At AWAL, we love sharing our artists’ stories so their paths — as individual and unique as the music they make — inspire others to pursue their own music-career goals.
Here in our “My Journey” series, our members share their stories — the challenges they’ve faced, how they’ve overcome them, the milestones they’ve achieved, and where they hope the future leads.
This week, we’re speaking with British rock band — Sea Girls.
Can you tell us a bit about where your artistic journey began?
As a band, we started out as a very different format. Oli [Khan] was the singer and is now our drummer; Rory [Young] played and still does play guitar; I [Henry Camamile] am now the singer and guitar player, but I was the bassist; and Andrew [Noswad] played a “K Oscillator” weird synth, which we thought sounded pretty cool, but over time, tastes change. Our music sounds different now, and we’ve shifted around instruments, but we have stuck together and developed our Sea Girls sound.
What stage of your musical journey are you in now?
After getting management and a great team around us, we released our EP debut track, “Call Me Out” in June, which went straight on to Radio 1’s playlist. Our latest single from our EP, “What For,” is out soon. Our live agent has been so great getting us our first UK festivals also which has helped our streaming.
As a band, we have grown with confidence in our sound and have become sensitive to each other’s strengths, so we draw on the best bits of all of us to make music. It’s like wearing in a new pair of shoes until they feel right. Where those shoes take us, who knows, but we’re 100% focused and ready for the journey.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced so far?
Playing shows for 18 months and not seeming to get anywhere felt frustrating at times. After we wrote a lot of these songs we play today, we thought, “Surely more people would be into this.” It has been hard juggling jobs to allow enough time and money for us to get together to develop the music, but we’re compelled to push Sea Girls forward.
It’s safe to say the hardest thing is when we play shows away from home and don’t have anywhere to stay. It’s always a nightmare trying to catch the last train home.
What have been some of the most rewarding moments in your career so far?
Realizing our friends and us aren’t the only chillers who like the music. We played our first UK festivals in Leeds and Manchester expecting no one to turn up but ended up playing to packed venues. When people sing your songs back at you and they start climbing on shoulders, it makes you feel like you’ve been doing the right thing, and it’s something really special.
Meeting people who connect with your music is crazy. I didn’t think it would come so soon. Because of Sirius XM Alt Nation playing our songs, people in labels and agents are starting to talk about us in America, too, which is super exciting.
Any major milestones on the horizon?
Connecting with new fans through supporters like Annie Mac and Huw Stephens through to NME, DIY, CLASH, and DORK writing about us has been pretty epic.
We are so looking forward to our first UK headline tour in February next year. We’ll have our second EP out by then, so more music for people to sink their teeth into. Then we will be back in the studio with Larry Hibbitt who produced Nothing But Thieves to record our third EP.
What are some of your ultimate goals for your music career?
We want to make diverse, interesting albums by constantly improving. If we can produce songs that make you get up, spin around, and then cry, we’re happy. I guess the ultimate would be for people to relate an experience or part of their life to our music and for us to grow with them.
We played a lot of gigs before we ever went into the studio, so we want anyone who watches us to feel like they have been to a unique show.
How has your experience with AWAL been so far?
AWAL has given us great support with VEVO not only in the UK, but internationally. Some really cool playlists on Spotify are definitely helping more people connect with our music and come to our live shows. Here’s to 2018!
If you’re looking for a true partner to help you take your career to the next level, become an AWAL member like Sea Girls!
