during that time. Joining them to fill in on vocals for this tour was Jarrod Krafczyk (The Amenta, Omeratá) and former guitarist Brendon Warner filled in on third guitar. This tour also included a last minute support addition from Rosetta who were in Australia touring with sleepmakeswaves at the time.
This tour is also when the band started working with Australian music booking agents Select Touring.[26][27]
China Tour 2018[edit]
On 22 March 2018 the band embarked on a 10 show tour of China managed by the touring company New Noise. This was their first tour to Asia and they played in front of their biggest headline crowd to date at Shenzhen B10 Live, concluding with a show at This Town Needs (formerly Hidden Agenda) in Hong Kong. One of the first shows after it re-opened after UK band This Town Needs Guns had issues with immigration the previous year.[28][29]
Record Releases[edit]
The band have had multiple pressings done of their records. They are known for high quality artwork and multiple colour variations. Most notably is Departure Songs which has been pressed 3 times with a total of 9 colour variations. All current pressings have sold out. Some rare variants are being sold on Discogs for extremely high prices.
Ricky Gervais and Twitter post[edit]
On Jan 30th 2018 Ricky Gervais surprised the band by posting on Twitter and Facebook “If you love @mogwaiband and @hammockmusic, you might like @welostthesea. They go great with computer chess and red wine too.” Mentioning the band alongside post-rock giants Mogwai and Hammock and generating an article in The Music.[30]
Musical style and influences[edit]
The band’s sound has changed over the years while the basis and heart of the music has stayed relatively the same. The loss of their vocalist made the band choose to release instrumental music whereas previously the band had been associated with post-metal, doom and sludge metal genres. They have always leaned towards thematic, long, atmospheric and heavy styles of writing and even with vocals there are many instrumental parts throughout their albums. The band has been referred to sounding like and being influenced by Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai, Cult of Luna, Explosions In The Sky and The Cinematic Orchestra. Also compared locally to sleepmakeswaves and Laura in terms of successful Australian post-rock bands.
Members[edit]
Current Members[edit]
- Mark Owen - guitar (2007-present)
- Matt Harvey - guitar (2012-present)
- Nathaniel D'Ugo - drums (2007-present)
- Kieran Elliott - bass (2009-present)
- Mathew Kelly - piano, keyboards (2009-present)
Current Touring Members[edit]
- Carl Whitbread - guitar (2017-present)
Front of House[edit]
- Michael Taverner (2009-present)
Former Members[edit]
- Chris Torpy - vocals, samples (2007-died March 2013)
- Brendon Warner - guitar (2008-2016)
- Grant Warner - guitar (2008-2012)
- Bradley Garnham - guitar (2007-2012)
- Jared Ryan - bass (2007-2009)
Discography[edit]
Studio Albums[edit]
- Crimea (2010)
- The Quietest Place On Earth (2012)
- Departure Songs (2015)
References[edit]
- ↑ Echoes and Dust - Crimea Review
- ↑ Sputnikmusic - Crimea
- ↑ Drum Media Writers Poll
- ↑ Sydney Experimental Metal Band Confirm Singer’s Passing
- ↑ This Will Destroy You, Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving & We Lost The Sea - The Annandale Hotel
- ↑ Tribute show for Chris Torpy of We Lost The Sea
- ↑ Matt Harvey's beautifully sad artworks show noble failures and sacrifices
- ↑ Departure Songs - Complete Artwork
- ↑ Echoes & Dust review
- ↑ Heavy Blog is Heavy review
- ↑ Arctic Drones review
- ↑ Can This Even Be Called Music review
- ↑ hhhhappy mag review
- ↑ Bound by Blue - Carlton Football Club
- ↑ Pelican Manning Bar, Sydney, AUS, 26 July 2014
- ↑ LIVE REVIEW: MAYBESHEWILL + SOLKYRI + WE LOST THE SEA @ NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB, SYDNEY – 29 SEPTEMBER 2014
- ↑ LIVE REVIEW: MAYBESHEWILL + SOLKYRI + WE LOST THE SEA - THE CROWBAR, BRISBANE (28.09.14)
- ↑ LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS Apocalyptica and Supports in Melbourne
- ↑ We Lost The Sea in Beat Magazine
- ↑ BARONESS at the Metro Theatre, Sydney
- ↑ Baroness’ First Ever Aussie Headline Tour Lights Like a Match to ‘Kerosene’
- ↑ Live Review: Apocalyptica – 25/09/16 – Max Watts, Brisbane
- ↑ Sydney's top gigs: Nick Cave, Refused, We Lost the Sea, PJ Harvey, Aurora - SMH
- ↑ We Lost The Sea Guitarist Farewells 'Departure Songs' Album - And The Band
- ↑ Dunk! Festival 2017
- ↑ We Lost The Sea, Rosetta, Arteries - Lansdowne Hotel
- ↑ INTERVIEW: MATT HARVEY FROM WE LOST THE SEA
- ↑ This Town Needs Hidden Agenda: Underground music venue to return
- ↑ We Lost the Sea China Tour 2018/ Timeout - China
- ↑ Turns Out Ricky Gervais Is A Big Fan Of Sydney's We Lost The Sea...
External Links[edit]
This article "We Lost The Sea" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:We Lost The Sea. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
