Bio
Emerging from the sparkling waters of beautiful Byron Bay, Seaside are four friends making music with a goth-pop sound. The bands high-energy live shows have captivated audiences all over the country, and seen them share the stage with the likes of Angus & Julia Stone, The Jungle Giants, Lime Cordiale, Ocean Alley and Last Dinosaurs.
Seaside was formed in 2017 by couple Darcy Dexter (vocals) and Chris Mellross (drums), with then housemate Tom Ketelaars (bass). They were later joined on guitar by Josh O’Neill Hammer (aka. Froggy), formerly of fellow Northern Rivers band Waxhead.
In June 2018, the band released their single ‘Golden Girl’, a pristine piece of “disco-pop meshed with dream-rock that leaves you bewildered and entranced” (The Revue), garnering rave reviews from such publications as Happy Mag and LittleIndieBlogs, as well as gaining regular rotation on national radio station Triple J and Triple J Unearthed. Mixed by Matt Redlich and mastered by Rob Grant, ‘Golden Girl’ was undoubtedly a step-up for the Byron Bay four- piece, showcasing the maturation of their sound after two years as a band.
After the success of ‘Golden Girl’, Seaside were picked as local winners of the Triple J Unearthed competition to play Byron Bay festival Splendour in the Grass in July 2018. They have since become a mainstay on the festival circuit, gracing the stages of Party in The Paddock, Summer Salt, Grampians Music Festival, Shakafest and more.
Following a jam-packed 2019 that saw the band embark upon several national tours and play a handful of festivals, Seaside released the E.P 'In Another Life', a collection of singles released during the year, all of which were featured on several top-tier Spotify playlists and also received airplay on national radio station Triple J.
Amidst a 2020 that saw many months of quarantine and cancelled tours due to COVID-19, Seaside came out with new singles 'Shame' and 'Dopamine', both of which showcased a darker, post punk sound for the four-piece.
The latter half of the year saw Seaside perform a sold-out tour in support of Aussie heavyweights Ocean Alley, a tour that included some of the first big shows in the country post-COVID lockdowns.
The latest release for Seaside is 'State of Grace'. Drawing on the religious concept of graciousness for inspiration, lead vocalist Darcy Dexter wrote the songs lyrics about "growing up, making mistakes and learning; and the different phases of finding contentment in life and in myself. This is my own personal state of grace, not the religious interpretation but rather a more modern take; it's the way I carry myself through life", says Dexter.
The new single continues to utilise the bands nuanced goth-pop sound, with menacing guitar riffs and repeating hypnotic drums intensified by Darcy Dexter's brooding vocals and interweaving synth lines contributed by Ocean Alley's Lachlan Galbraith. It was engineered and mixed by frequent Seaside collaborators Paul Pilsneniks at Rocking Horse Studios and George Georgiadis at Little Wing Sound.
Everyone's favourite North Coast pals Seaside are taking over Splendour this weekend as our local comp winners! We couldn't be more excited. So head down early for funky dance moves, the odd confetti gun and dream pop magic.
Tell us about your music. How did you develop your sound?
It took us a couple of years to develop our sound and even then, it’s continuously changing and growing. When we started jamming we had all just come off the back of completely different genres so at first, it was an eclectic mix of all the things we had to offer. Then we started writing, pulling bits and pieces apart and pinpointing what we liked about them. Wavy Baby was the first EP, it’s a little slower and moodier than the next, but it’s nice to see how much the sound started to change. After we released our second EP Lover, We All Have Our Vices, we wrote 'Golden Girl'. I think we decided then that we were happy heading in that direction. Froggy joined the band pretty soon after and we started writing a little more indie but still with the dream-pop vibe. You’ll see when we release the next single!
What’s your greatest source of inspiration for making music?
I think at the moment it’s each other! We all have so much love for music and writing music that we kind of inspire each other! Lyrically I draw inspiration from people I meet, my friends, a beautiful view, a crummy day. Everything can be inspiration if you view it in the right way!
What can punters expect from a SEASIDE live show?
We have some pretty funky dance moves, the odd confetti gun, I like to tell stories about the silly things we do, a bit of banter and a heap of feelies!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?
I’ve been lucky enough to have been given advice from some amazing people, the most recent piece of advice I was given that stuck with me was actually from Froggy. We were speaking about how we get nervous for shows and he said "those feelings, and the butterflies, they make you want it so much more". They push you to perform with your absolute all and then you get to feel that sense of accomplishment when you’re finished. How lucky to be able to feel that rush! And he’s so right. If we never got nervous for things we wouldn’t be putting ourselves out of our comfort zone! I think it’s so important to do that for self-growth!
What Australian track would you play to cheer up someone who was crying?
The Round the Twist theme tune. That could cheer anyone up.
What Australian track would you play to someone to make them cry?
I took this question as crying in a good way! It would have to be Stella Donnelly with ‘Boys Will Be Boys’. She’s so talented, I saw her play at the Northern in Byron and I cried, a lot. The boys told me ‘the Optus hold music’ is also an acceptable answer.
You’re the DJ at a party. The dance floor is pumping. What Australian track do you put on next?
The Presets with ‘My People’! What a tune!
What was the last local gig you went to? How was it?
We went to PLTS last night, they’re really great guys and are such an amazing live band, super tight and sound like they could play a stadium. I’d had a few birthday margaritas so you could say I danced pretty hard!
Tell us about the bands or people in the North Coast music community that inspire you.
There are so many talented people in this area, they all have so much passion towards everything they do that I am constantly inspired. PLTS inspire me because they are such an amazing live band, so tight and flawless. Also, there’s another friend of ours who is supporting us at the Northern, her name is Sophie Ozard, she’s definitely someone to watch out for. Beautiful voice, effortlessly smooth and so amazing to watch (also she’s a really genuine, lovely person)! We are really blessed to live in such a creative hub, I feel like all the musicians here kind of bounce and vibe off each other, we always go to each other’s shows and are always encouraging one another, it’s really nice.
What are your plans for 2018?
Well, we play Splendour (ahhh!!) and then head off on our Golden Girl tour, then we’ll be dropping a new single and touring with Last Dinosaurs. Then back for more writing/recording/releasing and then hopefully a summer of shows and new friends!
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Review
In the words of DJ Khaled, ANOTHER ONE. Just checking in to say I adore everything you do.
In the words of DJ Khaled, ANOTHER ONE. Just checking in to say I adore everything you do.
Review
Love this. A literal dream.
Love this. A literal dream.
Review
SEASIDE are the definition of heaven, but in music pop form. Blissfully charged, gracious, dream magic every time.
SEASIDE are the definition of heaven, but in music pop form. Blissfully charged, gracious, dream magic every time.
