Ever since they first arrived, The Sea At Midnight have always looked to add a broader and more progressive edge to their indie-rock aesthetic. And with plenty of praise for their recent offerings to date, they continue their ascent with their riveting new single ‘Chopping Them Down’.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their background and what they plan to do with their sound next.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I’m actually a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to music. I didn’t buy my first guitar until I was 23. I had taken a folk guitar class in high school, but I was terrible—felt like I had no musical aptitude whatsoever. So I never really considered music as something I could pursue.
Then in college, I was at a local show when someone approached me and asked if I wanted to be the singer in his band. I told him I wasn’t a singer, but he said they were an original band and needed someone to write lyrics and sing. Then he asked, “You write poetry, don’t you? Just bring your poetry book to rehearsal and sing out of it.” To this day, I have no idea how he knew I wrote poetry—maybe it was the Joy Division pin I always wore or the winter coat that looked like Ian Curtis’s.
Anyway, I admitted I did write poetry, and a few days later, I showed up at their rehearsal space. There were two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, and a microphone. They started jamming, and I just… started singing. Not sure you could even call it singing at that point, but after that first tryout, they asked me to join. So I learned on the job. Looking back, it’s wild to me that from the very first moment I was in a band, I was writing—or at least helping to write—original songs.
Eventually, I moved in with one of the guitarists, and he started teaching me chords. That’s when I got completely hooked. I knew I wanted to be a singer-songwriter, to form my own band, and really give music a shot. So when I graduated, I bought my first guitar and started trying to write my own songs. Once I had some material, I went about putting a band together, and that’s really how it all started.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
That’s a good question. I’ve always listened to a wide variety of music, and I’m a fan of many different artists and genres, so in a way, I suppose they’ve all influenced me in some form or another. But when it comes to songwriting, I never sit down with the intention of writing something that sounds like a particular artist or band. In fact, I never really “sit down to write” at all—that’s never worked for me.
For me, songwriting happens organically. I’ll just be playing guitar for fun, and suddenly, a new idea will appear out of nowhere—maybe a chord progression strummed a certain way or a riff that sparks something. Then melodies start to emerge, and I just follow where the idea leads. Lyrics tend to flow in the same way, almost like they’re finding me rather than the other way around.
Because of that, I don’t consciously think about influences when I’m writing. But after a song is finished, I might notice that a certain part reminds me of another artist, or people will tell me they hear specific influences in my music. Most of the time, they’re artists I love and have listened to, but I honestly have no idea when or how those influences find their way into a song. If something I write reminds you of another artist, it’s really just a happy accident.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
It was definitely my first experience being in a band—the one I mentioned earlier. From the very first minute, I loved everything about it. The creative process of writing songs, seeing musical ideas come to life in rehearsal, and then performing them live—it all just clicked for me. But beyond that, there was also this incredible sense of camaraderie with the other band members. It felt like a real “Three Musketeers” kind of bond—”All for one and one for all!” That kind of tight-knit community is hard to find in other aspects of life.
I’d say the defining moment was after our first gig playing original material. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue music seriously. It felt like I had finally found my place—something that was fulfilling on so many levels: creatively, spiritually, and emotionally. From that point on, there was no turning back.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
First off, I don’t even feel like I write songs—I believe they exist in some collective unconscious or otherworldly realm, and they find me.
Usually, it starts with me just sitting around playing guitar when, out of nowhere, a new musical idea presents itself. It could be a chord progression, a riff, or a melodic line, and I always wonder—where does that come from? Why does that initial spark suddenly appear? Sometimes it’s a progression I’ve played hundreds of times, but for some reason, I’ll play it slightly differently, and suddenly new melodies start to follow in its wake. It’s a complete mystery to me, and taking credit for it feels absurd. It’s more like a gift from the universe, and I’m just grateful that these creative sparks find me.
Once an idea appears, I keep playing it, seeing if it leads somewhere—maybe to another progression or a melody. Honestly, it all feels like a trance-like state, like my whole spirit is elsewhere. If a melody shows itself, I hum along, and before I know it, words start to emerge. It’s always surprising—sometimes I’ll catch a phrase and ask myself, What is this song saying? Is this a chorus or a verse? From there, I just keep playing, humming, singing, writing words, refining, and expanding the music to see where it leads.
Sometimes, songs come together quickly, but other times, they stall, and it can take years to finish. I just completed a song that had a part I thought was the chorus for years, but nothing else ever fit around it musically or lyrically. Then, a few months ago, while playing it, I suddenly and instinctively launched into a whole new section that had a strong chorus feel. That original part became a pre-chorus or bridge, and suddenly, everything clicked. From there, I had to step back and ask again, What is this song trying to say? Then I worked backward, writing verses that complemented both the music and the story, building up to that chorus moment.
Every step of the process—each new layer of music, every lyric, every word—always feels like it’s coming from somewhere outside of me. The whole thing feels like divine inspiration in some way, and I just do my best to follow where it leads.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
It might sound cliché, but I find inspiration everywhere—in nature, current events, walking around a city, reading, traveling, watching a movie… it can strike at the most unexpected times. I’ve had moments where I was playing around with a new piece of music, thinking it might become a song, and then, days later, while stuck in traffic on my way to work, all these lyrics and vocal lines just appeared.
One song on my second album actually came to me while I was folding laundry—the entire chorus, lyrics and melody, just popped into my head. And a new song I recently finished? The lyrics and vocal melodies arrived fully formed while I was in the shower. I had been jamming on some music earlier, and suddenly, in that quiet moment, the song practically wrote itself.
