What Seas, What Shores take their name from the first line of T.S. Eliot's Marina, a poem that portrays the vast emotions that come with being reunited with someone you never expected to see again. What Seas, What Shores’ music, however, is not so easily explained. Without words or vocals, the music describes its own unusual, emotive power reminiscent of a turbulent coastal ebb and flow.
Windsor, Ontario residents Caleb Farrugia (drums), Martin Schiller (bass), Colin Wysman (guitar, melodica) and Kyle Marchand (guitar) have been friends since high school, playing together as WSWS since 2006. Their self-titled first album was recorded at their rented jam space, the hundred year-old "Charles" Mansion, with original bassist Josh St. Denis and [co-drummer] Kevin Romain. The album debuted shortly afterward at a New Year's Eve release party, where Schiller assumed the role of the band's new bassist. A year later, Romain left the band to pursue other musical ventures, with Farrugia taking on the full time position as drummer.
WSWS is currently working steadily as a cogent four-piece. Their latest release, Threnodies features performances from Anna Atkinson playing viola, and trombonist Steve Ward. The members of WSWS also work closely with other local projects: Farrugia is often the percussion behind folk-rock band James O-L and The Villains, while Schiller produces experimental electronica. Marchand is also the guitarist for Orphan Choir, and Wysman has roots in Windsor metal (Woods of Ypres).
For a time WSWS practiced at the old Walker Power Building, a decaying warehouse with a uniquely desolate ambiance. They also occupied the Big Bad Basilica, as it came to be known, located in the Drouillard Road industrial district of Windsor. This abandoned church proved to have fantastic acoustics and was a great place to explore their once highly improvisational sound, which claims Tortoise and Slint as key influences. As What Seas, What Shores' hometown enters into a post-industrial recession, What Seas What Shores has refined What Seas, What Shores' style and developed incisive laments, evident on What Seas, What Shores' latest release, Threnodies, which resonated with audiences on What Seas, What Shores' summer 2008 West coast tour of Canada. What Seas, What Shores.
Back in 2006, WSWS embarked on their first DIY tour of the East coast, followed by several Ontario shows in 2007 with Australia's Because of Ghosts. They regularly perform throughout Southern Ontario, garnering attention that has led to their inclusion as part of the 2008 LOLA festival in London. What Seas, What Shores have performed alongside other notable instrumental rock bands such as The Riderless, The Absent Sound and Fond of Tigers, and are planning to take their impressive, original cadences to the East coast for another tour in July 2009.
You can purchase "Threnodies", our first full-length, here:
kyle: [email protected]
colin: [email protected]
caleb: [email protected]
martin: [email protected]
