I love the sea, I love ponies, and I’ve just discovered a band called Seapony.
This cutely named band is based in Seattle, with Danny Rowland as guitarist and songwriter, Jen Weidl as chanteuse, and Ian Brewer on bass. Their first record was the Seapony EP, self-released and modest. I enjoyed the track I really Do, because of its great drum machine intro. The second EPDreaming was released by an English label called Double Denim, and sold out fast. The band released their first LP Go With Me with the US label Hardly Art Records last year.
Seapony seem to be one of those groups that are almost surprised by their own success, although the bassist and guitarist had played music together before. I like it when a band does well quickly – they don’t have too much time to brood about anything, other than making good tunes.
Seapony’s new album is called Falling. It is set for release on the 11th of September. I wondered about the name and the date too. I didn’t ask. I like a bit of mystery with my album anyway. The title does imply a slightly darker tone, which might be what we need to hear in Seapony’s usually happy-go-lucky sound.
You can get a taste of the new single What You Wanted online. I immediately liked it, which is indeed what you want from a single. The song starts with a simple but joyous guitar riff and a signature Seapony pop beat. Then comes the vocal entry, a little surprise.
The tone changes, and the song becomes soulful and whimsical. The lyrics are nicely cryptic; ‘You’ve been waiting for, something you’ve forgotten.’ Who is this voice, and what have they lost?
I asked the band about their recording process. I wondered about the drums, and how the feeling of the song is captured alongside a machine. Danny Rowland informed me that they are actually ‘half man, half machine’.
«A drum machine beat was laid down and other instruments were recorded on top of that. Then I played these electronic drum pads, to give it a looser feel.»
The melodies of the other instruments do a lot of work too. It is often the guitar which sets the tone – sometimes thick and fuzzy, sometimes golden surf, and always with a friendly riff. Seapony use simple and beautiful lyrics, mainly written by Danny. I asked where Jen fits in with this, and he explained:
«When I write a line that doesn’t work, Jen replaces it with something more appropriate.»
They must have a very good relationship in order to trust each other in this way. Perhaps it also explains why Weidl’s singing sometimes sounds slightly distant. Then again, this ambiguity does blend in with the dreamlike world that I think Seapony are trying to create.
I asked the band who Jen’s favourite female singers were. The answer covered a broad spectrum, including Nico, Dolly Parton, Lesley Gore (famous for It’s My Party), and Kathleen Hanna (of Le Tigre). Jen seems to fuse iconic female pop from the sixties with Indie and progressive sounds from the late nineties and the early «noughties». I can hear a bit of Lesley Gore in Jen’s voice, and the recording methods and coy charm of Seapony reflect the band’s place in the Olympian Indie scene.
What You Wanted is now firmly stuck in my head. I had a little preview of the rest of the album, and particularly enjoyed a song called Follow (track 4). The guitar part is cheeky. It creates a nice sense of urgency around Weidl’s serene vocals, rounding up her voice like a melodic sheepdog. Sunlight(track 8) is another one to listen out for, if you enjoy picturing Hawaii in the 1950s as much as I do.
I would love to see Seapony live, but the band does not have any approaching gigs in the UK. Maybe we should write them a nice letter of invitation, or go on holiday to the West Coast?
Text by Martha Rowsell
Text by: by Martha Rowsell
