“There’s songs in there and the meanings and stuff, we always like to put, not statements and stuff, but leave it so whoever is listening to it can either relate to it or kind of go I’ll take it in this way you know? Have the listener think a bit rather than just be that kind of brain dead, mind numbing shit…”
We Are The Ocean are back bursting through the floodgates with a new line-up, a focused direction and an album that will set a new standard in the quality of British rock music. With the departure of scream vocalist Dan Brown in early 2012, who left to focus on his band management, the new-reformed four piece consists of Liam Cromby (guitar/vocals), Jack Spence (bass), Alfie Scully (guitar) and Tom Wittaker (drums). Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow released today in Australia will be the third full-length release from the band, and it’s clear that no stone has been left unturned in the creation of this future classic.
We chatted to We Are The Ocean front man Liam Cromby about the changes within the band after the departure of Dan Brown and how they adapted, their killer new album ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ and the state of UK rock bands these days…
The name of the album and the song ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ is there a meaning behind it that you can share with us?
The Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow, it’s like every day you go through things that kind of either bring you up or bring you down and everyone kind of has their issues, but you know it’s kind of like, you just kind of say Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow, things might change, but whatever, it’s kind of like don’t worry yourself about it. I guess the main thing was we all felt connected to it in different ways, so we figured anyone one who’s looking at it would have their own perception on it.
Obviously with the departure of Dan comes a bit of a hole, but how easily were you able to adapt to becoming a four piece and taking on all vocal duties?
It wasn’t too hard, we had a couple of practises, we wanted to get it right and we were out on the Warped Tour and that was the first tour we did without Dan and within the first week it felt really comfortable, we were confident and started to really enjoy it.
Did you step back and have to re-evaluate what We Are The Ocean would now be minus the screamo type vocals?
Yeah, definitely, there was definitely the re-evaluation of the songs and what ones we wanted to play and what ones we didn’t, luckily Dan’s parts were written by other members of the band so there’s a lot of melody, so when it came down to playing them live it was just like singing a song.
There are differences in the sound and feel of the album compared to your last release, is this the record you felt you had to make this time around?
I think ‘Go Now And Live’ was like a stepping stone to this direction of what this album is, this was something we’ve been trying to achieve for a while, this kind of sounding album, a big rock anthemic album, I think we’ve done it as well. We’re all really proud of the album, I think we’ve done a good job of it.
Song wise on this new album, how did these come together compared to your last two albums?
There was a lot more time spent on this album, as soon as ‘Go Now and Live’ finished we pretty much went straight in to writing for it and we started demoing. Some of the songs had been worked over and over and are now twelve months old. So I think there was a lot more time and effort put in to writing the album, and you know, it’s a bit hard, I’d say as an album for the feel it’s more of a personal album and I think a more honest album.
‘Young Heart’ is my favourite on the album hands down, can you tell us a bit about that one and can that be a single? Ha ha
Ha ha ha ha, yeah that song is like a letter to my parents, and I’m not having a dig or anything, it’s more sometimes there are things you can’t say to your parents so you might just write it down in a letter or something, it’s kind of like that. Yes, I hope we can make it a single.
Five years as a band now, in that time what have you seen as the biggest changes in yourselves as artists?
As an artist, I don’t know, I feel more of a confident person. I guess playing on stage as much as we have I feel more of an accomplished artist maybe… The amount of touring we’ve done, seen the places we’ve seen, met the people we’ve met, it builds character, and it’s been great.
We’re stoked that there is so much good rock music being released these days, and thank you for adding to that list of albums for this year, it seems though that plenty of it is coming from the UK also, is there anything happening over there that we’re not aware of that is bringing the rock back?
There’s a big factory producing rock bands… ha ha, no, to be honest, I don’t know what it is, but yeah you’re quite right, some of the UK bands right now are just smashing it. It kind of gives you that feeling that you’re really proud to be a UK rock band because there’s such good calibre here, I can’t really complain, at least there’s decent bands playing around you rather than shit ones.
What is it that We Are The Ocean want to get across in their music?
I think especially on this album, the album you should listen to it with open ears and a fresh mind and make of it what you will. There’s songs in there and the meanings and stuff, we always like to put, not statements and stuff, but leave it so whoever is listening to it can either relate to it or kind of go I’ll take it in this way you know? Have the listener think a bit rather than just be that kind of brain dead, mind numbing shit…
You were here for Counter Revolution last year and opened the show to a very receptive crowd on a very, very rainy day in Sydney…
Oh I remember that day…
Do you have any great memories of that tour you can share with us?
Oh there were so many, Sydney was a great show, funny day as well as it wouldn’t stop raining. I think we all went out after and got hammered as well. The last day in Perth was really night as well as the hotel we were staying in was on the beach, so we played the show and then everyone went back to the hotel and there was a party on the beach, it was nice to kind of say goodbye to all your new friends and stuff. That tour was fantastic, Australia is like a favourite place of mine to visit.
Can we expect to see you back in Australia anytime soon?
Oh, I’m not too sure, but I bloody hope so soon.
Have you got a message for your Australian fans?
If you’ve been supporting the band for a while, thank you very much. If you’re just new to the band, get the old stuff, learn the lyrics and we’ll be over soon, don’t worry and hang on tight.
Essential Information
From: London, England
Band members: Liam Cromby – Vocals / Guitar, Alfie Scully – Guitar, Jack Spence – Bass, Tom Whittaker – Drums
Website: http://www.wearetheocean.co.uk
Latest release: Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow (September 21st – Shock Records)
