The Urban Sea..in their own time
PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN KOVCHENKO
Brisbane indie rock band, The Urban Sea have unveiled their brand new single ‘My Own Time’, which was recorded by Steve Kempnich (Powderfinger, Megan Washington, Shag Rock) and mastered by Mathew Grey (Eskimo Joe, Sarah Blasko) and it’s a taste for fans of the group’s forthcoming EP Sunsets and Silhouettes. We caught up with Quintet to chat about the making of ‘My Own Time’, the band’s origins and their hope to be all over the festival circuit very soon.
For those who haven’t heard your music before, how do you describe your sound?
Our music’s like a road trip soundtrack—indie roots with rock energy and a dash of soul. We’re here for the good vibes but also dig into those deeper moments; it’s the kind of sound that lets you let loose but also makes you think a little. Think Ball Park Music melody meets Arctic Monkeys swagger with a bit of Leonard Cohen storytelling mixed in.
You have just released your new single 'My Own Time', tell us about your new song. What does this one mean to you?
My Own Time is a bit of a “breakup anthem,” but it’s meant to feel upbeat and freeing. It’s about realizing when something’s run its course and choosing to move on in a way that’s positive, not heavy. The track has these jangly, upbeat chords with dynamics that reflect the emotional back-and-forth of a breakup. There’s a line, “You got love on your lips but blood on your hands,” which captures the bittersweet realization that love alone can’t fix what’s broken. There’s bonfires, goodbyes, and that sense of closure all wrapped up in a track that makes you want to move. Or move on.
“most of it was written around midnight on the back deck ”
Did the song take on any massive changes during the creative process or was the final product the original vision?
Not really—most of it was written around midnight on the back deck and was brought to the band as a mostly intact skeleton. We’ve got a solid process in the studio after working together for years, so the ideas flowed easily. That said, every time we thought we’d nailed it, someone would toss in a “what if we tried this” idea, and we’d dive back in, adding or removing layers until it felt right.
Are there any Musical moments in the song that you listen out for? why do you like these moments best?
The bridge is my favourite part. We kept the arrangements light to let that feeling of release shine through, but when the rhythm section kicks in, it has this perfect “walking away” tempo - kind of like a Staying Alive vibe. It’s exactly what the song’s about: moving on, maybe even with a bit of a strut.
“let’s just say it was lucky we had some diesel lying ”
'My Own Time' has been delivered with an accompanying music video that sees the main character burning photos. Who came up with the concept for the visualiser? Were there any memorable moments during the making of it?
We had an amazing creative team help us come up with the concept. We took inspiration from the EP art which features Polaroid photos and we thought it would be great to incorporate that into the video. The idea of burning photos felt like the perfect symbol for lingering memories but with a twist in that the photos refused to burn. Lots of symbolism and it tied nicely into the imagery to play with. Obviously shooting a sunset scene around a fire was very time sensitive...So let's just say it was lucky we had some diesel lying around or it may have been a very underwhelming fire (and video).
Will 'My Own Time' feature on an EP or an album? When can we expect the release of the larger body of work?
Yes! My Own Time is part of our upcoming EP, Sunsets and Silhouettes, which drops in February 2025. The EP dives into themes of nostalgia, change, and the bittersweet moments that linger, so this song felt like the perfect lead-in to the whole vibe.
“We’d love to hit the festival circuit - nothing beats a festival crowd”
Are there plans to tour over the summer or hit the festival circuit?
Definitely! We’re gearing up for an East Coast tour early next year to kick off the release of Sunsets and Silhouettes. We’d love to hit the festival circuit - nothing beats a festival crowd, and we’re ready to bring these songs to as many people as possible.
How did you all come together to form The Urban Sea? What's the history of the band?
We came together in true modern style - on a musician’s classified site (basically Tinder for Musos). Since forming in 2019, we’ve carved out a spot in Brisbane’s indie scene. Back then, we were all over the place genre-wise - from Rage Against The Machine-inspired riffs to folky acoustic waltzes. Writing cohesive setlists was impossible! But with more lineup changes than the Avengers, our sound has evolved. Now, we’re a bit more of a refined, acoustic-driven indie style, keeping the raw energy from our early days but adding a bit more depth along the way.
“it reflects that balance we try to capture - a mix of calm and chaos.”
What inspired the band's name?
The Urban Sea was originally the title of a song we wrote about all the crazy push and pull in everything we deal with in modern life. Then we realised it reflects that balance we try to capture - a mix of calm and chaos, which feels fitting for both our music and our lives in general. So we stole it from ourselves and had to come up with a new song title instead.
Where was your first gig? Was it a success or a flop?
Ahhh it was a pub that has long since closed its doors. On the carpet once we moved the furniture out of the way. Illuminated by the glorious light of the Keno and greyhound races on TV behind us. For $50 and a few beers. Most definitely a success, I would say!
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout-out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
I would be stupid if I didn’t say our partners here wouldn’t I? But seriously, it takes a lot of support and patience to put up with this music thing sometimes. They’ve been there since the early days supporting us at those empty gigs so that we actually had someone to play to, and even now they still have to put up with us practising the same bloody song on the deck for 3 hours straight. Angels.
What's next for The Urban Sea? What can we expect with 2025 rapidly approaching?
We’re ready for a big year—Sunsets and Silhouettes is set to drop in February, and we’ll be on the road sharing these new songs live. There’s new music, plenty of gigs, and hopefully some festival slots. 2025 is going to be all about connecting with people and sharing the next chapter of our story!
Interview by Michelle Symes
November 2024