Pale Seas

Pale Seas

Pale Seas are a British indie and dream pop group that forms in 2011. The project begins with Jacob Scott, who writes a set of songs in Leytonstone after leaving university, using an acoustic guitar and a 4-track cassette recorder. He then returns to his hometown of Southampton and assembles a band with old school friends and former bandmates.

The group first uses the name Netherlands before settling on Pale Seas. The early line-up includes Graham Poole on lead guitar, Matthew Bishop on bass, and Zealah Isabella Anstey on backing vocals, with Scott as the central songwriter. Later, drummer Will Hilliard joins the band, and Graham and Matthew take a more active role in the writing and direction of the music.

Their early recordings are characterised by reverb-heavy, atmospheric arrangements and songs shaped by themes of love, anguish, pain and joy. The first studio session is with producers Jimmy Robertson and Demian Castellanos, and the band releases its debut single, “Something or Nothing”, with the B-side “Amour”, on 7-inch vinyl in 2012 through Fear & Records in the UK and Fastcut Records in Japan. The single sells out quickly and is added to BBC Radio 1’s Introducing playlist.

A follow-up double A-side single, “Bodies” / “My Own Mind”, is produced by Paul Butler at his studio on the Isle of Wight. Butler is associated with The Bees, Devendra Banhart and Michael Kiwanuka, and the release comes out with Communion Records, the label linked to Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. “Bodies” becomes a key track for the group, gathering more than a million online plays, helping them sell out headline shows, and leading to support slots with Stornoway on their UK tour.

Pale Seas also support artists including The War on Drugs, Beach Fossils and The Lemonheads. After returning to the Isle of Wight for a winter writing period with Paul Butler, the band releases its first EP, Places to Haunt, on Native Pop in 10-inch vinyl, CD and digital formats.