Interview with Away With The Seas

October 22, 2020 | Haley Pearl 

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Another day, another interview, and this time it's with the guys from Away With The Seas. This British metalcore band incorporates emotion, personal plights, and many more aspects into their music that allows for them to stand out in this music scene. Away With The Seas recently released their debut EP, The Odyssey, and already have a new album in the works. However, there's much more to learn about the band in this discussion. This interview is long, but the passion and dedication they have to this scene is bold. 

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Take me through some of the band’s background. When did you form as a band?

 

Adam Daniel: We formed in 2015 and the member landscape looked quite a bit different than it does now. Over the years people left and joined, Ryan was the first member besides me to be a constant and we realised the sort of musicians we wanted on this journey with us. Ollie and Zack joined before our first gig, and we finally had a 4-piece that could record the EP and gig, and here we are today.

 

Is there a unique story behind the band’s name “Away With The Seas?”

 

AD: The name is more of an idea of a place in life where you are truly at peace. The ocean is well known for being the most peaceful place you can go, so I like to think our music provides a sense of escape from real life. Our debut EP’s artwork is an illustrated idea of the name, and the name is somewhat of a reference to the journey it took to make it and the start of our musical journey.

 

Zack Robertson: I think the beauty of our band name is that it’s open to interpretation. Our music is very narrative based and we like to use nautical metaphors in our writing. In a way the “sea” is the perfect analogy for the topics we address in our lyrics, such as mental health and personal struggles.

 

Ryan Schippers: I personally like to think of the name as a metaphor for being on a personal journey. Life, for everyone, can be met with times of turbulence and calmness, much like the sea.

 

Ollie Whitecross: Make of it what you will. What it personally means to me is a profound journey to spread an important and meaningful message.

 

What core genres or bands have the most influence over AWTS’ music?

 

AD: Our influences have varied over the years, and especially how my interest in metal and music as a whole has evolved. I’ve always been a big fan of August Burns Red, and I think that definitely comes through in the EP and some of the earlier songs we wrote. I'm also into bands like Car Bomb and Vildhjarta, and artists who sound different in their respective genres. That has influenced my view on writing and what I want to achieve in a song. 

 

ZR: Like most bands, we like to think we’re pretty unique and stand out from the crowd. But there are certain bands and albums that we all vibe to that influence us. Personally I’m greatly inspired by the bassist from Unprocessed. But I think we would describe ourselves as best for fans of August Burns Red or Parkway Drive.

 

RS: We have all been big fans of metalcore and its many variations; bands including August Burns Red, After The Burial and perhaps bands such as Erra. My personal influences are from more progressive outfits such as Meshuggah, Tesseract and Periphery. 

 

OW: I would say that everyone in Away With The Seas has a very diverse taste in music which definitely takes influence on our music whether that’s being influenced in song writing or even performing live. I personally get influenced by a wide range of bands and artists which vary from August Burns Red, Counterparts, Heart In Hand, The Devil Wears Prada to artists like Drake, XXXTENTACION, and Daniel Caesar. The list is honestly so diverse and endless. We are definitely not influenced by one specific genre and I personally think you should take influence from all musical genres. 

 

You recently released your debut EP titled The Odyssey. How did this release go?

 

AD: The Odyssey was a thorn in our side for about 4 years. It was the one thing I wanted to always get around to doing, but we had issues with members and money, and it felt like things would never fall into place. Once we finally got the EP back and released it, there was more of a feeling of relief than anything. We have always been people who look forward to the next thing; How can we do this better? How can we create better release strategies? What can we do to live for this record? I try to not get too caught up in what we are doing, because I’m always looking forward to the next; and the album that’s coming next is a banger.

 

ZR: I think when this lineup was finalized and we started playing shows, it clicked and just felt right. We were all in the same frame of mind, which made it such an enjoyable process.

 

RS: We were blown away, we did not expect the reception we got to our first ever release. Adam and I have been enjoying these songs for the past 4 years, we finally found a lineup that clicked -- this was the push that made us move. This pandemic has, for the band speaking, been both a blessing and a curse. We were able to put a lot of resources into the marketing of this release, but in a less conventional way as we did not have the opportunity to gig at all. 

 

OW: The release went very well, much better than I expected. Especially during this crazy time we are all going through. 

 

The tracks featured within The Odyssey have the theme of exploring the journey of mental health. What made you want to write about this particular topic?

 

AD: Mental health has always been an important thing to me, and I’ve struggled with depression for most of life. So, I wanted our music to be an escape for those who suffer from similar things. When I was in the darkest part, I always found music to be my outlet and I really wanted to return the favor [in some sense], and write lyrics and music that would mean more than banging your head to. I find stories are a great way to connect, we created a character that is very much all of us, and his journey through mental health is also similar, just told more in a more artistic fashion. We see him in “With No Hope” at the start, and with “Rescuing The Light” inside him at the end.

