Up N Coming Artist: Seabird
InnerVoice first heard Cincinnati-based band, Seabird, at a recent concert in South Jersey and was captivated by the band’s unique sound and transparent lyrics. We wanted to bring our readers the inside scoop and went behind the music with band members Aaron Morgan (vocals/ keyboards), Ryan Morgan (guitar), Preston Lane (drums), and Brandon Weaver (bass).
IV: Aaron, can you tell us more about how Seabird was formed?
Aaron: I started the band around five years ago with a buddy. We recorded three songs in his bedroom in order to compete in a battle of the bands competition. It felt like the worst way ever to start a band, competing against Cincinnati's best bands, that is.
IV: Hehe… well it shows how brave you guys were to put yourselves out there despite the steep competition. The band has been extremely busy this past year and has come out with their sophomore album, Rocks Into Rivers. Tell us… what has been the band’s goal in terms of writing and performing music?
Aaron: One of our goals in writing is to allow the listener to get to know us through our songs. I think people want a deeper connection with the music they are listening to, and we hope to be able to share that type of connection by being transparent and honest.
IV: That’s awesome. We really felt that connection between the band and the audience at your concert. During that show, we heard the band play the song, “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” and you mentioned that it was about a girl who carried the weight of her parents’ divorce on her shoulders, believing for years that it was her fault. Tell us a little more about the making of that song and why you thought it would resonate with your listeners.
Aaron: Well, Ryan and I have experienced divorce first hand as both of our wives’ parents were divorced. It's impossible to ignore the terribly negative effect it has on a family, and it's one that takes a lot of time and healing to get through. We wanted to share this story with everyone because we know there is hope and healing to be found in the midst of a tragedy like divorce.
IV: Ryan, your songs have been featured on hit television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy. I’m sure that’s created opportunities to testify of what God has done in your lives. Tell us about the feedback you’ve received about it and how it’s impacted the band.
Ryan: People's response to it has been the same as ours: "Oh my, that's Seabird playing on TV right now." We feel absolutely blessed for these opportunities and thank God for His faithfulness in providing for our families and us. Things like this really help keep you going when it gets hard.
IV: I’m sure staying spiritually disciplined can be difficult when the band is on the road so much. How does the band maintain devotions and quiet times?
Ryan: I haven't noticed it being harder on the road to do the things that I know I should. It seems like the biggest obstacle for me is my pride and I battle that when I'm home and on the road alike. We are all very close and share our struggles with each other and pray for one another and try to make it a point to pray together as a band before each show.
IV: How about you, Preston? For those who may not have heard Seabird yet, what are some of the things you want them to know about the band?
Preston: The songs are most important. Connecting in a real way with music is key. We aren't a gimmick band. What you hear on the album is what you get live.
IV: Which songs have been your favorites to play?
Preston: Right now it would be either "Don’t You Know You're Beautiful" or "Believe Me." Both of them are off the new album.
IV: Brandon, what have been your favorite things about touring and being on the road?
Brandon: We've spent a lot of time on the road the past few months, and there are so many things that I love about it, but I've come to the conclusion that my favorite part is the people. There is such a wonderful relational dynamic that happens when you throw a handful of people in a bus or van for a week or a month. I've never experienced anything quite like the community that results. The horror stories are definitely out there, but I've been immensely blessed to meet and work with a lot of very gifted, intriguing, loving people. And of course, there are all the others we get to meet along the way: the fans, the newly introduced to Seabird, the sound guys, the volunteers, all the people that go into making a show happen that you'd normally never meet... I love getting to know them all.
IV: Thank you gentlemen for taking the time to talk with us. We’ll see you the next time you’re in our area.
Seabird’s 2008 debut full length album, ‘Til We See the Shore, helped turn the piano pop rockers into a national name with the hit single, “Rescue.” In addition to prominent TV placements and several major coast-to-coast tours, fans also got a glimpse of the band on a PureVolume Session and Paste Magazine sampler. It was such a banner year that they even earned their hometown’s highest music honor, “Artist of the Year,” at the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. Most bands would either take a break or keep working the same album, but not these four guys. Just over a year after releasing their breakthrough debut album, the piano-pounding rockers march on with their latest album, Rocks Into Rivers. 
The new album features all that Seabird does best – rich melodies, immediate vocal hooks and picturesque narratives – but Rocks Into Rivers propels the band forward with bigger sounds, darker twists and masterfully woven instrumentation. Produced by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Sixpence None the Richer) and Aqualung’s Matt Hales, the album walks the line between earthy and urban, blue collar and big city, with emotionally bare lyrics about running into walls, finding new paths and questioning yourself in the process. It’s an energized blend of Brit-style sonics and the working man’s ethos of ‘70s American rock.
Check out more on Seabird at www.seabirdmusic.com.