What are your names?
Alex Burdess, Shae Kakos and Wesley Hill
What is the bands name?
The Only Ocean
How did you come up with the bands name?
It’s a lyric from an Arctic Monkey song called “Potion Approaching”.
What is your genre of music?
At this point we’ve given up trying to figure that one out. We been called anything from post-punk to post-grunge, to psychedelic pop to a more alternative Coldplay. We’ve started caring less and less of our genre. At the end of the day its always gonna be the 3 of us writing the music and that’s what’s important to us.
Give us a little bio about you.
Friends since junior high, the band taps into a level of unity that is typically only achieved by sibling groups, like the Beach Boys or the Jonases, their tight modern grooves locking together to support a soft bed of crackling guitars and soaring vocals.
What made you go in to music?
Going to local shows when we were in middle school/earlier high school. I remember thinking all those bands were Gods. Also, at that time Arctic Monkeys and the Strokes were huge for us. Still are.
Are you a signed?
No.
You released your new single ‘Replaceable’,tell us more about it.
Replaceable is about struggling with body dysmorphia and anorexia and thinking that if you were dead that everyone would just replace you in their lives.
What was the writing process like?
The music was written late 2016/earlier 2017. It was a song that was just sitting there. It didn’t really become more of a thing until the lyrics got added earlier this year. That’s when the song really started to take its shape.
What was the recording process like?
Working with Jonathan DeBaun(The Mars Volta, Antemasque, Le Butcherettes) has been one the best things to happen to this band. This was our 4th time working with him and he’s constantly pushing us and finding new ways to get new sounds and make the production better than the last. Especially on this song. I feel like we did things that we’ve never really done before.
What is the message you want listeners to take from the single?
If it can help someone with those same problems then great and if it can help someone who doesn’t have those same problems then that’s great too. Just as long as people can relate to the song and see themselves in it is all we can ask for.
Describe the track in two words.
Post-punk. Post-grunge. Psychedelic pop. Alternative Coldplay. Take your pick.
Will we a EP or Album and if so what can we expect?
We’re re-releasing our last record, Good Morning, with 3 new songs and 2 remixes. The 3 new songs were the last 3 songs we wrote before recording Good Morning. They were stuck in limbo but we all really liked them so we decided to put them on the re-release. All 3 are things we’ve never really done before.
Do you have any gigs planned or a tour in planning?
A few shows in the works but no touring. Hopefully soon.
If so where are you thinking of heading?
Up and down the coast of California. Hopefully Arizona.
What else can we expect from you this year?
More music, music videos and live sessions. Both full band and stripped-down versions.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
No.
Do you play any instruments?
Of course. All 3 of us can bounce around from instrument to instrument.
Who are your influences?
Arctic Monkeys, the Strokes, the Beatles, Weezer, Green Day.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
I honestly never know. It just kinda happens and when it does you just have to go with it. Songs feel like they’re gifts and if you don’t take it then someone else is gonna get it.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully still doing the same thing but on a national level.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Figuring out what we like to do besides music. There’s never really much of a break from it.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Cliche but just be yourself. Sometimes that can one of the toughest things but it’s the best advice you can be given. We’d hate it if we were known for being fake.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Just be yourself.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I won’t say “just be yourself” this time. You’re being too creative is one we like coming back to. For us it means not getting away from our original idea. Sometimes those are the best ones and by doing too much you can lose why it was special from the start.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Certain Sparks Music, South Side Coffee Co, the Wine Factory. There’s some great restaurants too. Thai food is usually what the 3 of us like to get.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
Bed.
2/ Who do you see first?
Family/dogs and cats/friends.
3/What do you eat first?
Probably Thai food or Mexican food.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Yourself, gear, merch, phone charger, frisbee/skateboard.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?