I don’t consciously seek inspiration—it just happens while I’m out living my life and doing things I enjoy. I love being in nature—hiking, biking along the ocean, taking long walks. Like many people love sunsets and I like to be up early so I can watch the sunrise. I’m also really fascinated by animals, especially birds. I’ve even started carrying binoculars with me on hikes or nature walks in case I spot something interesting. I think staying curious and connected to the world around me naturally fuels my creativity.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
For me, songwriting is a deeply personal endeavor—it’s how I process the world around me and my own emotional landscape. I never set out with the intention of conveying a specific message, at least not consciously. My first two albums were very much about my personal struggles—battling addiction, dealing with lifelong depression, and trying to make sense of those experiences. In many ways, those songs weren’t just about me, they were for me. Writing them was a cathartic process, a way to confront those issues and find some form of healing.
With my latest singles, which will be included on the Burning EP, the focus shifted to climate change—probably as a reflection of my own fears about the future. When I finished them, I realized they could be seen as warnings—about the devastation we’re already witnessing and what may come if we don’t take action. It was the first time I’d written songs where I could see a broader message beyond my own experiences. People have told me that these songs raise awareness about climate change, and if they do resonate in that way—if they make people think about what’s happening—I’d consider that a positive outcome.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
The biggest challenge has simply been getting heard. There’s so much music out there, and the competition is fierce. On top of that, I don’t particularly enjoy the marketing side of things, which has become essential in today’s industry. I’ve never been good at building a “brand,” and to be honest, that’s on me. I didn’t become a songwriter to spend my time making TikTok videos or constantly posting on social media—I don’t even like having my picture taken. But in today’s music landscape, that has consequences.
Even getting shows in Los Angeles is tough. Without a visible fan base—measured by social media numbers or Spotify streams—bookers and promoters are hesitant to take a chance, which I get. They need people to show up in order to make their money. But it’s very different from when I was starting out. Back then, the music itself seemed to matter more. There was more of a development process at every level—labels, management, even local clubs. If a booker liked your music, they’d go out of their way to get you on bills so you could play in front of people, knowing that if the music was good and the band put on a great live show, an audience would gradually build.
Now, even at the local club level, you’re expected to bring a large fan base with you. It’s all very numbers-driven, and that can make it difficult for artists who just want to focus on making music.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
The most rewarding part of my musical journey has been writing songs that I genuinely like—songs that I can honestly say, if I heard them from another artist, I’d be a fan.
It’s been a long journey to get to that point. First, learning to play guitar, then acquiring enough musical knowledge to even attempt writing a song. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. There was a lot of self-doubt—wondering if I’d ever be able to write a song of my own, let alone a good one. But over time, I pushed through that uncertainty, and now I feel like I’ve achieved something meaningful.
More than anything, I’ve found my life’s passion—whether for better or worse—and that, in itself, has been the most fulfilling part of it all.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
For me, staying true to myself as an artist has never been an issue because my approach to songwriting is deeply personal. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t try to force songs or chase trends—they come to me in moments of inspiration, and I simply follow where they lead. My focus has always been on the music itself, not on how to package or market it.
What’s interesting is that the so-called evolution of the music industry over the years hasn’t really been about music at all—it’s been about marketing. First, it was all about streaming and Spotify numbers, then YouTube and video content had their moment, then Instagram, and now everything seems to revolve around TikTok. None of these shifts have much to do with actual songwriting or music making; they’re about visibility and branding. And while I understand their importance in today’s industry, that’s just not where my passion lies.
I’ve made peace with the fact that I might not ever be in the spotlight, and I’m okay with that. What fulfills me the most is crafting songs from bits of inspiration that I’m artistically satisfied with—songs that mean something to me and that I feel comfortable sharing with the world. That’s always been the most important thing, and it always will be.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
I have a five-song EP titled Burning coming out later this month on Earth Day, April 22nd. Thematically, it’s centered around climate change, which has been a focus of my recent songwriting.
Beyond that, I’m currently in the middle of mixing a new ten-song album, but I don’t think I’ll release it as a The Sea At Midnight record. These songs have more of an Americana feel—three of them even feature harmonica—so I’m most likely going to put this out as a separate side project.
At the same time, I have a batch of new songs that fit more with The Sea At Midnight’s sound. Once I’m done mixing the Americana album, I’ll head into the studio to start recording a new The Sea At Midnight record. If all goes well, I might even have a single or two ready for release by the end of the year. If not, there will definitely be a full-length The Sea At Midnight album coming in 2026.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Wherever I am in five years, I hope I’m still playing guitar for fun and that songs will continue to find me. If that happens, I’ll want to record them—and possibly even have a band to bring them to life on stage.
Beyond that, I’d love to be in a place where I’m no longer tied to an urban environment for work. After spending most of my life in cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, I’d love to live somewhere surrounded by nature, with some animals, and—if I’m really dreaming—far away from endless traffic.
As for a music career, I honestly have no idea, because I’ve never really thought of music as a career in the traditional sense. To me, a career is something that pays your bills—it’s your job. I’ve almost always had a day job to put a roof over my head and to fund my music, which, let’s be honest, can be an expensive pursuit. But whether or not music ever becomes a full-time profession, I’ll keep making it as long as the songs keep coming.
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Listen to The Sea At Midnight’s new single ‘Chopping Them Down’ below.
