By: Staff
Ceylon Sailor, the NYC-based indie fuzz band, has just dropped their third single, "lines seem severed," and it's absolute fire! This high-powered energy track will get your head bobbing and your feet tapping. The band describes their sound as "with one foot planted firmly in 1997 and the other dangling lazily in the air," that's exactly the vibe you get from this tune. The catchy and upbeat vocals perfectly complement the fuzzy guitars, creating an infectious and nostalgic sound that harkens back to the 90s alternative rock scene. One of the song's standout features is how the lead vocals take on an almost falsetto-like quality during the chorus, where they powerfully deliver the line "lines seem severed all around." This moment is a real highlight, as it feels like the song is hitting a reset button, and you're immediately drawn back in, ready to experience the track all over again. The musical arrangement is incredibly well-executed, with each instrument having its own distinct and defined place within the overall sound. This level of clarity and separation is crucial, as it allows the listener to appreciate the individual contributions of the band members fully. The performance is tight, and the engineering is top-notch, ensuring that the final product is a polished and immersive listening experience. "lines seem severed" is the kind of track that could easily be mistaken for a lost gem from the '90s, seamlessly blending the energy and attitude of that era with a fresh, modern twist. It's a must-add to any playlist and a great opportunity for listeners to discover this exciting new band. So, what are you waiting for? Stream "lines seem severed" by Ceylon Sailor today!
Wait, there's more!
We wanted to share even more about this exciting and emerging artist, so we interviewed them for “The Cage” Music Blog.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
When did you start making music?
KM: Ceylon Sailor started in the summer of 2023 - Kieran (drums/producer) started working on a group of songs that I had been writing for several years while in other bands and while cooped up during the pandemic. We fleshed out a bunch of demos and then started tracking them during that summer. The rest of the band came on board during that time.
Can you tell the fans something they might not know about you and why you create music?
KM: Well, maybe it's obvious but I have an unhealthy obsession with 90s indie rock. It has always felt sort of pure to me, coming from a time before digital editing and AI and really before there was a ton of interest in that genre. This band is a love letter to those bands, that era, and although we do record digitally, we try to keep everything else as analog as possible.
If you are a duo or a band, how did you form? Please tell us the band members' names, roles, and relevant instruments.
Kieran: I had worked with KM on some previous projects that I had produced and we became good friends. I hadn't been playing drums live for a while but my style fit well with what he wanted to do ( create a glorious mess ) . I brought in Seth Ondracek in (bass) as he also produces bands in my studio space ( The Buddy Project ) and is such a sweetheart . Dave Long joined on trumpet and KM had played with Andrew Wood (keyboards) for several years in other bands.
What first sparked the passion for you to create music?
KM: I was never good enough to play anyone else's music well so I decided it was better that I make my own.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
KM: I do nearly all of the writing; I am not sure how people wrote songs before the phone "voice memo", as it's the greatest tool for my short memory. Usually I sit down with a guitar or (rarely) at the piano and song pieces spill out. I record the pieces and then leave them for a day or two. I am a strong believer in not dwelling or overworking songs, if it isn't coming naturally or quickly then I leave it alone. One of my favorite songs that we've written is 'lines seem severed' and I wrote that in under 10 minutes very early one morning before work. Then I like to do full acoustic demos (in voice memo), followed by bad bad protools demos, and if the songs make it that far then I bring them to the band and the studio.
Where do you create your music, i.e. in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, ie self-mixed/mastered or another source?
Kieran: I have been producing at my studio space in Astoria for a number of years. For Ceylon Sailor we record drums and bass in the studio with scratch tracks for guitar and vocals. He'll usually then record some of the vocals with me and then take everything home and screw it all up. The oddball surprises I find with some less than “correct” choices bring a fresh perspective sonically.
KM: Yeah, I'm not much of an engineer so I do alot of very "unconventional" things. Ceylon Sailor has a ton of distortion (on everything) but no electric guitars. I throw together overloaded preamps and microphones and run it through distortion pedals and units, knowing full well that Kieran is going to probably yell at me for the noisy mess that he has to deal with.
Kieran: Yes, then I get to mix it all. But I think it helps to give it a unique feel. Then we usually send the tracks to AJ Pillette to master.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this project to life, from the initial idea to the final recording?
KM: Writing lyrics was definitely the rate limiter. Great lyrics that tell stories with subtlety but also inspire emotional responses have always been my goal - but that goal is pretty elusive. I am obsessed with people like Jeff Mangum, Leonard Cohen and Phoebe Bridgers who I feel all write differently but convey such powerful imagery. When I write lyrics and then think about their lyrics I quickly get intimidated and stop. Pushing through those barriers was the hardest part of making these songs.
Is any part of your music's message or your personal purpose you feel fans should know more about? If so, what is that element, and why is it so important to you?
KM: Unintentionally, again and again, our songs seem to be about the specific parts of our interpersonal relationships that either cause them to work or caused them not to work. I guess that's sort of vague, but at last its a common theme that I always see, despite never intentionally starting out in that direction.
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
KM: There have always been these songs burning inside of me. Maybe every musician feels that way but they were keeping me up at night.
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful, ie the creation, the actual release date, etc.?
KM: All the moving pieces of live music are the hardest thing in my opinion. Booking shows, promoting shows, coordinating other bands, coordinating your band, then actually performing.. it's exhausting.
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
KM: Turn the clock back to 1990 when things were still screwed up but at least some bands could make a living.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
KM: For now we're just excited about getting our first full-length out and continuing to develop our live show. I'd like to continue to mine this late 90s indie vein that we are currently tapped into.
Where do you currently reside and what is the live music venue scene like there?
Kieran: We all live in NYC. It's a dynamic scene for sure; there are so many venues and so many places for developing bands to play. I don't think there are too many better places in the US for that. KM actually co-founded a venue a few years ago that has been sort of popular, Gold Sounds in Bushwick.
Tell us about the last time you performed. Where was the show, and what was your experience like?
KM: It was actually our first show to celebrate our first single, about a month ago. We played at Gold Sounds in Brooklyn. It was mostly for friends, which was how I wanted it. I was a little nervous as I'd played many shows before but never as the "front guy", so it was nice to break the seal on that. We booked the whole night, all friends, and honestly, that's always the best way to go. It was so much fun.
Have you ever been on tour and can you tell us a little about the experience?
KM: Ceylon Sailor hasn't toured yet, but I've toured and pretty much everyone in the band has toured fairly extensively. None of us have been in particularly successful bands, so touring has been sort of like camping I'd say -- waking up in a daze, not sure where your next shower will come from. It's so fun to meet bands and make new friends, but also anxiety provoking to not know whether the next venue will remember you're supposed to play or whether anyone will show up.
Was there ever a time when you emotionally felt, “I can’t do this anymore”? Can you tell us why this happened and how you found the strength to continue?
KM: Many times. Usually a good nights sleep fixes it though.
What is your favorite song to cover?
KM: 100,000 Fireflies by the Magnetic Fields as performed by Superchunk. Such a great song.
What is your favorite quote?
KM: "Some lives you lead and some you leave behind" -- it's from one of my favorite songs.
Kieran: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” MLK.
in song form “ Always Love”.
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Ceylon Sailor on Spotify & YouTube.
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