The Silver Seas

The Silver Seas

The Silver Seas are a Nashville-based indie pop group led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Tashian. The band forms around Tashian and producer, arranger and keyboardist Jason Lehning, with John Deaderick on electric bass and David Gehrke on drums. Their music leans towards melodic pop, with layered harmonies, jangly guitar, keyboard textures and concise song structures.

Origins and early releases

Tashian and Lehning both grow up in Nashville music families. Tashian is the son of Barry Tashian, who sings with the Boston band the Remains and later tours with Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band. Lehning is the son of country producer Kyle Lehning, formerly president of Asylum Records Nashville. Before forming the band, Daniel Tashian signs to Elektra Records in New York and releases a solo album, Sweetie, produced by T-Bone Burnett, in 1996.

Tashian and Lehning meet in Nashville and later decide to work together. Tashian brings Lehning in after playing him early songs including “Message From the Birds” and “Sea of Stars”. Tashian also wants drummer David Gehrke involved, and the group begins recording and performing together. Upright bassist Robbie Harrington is part of the original line-up and plays on the first release; later, Deaderick joins on electric bass.

Starry Gazey Pie and name change

The group’s debut album, Starry Gazey Pie, appears in 2004 under the former name The Bees (U.S.), and is self-released. It includes “Message From the Birds” and “Sea of Stars”. The record receives airplay on stations including Boston’s WFNX and Los Angeles’ KCRW, and gains positive press attention. Copies become hard to find for a period, with original pressings fetching high prices online.

High Society

High Society follows and is recorded in two days at Sound Emporium Studio A in Nashville. The band records live in one room, with Lehning later adding home-studio overdubs and extra vocals. The album’s songs draw on sitcom themes and classic pop songwriting, with Tashian describing the inspiration as coming from television theme music rather than from breakups or other standard song subjects. The title track, “Tativille”, nods to The Odd Couple, while other songs such as “Country Life”, “We’ll Go Walking”, “Catch Your Own Train”, “Imaginary Girl” and “Miss November” show the band’s range from upbeat country-pop to more yearning material. The arrangements feature harmonies from all four band members, 12-string acoustic guitar, and keyboard parts.

The band’s writing on this record is described as favouring direct verse-chorus construction, sometimes with no bridge at all. Tashian is noted for straightforward lyrics and melodies, and the songs are presented in a relatively uncluttered form.

Live work and wider following

A tour with Guster and a run of local shows help the band reach a wider audience, alongside praise from Nashville Scene. The Silver Seas’ later profile builds from this period of live work and recording in Nashville.