After making waves with a flurry of impactful offerings these last few months, LA-based outfit The Sea At Midnight recently returned to deliver their eagerly-awaited new EP 'Burning'.
Featuring the previously shared gems ‘Midnight Sun’ and ‘Chopping Them Down’, this new five-track collection cements them as one of the more anthemic names on the rise right now. Brimming with bold and euphoric textures at every turn, 'Burning' certainly sees them returning on top form once again.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with bandleader Vince Grant to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Think it was the drums.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Growing up there wasn’t such a thing as streaming, so it was the songs they played on pop radio.
What was the first album you remember owning?
“Hot Rocks” by the Rolling Stones.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
“The Killing Moon” by Echo and the Bunnymen.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Unfortunately, between working a full-time job, commuting in Los Angeles, family responsibilities, and just keeping up with everyday life — like laundry, cooking, cleaning, and shopping — time is always at a premium, so whenever I get a free moment, I just grab my guitar and dive in. I do wish I had more time to slow down. That said, I’m very disciplined about how I start my day each morning: I follow a strict ritual that includes an hour of prayer, meditation, and Nei Kung, a form of Taoist physical exercise. On weekends, I try to stretch it to an hour and a half. I’ve found that this ritual is not only the best way to begin my day and I think it probably helps with the songwriting.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Lately, I’ve been mostly listening to Native American music. As you know, there’s an endless treasure trove of playlists out there for just about any musical genre you can imagine, and for the past month, I’ve been completely immersed in all varieties of Native American music — from traditional flute music, drumming, war chants, and powwow songs to dances, rituals, meditation, and prayer. I just made it through two incredible playlists on Spotify: Native American Metal Mix and a massive 26-hour playlist called A New Generation of Native American Music.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Gary Numan. He’s one of the few artists I’ve come across writing about climate change.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Probably songwriting. There’s really no better feeling in the world for me than being in the middle of writing a new song. That being said, I genuinely love all aspects of being a musician — songwriting, recording, playing live, rehearsing with a band, and simply spending time playing guitar.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The hardest part is when the songs aren’t flowing. It’s always tough when you spend days, weeks, sometimes even months playing guitar and no new ideas appear. When that creative spark doesn’t come and the muse feels like she’s gone into hiding, those are the most challenging times for me.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Do it for fun and don’t have any expectations.
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The Sea At Midnight's new EP 'Burning' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.