 

ZR: It's something that every member of the band has in common and is outspoken about. When I joined the band, it was really cool to have not just a musical outlet, but support and understanding from the other members. Mental health is so overlooked by so many people and has this negative stigma that doesn’t help anyone. It’s important that these things get challenged and what better way than through music? Something that brings people together. We’re not the only band that thinks like this and slowly but surely, the music industry is breaking down the walls. In a way we want our music to be a refuge for people in their darkest moments. If you’re struggling, put your headphones in, tune out the world and let the waves wash over you. Before you know it you’ll be away with the seas. 

 

RS: Everyone in the band has very strong views about mental health, the seriousness of the symptoms and the lack of understanding of wider society. We have all had our bouts with mental turmoil in the past and present, we want to continue to be a part of society that takes it above just an “understanding.”

 

OW: I want people to interpret the lyrics in whatever way they wan,t but it needs to come from a vulnerable and meaningful place in my opinion. I’m very passionate about mental health awareness, so it’s hard not to get super carried away on this answer, but our main goal is to spread our message of hope to as many people as possible. As cliche as it sounds, to truly let people know that it’s okay to not feel mentally and physically okay sometimes, and that you really are not alone. There is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Do you feel it is easier as a band or your “job” to cover themes, such as mental health within your music?

 

AD: I think it's just natural for us. I'd hate to make empty songs that just don't mean anything. At the very least, I think you could read our lyrics and maybe find some solace or connect with the words. Even if you don't like the music. I guess talking about mental health in our music is the best way for us to express who we are, and the emotional music fits the vibe to a tee.

 

ZR: I feel like music is a great platform to cover these issues in front of a large audience. In my opinion, those with influence over a group of people should use it to change things for the better, no matter what issue it is you want to tackle.

 

RS: Personally I wouldn’t be happy creating music with empty, soulless meaning. The idea that someone could read our lyrics and feel a connection is what we all strive for. 

 

OW: Great question. Music is a huge outlet for every member of the band and I think touching on specific mental health issues within our music, and in a way turning all those negative feelings into a positive outlet, is a very cathartic experience.

 

Out of all the tracks on this EP, which one was your favorite to work on and why?

 

AD: “With No Hope.” When Zack and Ollie joined I went back to the EP and rewrote whole songs, and “With No Hope” was the first victim. At that point i’d already written an album and made headway on the second, so I was more comfortable with trying things and writing music as a whole. When me and Ollie wrote lyrics for that song, we went overboard with easter eggs and encompassed many interesting references that will make sense one day. I remember us picturing that song live and how certain lyrics would sound, how riffs and breakdowns would hit. We originally planned to do a music video for this song, but the UK went into lockdown the weekend we booked the video shoot for. It's definitely my favourite song on the EP, we all love playing it in practice and can see ourselves keeping it on setlists well into the future.

 

ZR: I would have to say “Held Captive In Paradise” was my favorite to work on. For me that song is almost a performance of poetry instead of a song. Ollie did a killer job on the vocals and the spoken word section really stands out for me. It was also a massive stepping stone for me, as I was able to track some clean vocals underneath it for the first time in our music. The Odyssey as a whole has made me a better musician, but that is a stand out song for me.

 

RS: Although my favorite song to perform live would be “Through The Storm,” the song “I Sail” will always stand out to me from the recording sessions. The guitar intro of that song will forever be immortalized within me, the bass line accenting the melody and the faded vocals is something that reminds me of how far we’ve come as a band, despite our journey only just having begun. 

 

OW: Such a hard question! I’d say “Held Captive In Paradise” purely because the emotion of the song is very up and down. I specifically remember recording vocals in Adam’s house and it getting very emotional at certain times due to the lyrical content that I was recording. I think it was that realization of how much emotion and effort we are putting into the EP, and just truly living in the moment and creating music we truly believe in.

 

The band also released a music video for one of the tracks off this EP, “I Sail.” What was it like working on this music video? Was it your first experience doing this?

 

AD: This was one of the best parts of the EP. Most of us had done elements of releasing music before, but this was the first experience we all shared for the first time together. We worked with Charlie from Mind Art Visual, who was really great to work with and made our life very easy. We just performed the song a bunch of times and voila. There is a whole story with the original video location that involves the police, but we're saving that for a podcast we've got planned.

 

What do you want to be known for the most when people think about your band’s music?

 

AD: I’d love for us to be thought of as something more than music. On The Odyssey, we made a massive effort to tell a story with the artwork and vocal interludes at the end. Yes, we are a metalcore band, but I feel that’s one side of us. I see us as storytellers looking to make Away With The Seas something bigger than just music. We are using music as our vehicle to connect to people all over the world who may suffer from the same mental health issues as we do. It gives us a chance to offer a safe space at shows, or just listening to our music to escape.

