Marianas Trench

Marianas Trench

Marianas Trench is a Canadian pop rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed in 2001 and active since then. The group is made up of Josh Ramsay, Matt Webb, Mike Ayley and Ian Casselman. It is signed to 604 Records and has a Juno Award nomination.

Early releases

The band releases its first full-length album, Fix Me, in 2006. Some of the demos sent out four years earlier appear on the album. Its first breakthrough single and video, “Shake Tramp,” helps establish the group’s mix of millennial punk, pop and modern rock.

Masterpiece Theatre

Marianas Trench releases its second studio album, Masterpiece Theatre, in 2009. The album develops into a high-concept record built around several versions of the title track, with songs quoted and woven into a larger dramatic structure. The music draws on pop, rock, quasi-doo wop and new wave, and the album features the single “Celebrity Status” as well as “Beside You,” “Acadia,” “All to Myself,” “Lover Dearest,” “Good to You” and “Cross My Heart.” Kate Voegele appears as a guest vocalist on “Good to You.”

Style and influences

The band’s sound combines pop rock with alternative rock, emo pop and pop punk. Its stated influences include Queen, Foo Fighters, The Beach Boys and Ben Folds Five. Josh Ramsay takes a major role in the writing and production, and he also works with the band’s wider pop and vocal arrangements. On Masterpiece Theatre, the group works with guest producers including Dave “Rave” Ogilvie, Dave Genn, Greig Nori and Raine Maida. The record also includes production input from Ramsay on four songs.

Personnel

Ramsay fronts the band, with Webb on guitar, Ayley on bass and Casselman on drums. On “Celebrity Status,” Casselman, Ramsay and Shane Wilson play drums together at the same time.