"The Seascape is about writing about things that apply to us personally. We’re not going to waste our time or our listeners’ time by writing power ballads."
Despite the absence of good gigs, The Seascape tries to roll with what they can get. Their stage shows are exciting and the crowds respond well to the threesome.
“Their concerts are great because they have a lot of energy and they can connect well with the crowd,” senior Megan Ardery said.
The Seascape started out playing alongside death metal bands from town, but the “screamer bands scared everybody away,” Smith said of the band’s early years. Luckily for them, they became friends with another indie band from Westport, Midi & the Modern Dance. Midi is a band composed of seven Westport High School seniors, one of which plays the accordion. Their unique style has captured the attention of a number of people, including the staff of the Fairfield County Weekly, who declared them the best indie band in the county. The title has not been cause for any unfriendly competition between the two groups. Both Midi and The Seascape have remained close friends throughout the years.
“I don’t think Fairfield County Weekly’s opinion really hold a lot of weight with people who are interested in being a part of the budding indie scene in CT,” Midi lead singer Omeed Goodarzi said. “I love those guys and I don’t see myself becoming successful, but these guys are all very passionate and I wouldn't be surprised if they went on to do something significant musically.”
The Seascape has since played a number of shows alongside Midi, with crowds of up to fifty people. The band’s fans appreciate their originality and distinctive touch.
“[The Seascape] is great because they’re very unique and the guitar is awesome,” said senior Kristina Holmgren, “The lyrics are really interesting too.”
Many music blogs have taken a liking to the Seascape. The attention has been good for the rising group because it has allowed for the band’s music to be seen outside of their MySpace page.
“It is early days, but already the potential is there to see. Forget that The Seascape are teenagers, they have already proven they are a bona-fide awesome proposition,” says mp3 hugger, a blog site.
The Seascape is an excellent band, sprung from the very depths of the Darien music scene. Their unique, individual style has caused music fans across the nation to take notice of their work. Check out their MySpace page to experience their songs first hand. Personal favorites are “Things to Do” and their new single, “Sounds Like Fun.” To see The Seascape live, keep your eyes open for dates at The Depot.Things to Do with The Seascape
A Look at DHS's only Indie Rock Band
By Alex McGuire - 01/09
NEIRAD enilno edition | printer friendly
Darien High School’s sole indie-rock band, The Seascape, is one of the most well-known bands of Fairfield County. The senior trio of Jake Seymour (vocals/bass), Patrick Smith (guitar), and Mike Muney (drums) has recently released a new single called “Sounds like Fun” on their MySpace page, which has already attracted over 1,000 plays. They have been acknowledged by multiple blog sites such as: "mp3hugger", "clicky clicky music blog", and "Quick, Before it Melts".
“The Seascape is about writing about things that apply to us personally. We’re not going to waste our time or our listeners’ time by writing power ballads,” said Patrick Smith, the band’s lyricist and lead guitarist.
The group is a frequent guest at The Depot, where they play alongside other bands from the area. The Seascape has composed over fifty songs and has attracted a loyal fan base during their years at DHS. Many of their songs are influenced by The Strokes and Interpol.
“We started out when we were about 13 playing Christmas songs in the Middlesex Rotunda to raise money for a charity. We had a good time doing it, so we decided to start writing our own songs. The first ones were about hobos, boxes, and foxes,” Smith said.
When listening to songs like “Things to Do” or “Person Place or Thing,” it is obvious that the band has progressed into bigger and better things since their early years. “Things to Do,” leads off with a beautifully crafted riff. It puts the maturity of such a young band on full display. Once the drums kick in, the song transforms into a foot-tapping, upbeat melody. The vocals enter along with the drums: “You have better things to do/ I won’t hold that against you.” Seymour instantly ages from high school teen to professional, high-caliber vocalist.
“Our lyrics talk about stuff that applies to us directly, while not trying to sound like angsty teens,” Smith said, “We write things about being young and we try to capture the fun of our youth.”
The Seascape faces many obstacles on their journey to becoming “discovered” amid the Rock Band and American Idol era. Every Average Joe in the nation seems to think they’re the next Beatle because they scored above a 90% on Rock Band’s expert mode. Yet for The Seascape, the most pressing matter is the fact that the high school band scene in Darien is virtually non-existent. The Depot is the only place in the town that gives local bands the spotlight.
Mike Muney drums
Patrick Smith is cheered on by a crowd of fans
Jake Seymour sings and plays the bass
