Sink Or Swim

Comfort zones were a memory when it came to the creation of Seabellies' second release, Fever Belle. Born two-and-a-half years ago during a five-week residency in Melbourne, the Novocastrians then dispersed around the globe, travelling and clearing their individual headspaces before reconvening in Berlin, bunkering down in the studio with former Philly J's main man Berkfinger. “It [was] a really weird, haphazard way to [begin putting] an album together, but it's all done now and ready to go, and I'm feeling really good about it,” says creative lynchpin Trent Grenell.

Returning a year later to finish off the full-length in Sydney with Tim Whitten (Powderfinger, Augie March), a decent bout of heartbreak stretched the process out further than expected, with emotions taking Grenell back to Berlin where conclusive mixing of the album finally took place.

“I was very attracted to finishing the record [in Berlin], especially with Berkfinger – he's a pretty crazy guy,” he explains. “And you're just surrounded by musicians and artists and everyone is doing something wacky so it definitely pushed us to have a different take on [things]; we had a lot of time there playing around with sounds and trying to make the [album] a little dirtier than the first record, which it definitely is, in a good way.

“With this album we've gone back to our roots, blending programming and electronica and synthesiser stuff. We really enjoy that [mix] of instruments, being a big band and all.”

Grenell's statement is all but backed up by the record's first single, It's Alright, with its gradual sonic swelling, intriguing percussion, textural layering and atmospheric tones. “That's why we came out of the blocks with [that song]. It's a bit of a departure. Most of the singles from the last album were quite sunny, and we're proud of them, but I think songs like It's Alright are a bit more trademark of what we first set out to be as a band.”

Injecting these new elements into a live set has been a challenge, but one Seabellies are rising up to with the help of instruments and machines more traditional than current tech trends.

“Even though a lot of it's programmed we still like to do it as much live on stage without backing tracks or anything. We still play the old hardware instrument versions of things; instead of having Ableton Live we'll have a Roland 307, which is quite primitive now but it's still a lot more fun because you actually have to manipulate sounds and twist knobs and buttons and still get timing right – you feel like you're still playing the song.

“We still like stuff that's really structured and programmed to have a loose enough live feel, and I think we're getting it down pretty well. It takes a lot of concentration; it means we have to drink a few less beers before we go on.”

This long gestation period wasn't without its causalities, however, with longstanding multi-instrumentalist Stephanie Setz removing herself from the fold just a few months ago.

“It's been a long hard road over the last five or six years and I think Steph wasn't feeling as inspired as she once was, and that's cool. I think we've always been a six-piece but I think sometimes to our touring detriment – six is a hard number to get around the country. But it's really working well as a five-piece now, there's a little more space in the music and definitely more space on those stages in Australia.”

It's changed the dynamic, yes: “We've always been a pretty big family – most of us have all lived together at one point in time – so it's sad to see her go,” Grenell sighs. “She's still very much a part of the history of the band and always will be, though.”

But with the hard yards now behind them, the freshly minted quintet are all focused on spreading their sounds right across the country.

“I think we'll be forcing it if we go back to a six-piece; things are really working out with the five now,” Grenell smiles. “[But] I just want us to get back on the scene. We've been absent for the last 18 months to two years making this album; it's been quite a challenge getting this finished. I want to get involved and feel like part of the Australian music community again like we once were a couple of years ago. I want to reconnect with people, and hopefully [fans] get something out of this album further than they did on the last album.”