From the deep seas to the stage: An Interview with Seas of Mirth

inflnottingham
Apr 15
3 min read

Updated: Apr 24

Holly Surguy caught up with Seas of Mirth ahead of their gig next Friday 25th April at The Old Cold Store, talking nautical nonsense and creative processes for all to read and enjoy!

Photos by: Haluk Gurer

•⁠ ⁠The music has a sort of otherworldly sound, what inspires this sound? And how musically do you achieve this sound?

We're into exploring different vibes and rhythms and finding something unorthodox to mould into a catchy tune. I like to go by the mantra of "never do the same thing more than once". Sound wise, basically we really got into artists like Super Best Friends Club, The Comet Is Coming, Alabaster dePlume, Flamingods in the last seven or eight years, so we had a go at contacting their producer Kristian Robinson down at Total Refreshmemt Centre in London. Luckily he agreed to record our last two albums, which in turn gave us the sparkly, syrupy and as Paul would say "smangy" sound - that's a positive adjective by the way.

•⁠ ⁠Which artists inspire your music, it’s an original sound unlike a lot of other stuff at the moment?

Why thank you! Our main INFLuences are (see what we did there?)

Frank Zappa, Tame Impala, Talking Heads, Steely Dan, MF Doom, King Gizzard, Radiohead and Cardiacs. And a lot of Ethiopian jazz from the 60s. And the Bee Gees.

Photos by Haluk Gurer

•⁠ ⁠What other things inspire your music, obviously the sea is a theme and source of inspiration, but anything else?

The sea is an inspiration for making music as a lot of it is unchartered, depth wise especially... meaning there is so much to explore still. The deep ocean is the world's biggest disco - I take great comfort from that fact.

Aside from that, moments of sheer and utter boredom can be an inspiration, or like a very repetitive task, you know. Sometimes the psychological or subconscious need to create high octane entertainment and stimulation spirals out of complete banality, it is inevitable, everything comes in waves...

•⁠ ⁠You're clearly a large band, do you think that the collaboration of many different people creates the fusion sound that is distinctive in all of the music?

Yes! I mean, it's mainly Al and Paul (the dads of the band) who write, but there are so many musicians on the Kriller record so it was a matter of people slotting in where needed on the arrangements. The tunes are fully yet carefully loaded and we depend on the characteristics of many humans to give it a multi-faceted entirely non-boring affair.

•⁠ ⁠If you could put your music into any cinematic world which would it be?

A character in a Big Train sketch getting lost in a David Lynch film with David Attenborough commentary, Blue Planet style

Which way does the wind blow for the Seas Of Mirth this year?

We've had a lie in at the start of 2025 really. Al and Sal are travelling South East Asia at the mo, Smit is touring Ireland as an engineer. First show of the year is not til April when we support Henge in Worcester and then right into Nottingham for our biggest headline show on 25 Apr at the Old Cold Store, and it's Al's birthday! We've travelled a lot in the last few years, so a focus is bringing some of the ace music bands we've come across into our patch. This time it is Bethlehem Casuals turn to rip it up in Notts. Can't wait!!

•⁠ ⁠We can’t either! Thanks and Sea you later!!