PREMIERE | Oceans, "Pure"
Glamor headshot of Tom from Oceans; courtesy of Mayzie.
Through the fog of strangeness and uncertainty that has clouded our collective consciousness over the course of the past three years, modes of expressionism has been the methodology for everyone the world over. From isolated quarantines, dimmer switch situations of lockdowns and pseudo-lockdowns; we all have pursued outlets to express ourselves with everything from the most humble to elaborate means at our immediate and localized disposal. From canvases, sketchpads, notepads, mobile applications, recording consoles, phones and so on — we as a people reached out into the void to actualize human connection and materialize our beings into the ghost towns that littered the globe’s desolate plains. Like the vintage Bell System advert, we were broadcasting our signals of expression into the ether to send out (whilst seeking out) signs of life in the hopes to receive a response in return to feel that familiar sense of hope and warmth that often is in short supply.
Melbourne/Naarm, Australian dreamers Tom & Mayzie of Oceans understand these drives and desires of expression and personal/creative actualization as they emerge from their own 2020-2021 lockdown with the debut of poignant and purposeful single “Pure”. The follow-up to “High”, they announce their debut album Dreamers in Dark Cities for Shelflife Records that chronicles the music makers of the music and the dreamers of the dream emerging from a previously unfathomable worldwide nightmare. Working with producer Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studios, Tom & Mayzie build upon their mind-flight sound heard on Come So Far and Live at Dangertone Studios with instrumental contributions by Dwayne Pearce, Joshua Strange, Michael Fox and Anthony Knoepfle. Together the chords, keys, rhythms, vocals and ethereal vibes rise high up from the sullen earth toward staggering stratospheres of wistful, positive and amorous exaltations.
Complete with a visual from Declan Harding of Manifest The Psyche Productions, Oceans present a performance video to herald the return of live music after enduring the isolating expanses of the longest night. The ferocity of romanticism rips through the track, the shining semblance of a feeling emanating forth from the core of the human spirit in pursuit of something substantial that is more permanent than the fleeing infatuations of the temporal. The audio and visuals all point toward a bold and blistering sense of togetherness, creativity acting in concert, the edification of human unity, expressions of artists banding together in melodic harmony. And right as the song reaches its apex of expressive unison, we witness Tom Lee left alone on stage strumming his heart out gently as a reminder of the solo tribulations we all have witnessed for ourselves in the wake of that dreadful new normal. Oceans send out a wave with the message of an everlasting love to enrich and enlighten our weary and worn down spirits, hearts and minds.
Organ hangouts with Tom from Oceans; press photo courtesy of Mayzie.
Tom from Oceans provided the following reflections on the new single and forthcoming album:
“Pure”
Throughout my life I found myself escaping into isolationism to escape a world that I found myself in that seemed devoid of authenticity. “Pure” is written about trying to find a pure expression of art that is totally freed from the ugliness of the world. By escaping into isolationism I can use music as a canvas to open myself up in ways that I couldn’t do otherwise without fear of judgement. I’ve always found it difficult to express my true thoughts throughout my life. I have always tried to put on a mask in front of other people and be who they want all the time. And sometimes that gets confusing when you have to be so many different people to satisfy the needs of others or just to fit into general society that I often doubt my own motives. Sometimes I don’t know whether I’m doing something I truly want or I’m only doing what makes other people happy.
Oceans to me is a way that I can express my feelings through music in a way that’s perfect for me. For instance, sitting in my room programming the perfect synth patch is elating when I finally finish and have a unique sound that hasn’t been heard before. The same feeling can be had going up on stage, turning my overdrive and fuzz pedals to their max settings and letting the sounds envelope me as I play in unison with my friends, being caught up in the moment. Reflecting on the song after its release, I’ve now learned that there is no pure expression of oneself through art. Just as we are all flawed individuals, that's what makes us unique and gives each persons’ artistic voice meaning. As an artist I will always push myself to perfectly express myself and hopefully connect with others, however I know I will never get there but I will pursue it nonetheless.
Exclusive meditations from Tom of Oceans; press photo courtesy of Mayzie.
Dreamers in Dark Cities
Dreamers in Dark Cities will be Oceans’ first full length LP. I experimented with various sounds whilst writing our debut EP, mixing ambient electronic, rock and shoegaze but this release is a more consistent musical statement from beginning to end. Written during the 2020 lockdown period, it encapsulates the feelings of isolation from being separated from your loved ones for so long. My hometown in Melbourne was hit particularly hard with one of the longest lockdown periods in the world so I found myself spending countless hours in my home studio, often losing track of time as the darkness of the depths of winter set in. I escaped into music, film and online hangouts with my friends to help cope with the constant loneliness, particularly looking forward to online movie nights as my sole form of interaction, but knowing deep down that it was no substitute for real connection. That’s where the title Dreamers in Dark Cities came from. We were all dreaming of bridging the gap which separated us from our friends and families, all while not knowing when that day might come. The streets were dark and cold and the city I grew up in looked immeasurably different. The songs touch on feelings of nostalgia, loneliness and hope, set to instrumental landscapes crafted using the baritone guitar, expansive synths and punch rhythms.
The album has taken over three years from its inception to release and has been one of the most challenging things I’ve worked on in my life. The recording process was both rewarding and demanding, as I sought to get the best sound possible on every song. The scope of the album seemed to grow endlessly as I would completely re-write songs after completing recording, some up to seven or eight times. Lyrics would change and evolve as time went on. And recording parts in my home studio as we shifted in and out of lockdowns. All of these culminated in many late night studio sessions going until three in the morning as I sought to get the best sound out of the record as possible. I hope this love and energy poured into the record can be heard as I am extremely proud of it and can’t wait to share it with the world.
Oceans’ debut album Dreamers in Dark Cities will be available TBD via Shelflife Records.