Biography
Splashh came together in London’s Hackney district during the winter of 2012 and rapidly shaped a neo-shoegaze identity through a steady flow of singles that circulated widely online soon after appearing. The lineup featured Australian vocalist Toto Vivian, New Zealand-born guitarist Sasha Carlson, drummer Jacob Moore, and bassist Thomas Beal; while the group drew from the template established by My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Chapterhouse, and Loop, they infused their work with a more chaotic layer of feedback reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain and Dinosaur Jr. The single “Need It” surfaced in July 2012, coinciding with local gigs and appearances on the summer festival circuit, before the band issued its first full-length album, Comfort, in spring 2013.
Once touring wrapped, Carlson relocated to New York City late that year and began performing in a pared-down configuration of Splashh alongside Jaie Gonzalez from Kudogon. Vivian and Beal soon arrived, prompting sessions for a follow-up record, while Moore remained behind and departed the group. The reconfigured four-piece shifted focus toward electronic textures, performing sporadically through 2014 and testing new material onstage. By year’s end Angus Tarnawsky joined as the permanent drummer. Early evidence of these sessions emerged in 2015 with the release of “Pure Blue” on Luv Luv Luv Records; the track had been captured in Vivian’s home studio and mixed by Nicolas Vernhes. Work continued, culminating in a May 2016 signing with Cinematic Music Group and a move to Vernhes’ Rare Book Room Studio in New York. There the quartet largely reclaimed the dream-pop and shoegaze approach of its debut, retaining only faint traces of the electronic experiments pursued in prior years. The resulting album, Waiting a Lifetime, appeared in April 2017.
Once touring wrapped, Carlson relocated to New York City late that year and began performing in a pared-down configuration of Splashh alongside Jaie Gonzalez from Kudogon. Vivian and Beal soon arrived, prompting sessions for a follow-up record, while Moore remained behind and departed the group. The reconfigured four-piece shifted focus toward electronic textures, performing sporadically through 2014 and testing new material onstage. By year’s end Angus Tarnawsky joined as the permanent drummer. Early evidence of these sessions emerged in 2015 with the release of “Pure Blue” on Luv Luv Luv Records; the track had been captured in Vivian’s home studio and mixed by Nicolas Vernhes. Work continued, culminating in a May 2016 signing with Cinematic Music Group and a move to Vernhes’ Rare Book Room Studio in New York. There the quartet largely reclaimed the dream-pop and shoegaze approach of its debut, retaining only faint traces of the electronic experiments pursued in prior years. The resulting album, Waiting a Lifetime, appeared in April 2017.
Albums
Singles
