Seafarer

For Seafarer, music’s always been an unremitting cycle of altering parts; that is, until most recently. The fact that their self-released EP, Hiding Places, is now being re-released to a larger audience is testament to the band’s hard-working state of mind. A mentality and strategy that has kept them grounded since their inception two years ago, Seafarer have fully embraced the craft of being dissimilar and still, engrossingly gripping. As for the album, front man, Patrick Grzelewski, states, “It taught us so much about ourselves and the music we were creating, and allowed us to step outside of it in a way we never had before.” Pieces change and shift with the passing wind and for all of the golden nuggets that Seafarer have hidden throughout this charming EP, the pay-off will surely be worth it.

Working in previous bands is definitely something band members, Grzelewski, Matt Spies (Drums, Percussion) and Eric Sneider (Bass) feel has aided their efforts to new outcomes. Even past failures can carry a great deal of magnitude and in working with engineer Jake Westermann, the band was given full capacity in exploring the walls of the studio. “Creative input from the engineer was both a new experience for us, and one of the single most important elements of the process. He pushed us without overstepping his bounds, knowing that we were capable of much more,” states Grzelewski in describing the album’s work-at-progress. Songs like the mercurial and heady “The Archipelago” and even its ensuing partner, “Functional,” with its psychedelic stomp and open-ended structure, are very simply, vivid proof of a band putting all of their merits to work. Songs take shape through the band and engineer’s impressive musicality and now with an EP that almost resembles an LP in size (seven songs, all over four minutes each), Seafarer are sounding and looking instantly ready and prepared for whatever life has in store for them next.

“So carry on, so carry on…if you know how,” laments Grzelewski before a torrid instrumental section of psych-rock on “Sound it Makes.” For all we know, Grzelewski could be singing about the sound it makes when you get your heart broken and it is with his three other band-mates that they are able to come together, for a unifying sound of Midwestern rock. Leaving the perception open for the listener to take notice has always been a focus in songwriting for Grzelewski as he states, “I think a big part of writing music or creating any art is to leave a certain portion of your work open ended, for the listener/fan’s interpretation.” Taking all of their roots, all of their influences and all of their specific styles together and morphing them into a solid brand of good ol’ rock and roll is what Seafarer is about. Being modest and humble has always been important – Hiding Places signifies a moment where not only influences like Wilco, Fugazi and even, Sonic Youth come to play – and Seafarer take their roots and put them on display for all to witness.

And when wondering about the sheer fact of being able to make music and the effect it can have, “The record is really a milestone; a step forward for us individually and collectively, signifying a certain transcendence beyond the patterns of our past failures and an acceptance of our own skins.” Grzelewski adds. It also doesn’t hurt that as a unique four-some, they’ve all shared their own instances of life and moving on for us to admire on Hiding Places. Like the kaleidoscope of sounds they achieve – rock, folk, psych, pop – Seafarer combine their strengths as a band in creating a melting pot of diversifying sounds and tones.