Seegulls are an indie band based in Chester two years ago, alongside studying Popular Music Performance. Now the boys have been gigging across the country building up their fanbase. Influenced by bands such as The Libertines, The Strokes and The Smiths, the five-piece is preparing to take on the music scene.
We chat to the band about them; why they wanted to start a band, their new EP and their huge comeback show.
Tell us about your aims when creating music, and where does that aim stem from?
We want to craft just the perfect pop songs. We’re all music students, so I think it’s fair to say we’re all pretty good at what we do. When I write, I try and bare everybody’s strengths in mind and we play to those strengths. However, the songs I write sound totally different after we rehearse them- I bring the skeleton and the boys provide the flesh and they make the song what it is.
What was the catalyst for picking up instruments and wanting to start a band?
The first song I ever remember hearing was Girl from Mars by Ash and the energy that song has was infectious for a 6 year old! I then stole all my Dad’s CD’s that looked cool, begged him to buy me anything that sounded cool on the radio and very quickly became obsessed with everything. I was listening to Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party and the Bravery when I was like 8 or 9 so I feel like I was quite a cool kid!
Were you very influential to music when growing up or did you establish your own musical preferences?
Both really, my parents were really into music so it was always around but as soon as I’d hear something that my parents were playing- I’d automatically want to hear more from that band. And then as I got older, I’d want to know what the song was about, what the bands influences are, what their influences influences are so really, I was influenced by my parents but my own morbid curiosity I think has made me into the songwriter, guitarist and person I am today.
Tell us about what it was like when you first started writing?
I was shit when I first started writing music! I absolutely loved it, but the tunes were bollocks. I was mad into Bon Jovi so they’d sound like acoustic 80’s power ballads- not good stuff. But I wasn’t that popular at school, no one was really into music like I was so it was kind of a release. But I’ve been doing it for 7 years now, so I hope I’ve improved.
What’s the music scene like in Chester at the moment? Any band recommendations?
The scene is incredible, but under appreciated. You have to check out the new greenroom EP, that’s gonna change your life. Sustinere are getting new music out this year which will be incredible and Peaness are the only ones apart from maybe us who seem to be making a name for themselves outside of town- their new EP is also awesome.
What was it like to play your hometown again after five months?
It was crazy man. We had so much to prove, our new songs sound incredible and we had to make everyone aware of the direction we’re moving in. It was outside as well, so playing our songs as the sun was going down was something special.
What and who influences you musically?
As a band we’re into so many different bands so anything that we like. Little bits seep into the songs, even when we’re not expecting it.
Describe your song-writing process?
I write words down on my phone all the time so I always start with like a riff, a chord pattern or a lead line, look at my notes and then try and develop it from there. I always write on an acoustic guitar and then I bring it to the boys. I’d sometimes show it to them individually and see if there’s anything that can change from the start but then it changes when we get to the rehearsal room- I kinda just let them take control!
What was it like recording your debut EP ‘?
It was a really weird experience. The boys we recorded with are absolutely fantastic at what they do, but we didn’t have the artistic control and license that we would have liked. They wanted to mould us into a band that we simply aren’t and we didn’t want to sound like the rest of the bands they work with- no disrespect to them, that’s just not what we have in mind for our sound. But we worked with Bob Cooper to record our new single and that was an absolute dream.
Although you are in a band, do you still have to work day jobs in-between live shows?
Ahh, we all have day jobs! We want to earn our money from music but we’re prepared to do the dirty work to get there!
How would you like people to respond to your music? Do you wish to connect emotionally with the audience or is it just about having a party?
As long as there’s a positive reaction, I don’t mind. Our music is accessible, we’ve got choruses for days so there’s obviously room for a party. But I write from a very personal place so it would be amazing if people could connect with that on a similar level. We’ll see, it’s early days yet.
Do you ever see your sound changing from the style of music you write?
Definitely, we all like music in general- there isn’t really a genre we dislike apart from country music and Ed Sheeran. Music only consists of twelve notes so you’ve got to do all you can to make it sound as cool as possible. All our new stuff sounds so different from each other and so much different to what’s on the EP. Anything could happen for the next song.
