Seapony

Seapony draws its sound from earlier indie pop acts, especially the twee stylings of the Softies, Talulah Gosh, and the Field Mice, resulting in music that matches the dreamy, gentle, and melodic qualities suggested by the band’s name. Danny Rowland, the group’s chief songwriter, returned to Seattle in 2010 alongside his girlfriend Jen Weidl, who soon assumed lead vocal duties. Bassist Ian Brewer, a childhood friend and onetime bandmate of Rowland’s, completed the initial lineup. The trio quickly laid down enough material for a full album. After uploading several finished songs, they attracted the attention of the newly established Double Denim Records, which issued their first 7-inch single, Dreaming. The release raised the band’s visibility considerably; by 2011 the track appeared on Pitchfork and received regular airplay on college stations. Their debut live performance followed, with friend John Bryan added on drums to fill out the stage lineup. Hardly Art put out the first album, Go with Me, later that same year. To promote it, Seapony undertook an initial U.S. tour that included shows alongside the Beets and Beach Fossils. For the follow-up, the band tracked the songs at home, mixed them at Dub Narcotic Studios, and sent the tapes to the veteran engineer Kramer for mastering. The finished record, Falling, appeared in 2012. Once its promotional cycle ended, the group entered an extended hiatus. Their return came in 2015 with the self-released A Vision on the newly formed Burrito Thirty imprint; drummer Aaron Voros had joined, and the songs reflected a looser take on their indie pop approach.