 

ZR: That’s a pretty mad thing to think about. I guess I’d like people to think about the amount of detail that goes into our material. The more you look into our band, the more hidden details you will find. I think that's how we stand out, not many bands link things together the way we do.

 

Does the band have any upcoming projects or shows in the works?

 

AD: Our main focus is our debut album, which we are planning to release late next year. We’ve already written all of it, it’s just a matter of pre-pro’s being made and vocals being recorded. It doesn’t sound like a lot of work, but the concept we have planned is much bigger than The Odyssey. It will take a massive amount of effort, so if you’re reading this in the future and it’s out, I hope we pulled it off! As for shows, we are taking a backseat with booking. We have a lot of stuff penciled in, but until we know for sure what's happening with the music industry and gigs being allowed back, we'll just sit patiently.

 

If you could pick your own tour lineup, who else would be on the ticket?

 

AD: Oh, tough one. Saying bands like Killswitch Engage is just not realistic at this point. I’d have to say Thecityisours and Aviations. Both are a great size with a fanbase I think we would appeal to. Plus the music they make is awesome. I can see us on that lineup.

 

ZR: I’d have to say Motionless In White and Periphery would be the ultimate for me.

 

RS: Not being realistic at all, an absolute dream would be Meshuggah and Periphery. These two bands are absolute titans of progressive metal, it would be a fanboy dream.

 

OW: Love this question! I’m going to be really annoying and do a line up with bands that aren’t or are together currently. My dream lineup that I would love to be on [that will never happen] is August Burns red, Heart in Hand, The Devil Wears Prada, Being As An Ocean, Crooks, Counterparts and Napoleon.

 

Which member is most likely to end up injured on stage?

 

AD: I’m not sure I’ve actually practiced or performed with Ryan, and not seen him get injured in some facilitation. His thumbs are always bleeding, haha!

 

ZR: Without a doubt, that would be Ollie. That guy is an animal on stage. But having said that, Ryan likes to throw drumsticks at all of us mid song, so it's down to luck.

 

RS: I’d say all three of the guys would do well to come off a gig unscathed. I reckon Ollie is the most likely of the lot though. The man headbangs as if he’s trying to get rid of his skull.

 

OW: I’d say the most likely person to get injured on stage would probably be Ryan. He is an absolute monster when he plays. I could say myself, because I do like to get kind of weird and mad on stage and will most likely injure myself in the future.

 

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of music?

 

AD: It has to be when we finished filming the music video, and we tried to do something nostalgic and symbolic and settled on setting off a lantern in the middle of an industrial estate. Wasn’t the greatest idea, as it flew straight into a tree. We were panicking trying to put it out, and thankfully nothing set on fire because of it. Lesson learned.

 

ZR: Probably loading up my tiny car with so much gear and so many band members on the way to a show, that it looked like I had it lowered and it had 2 extra seats.

 

RS: Getting embarrassingly drunk the night before a very important festival. It was not my proudest moment… I’m fairly sure I was still hearing the echoes of my drums in my hungover head for hours after the gig had ended.

 

OW: This is my favourite question. I had a bit of a breakdown in 2017 to 2018, because of the direction of my life, and what passions I wanted to try and pursue. I’ve always had a passion for metal music since I was younger, and I always wanted to be a frontman in a band... but the opportunity never arose, and I found other passions I wanted to pursue. Long story short, half way through my British Army application process, I decided I’m going to stop my application that I previously worked very hard on, to go work full time and pursue music on the side. I essentially left a path to a great career that I prepared very hard for, because I couldn’t hack the thought of not being able to fulfill my passion of being in a band and creating music. I ended up joining Away With The Seas shortly after that experience. That’s pretty crazy to me.

 

What’s some advice you’d pass down to upcoming artists?

 

AD: I don’t think we are at a place yet to give advice, as we are very much upcoming and eager to listen to advice. But I will say that music is a part of all of us and it’s just about finding what you want to achieve, and what you want your project to be seen as. We’ve always been concentrating on branding. For us, music is our product and not our whole story. We want to be a lifestyle brand and break the mold, selling products and creating collaborations that aren't typical of a metal band.

 

ZR: The best piece of advice I can give is to invest time and money early and get everything to look as professional as possible. The rewards will come later. 

 

RS: Work together and communicate. Especially if you are working in a band, it is unbelievable how easy it is to get seemingly impossible tasks done with the help of two or three other people. 

 

OW: What I’d say is that everything is a learning experience at the beginning. Learn from everyone in your band. Learn to take criticism. Speak your opinion within the band. In terms of trying to get some exposure, definitely concentrate on your social media presence and remaining professional. I would definitely say you have to have great patience. Believing in your goals as a band and staying consistent.