Band Profile: Sirens & Sealions
Band: Sirens & Sealions (www.myspace.com/sirensandsealions)
Genre: Folk/Indie
Sounds Like: Belle & Sebastian, Neko Case
I must be in a folksy kind of mood lately.
Following up the last band profile of Jacksonville-based Tobacco Pat - a southern folk acoustic duo, I wanted to focus on another folk band; this time a band from Miami called Sirens & Sealions.
I was adding friends on MySpace, and I received a message to check out the music of Sirens & Sealions. I was just floored. This is music that you can fall in love to, travel cross country with, or use to fuel a spontaneous moment of fun.
Arranging this profile, I talked to singer Johanna Viscaino. I love talking to musicians who are happy with what they're accomplishing; their infectious energy drives me forward as an appreciator of music and art.
The current core of the group is Johanna, Chantal Meza, Nick Deluca, Matt Gajewski, and Danny Huiguera. They occassionally bring on other people to fill out the sound, such as Marysol Losada and Geneva Harrison, in order to "accommodate to the sounds that a conch and a canvas cannot reach alone." (Love that quote from their MySpace page.)
Johanna and Chantal grew up close friends and are big time music enthusiasts. Back in the old Studio A days, they went to a lot of live shows, but felt they weren't satisfied with what many of bands were doing. Chantal had a background of singing through church - where she knew Nick, a folk and jazz enthusiast. And thus began Sirens & Sealions.
They have four songs posted on their Myspace page: THUMP'N of my Heart (which you'll find attached at the bottom of the post), Let Me Go, One Day (Live at WVUM), and The Suburban Ring-a-Ling.
Just a bit of insight for you: Whenever I write articles about a band I leave their music playing in the background while I mull over the sound. Right now I have THUMP'N of my Heart playing and it is such a pleasant song. It incorporates characteristics of folk music, such as bells and a violin, that are often left out in favor of a stronger acoustic guitar sound.
They really just nail it.
When I listen to them, I hear aspects of Neko Case. Sirens & Sealions are also often times compared to Belle & Sebastian. The elements are there and their growth is going to be amazing. Their combination is brilliant: a strong singer like Chantal, and an instrumental group with the talent to play the slow, patient style required in folk music.
Several things are pushing the band forward, including their mention in the NY Times article that focused on the Miami Music Scene. Additionally, the band received a lot of input from fellow musicians like Rachel Goodrich and The JeanMarie. According to Johanna, one of the best parts of being in the Miami music scene right now is collaborating with musicians from West Kendall to DWNTWN to SoBe that all work together instead of being competitive (a sentiment I've heard echoed by Otto von Schirach).
One such example of this comraderie is a show that Sirens & Sealions organized for March 7th, Goo. In a warehouse by Churchills Pub (located at 150 NW 54th Street) Raffa & Rainer, Rachel Goodrich, Treesoundz, The JeanMarie, and Pretty Please will play a "makeup" for the cancellation of the Langarado Festival. As Johanna said to me, "we want people to understand that there is still a lot going on with music in Miami, and even though this event was cancelled, that doesn't mean there aren't musicians down here wanting to make a differance." (The show will only be $5)
Go to www.myspace.com/sirensandsealions for more info on their live album.
More than anything there are several philosophies that Johanna and Sirens & Sealions believe in: Miami does have a unique sound, local music can be inspiring and collaborative, it is possible to have other careers yet focus on music, honest criticism and growth due to it, and really wanting to bring together people through the power of music.
So far, everything that they're doing and saying is on point. I'm really excited to see how it all pans out. Hopefully they can work as an instrumental cornerstone in the building of our city's musical backbone.
Below I've posted their song THUMP'N of My Heart for you to enjoy.
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LINKS
Sirens and Sealions Myspace Page (www.myspace.com/sirensandsealions)
If You Enjoyed This Post, You May Also Like:
- Big City Breakdown 8: Sirens and Sealions- "Hopeful Heart"
- Sirens & Sealions Double Birthday Bash - September 18,2009
- Band Profile: Tobacco Pat
- Band Profile: The Killer Moon
- Captain's Blog: Crossbridge Church - December 22
NOTE FOR COMMENTS: Do not flame or leave obnoxious comments, THEY WILL NOT BE APPROVED. Constructive criticism should always be welcomed by any artist, but don't be a d-bag, show some class. Thanks. - REVMiami Staff
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