It’s hard to believe that spring is just around the corner as we continue to armour ourselves in layers of clothing for the cold morning commute. If you’re searching for something to take that last bit of chill out of February, we find that nothing warms us through more than the sound of some infectious indie-pop. The clue’s in the name for The New Coast: born from a mutual infatuation with American cinema and pop culture, the East London-based duo Nick Blyth and Chris Cheater create music which instantly evokes the blue sea and white sand landscape of a summer getaway.
A trip to the Greek island of Mykonos last year formed the basis for their debut offering ‘Lost In Your Love’, where vocals surf on hazy electric-guitars before crashing into big drums. If you can’t quite afford an early escape to Greece, then let this song take you on a three-minute holiday. Ahead of its official release on 26th February, we caught up with Nick and Chris to get to know them a little better.
How did the two of you meet and how did you come up with the band’s name?
Nick: We met when we were 12 through a mutual friend. We used to play in separate bands – both really terrible, but awesome at the time. We would just make music that sounded exactly like Blink 182, original songs, but the same Tom DeLonge high pitched american voice and everything.
Chris: We were throwing around band names for a while… And then “The New Coast” just randomly popped up. And yeah, instantly we loved it, we asked around with our close friends to see what they thought of the name, they also loved it. And from that point we were The New Coast.
What sparked you to start making music together? What were you doing before?
C: We have both been in bands together back since we were little kids, and we pretty much grew up together making music. Before The New Coast we had little projects, they just never really surfaced. We have had a long time preparing this duo, and we are finally ready to show what we have.
N: I think it was just a way of expressing ourselves when we were really young, and still is. We decided to make a two-piece band because that way we have so much control over what we are creating and engineering. We’ve always had a mutual love of big, beautiful choruses so we just want to make that our sound really. I personally, always wanted to make music because its such a natural, creative way of telling stories. Hearing a personal story over a melody… You can’t beat it.
Who are both of your musical influences? Are they similar to each other?
C: I listen to everything! We both do. Before ‘Lost In Your Love’ was written, we would sit in my old room in Ealing and listen to a lot of Bad Suns, Jack Garratt, The 1975 and The Neighbourhood. We both have the same taste in music, which is why myself and my sweet, sweet prince work so well together.
N: I grew up listening to big, in-your-face pop music really. Like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. I think that has transcended enormously into how we write music now. It’s strange to think that listening to certain songs for so long can have such a massive impact on songwriting, and so subconsciously as well! Nowadays I just sit and anxiously wait for Frank Ocean to drop his next album. Please, Frank. Please.
Do you draw inspiration from anywhere else, such as film or literature?
Yeah massively. I know we both take influence from our favourite films. The two mediums correlate so well emotionally. We have a mutual love for Steve McQueen movies, the director, not the actor (although he is pretty cool). The soundtracks to 12 Years A Slave and Shame broke my heart a little bit. So incredibly written and arranged. It’s those goosebump-y moments you get, that we want to create. I’m studying film at the moment, so we watch as much as we can.
In what way is your sound distinct from other indie-pop bands? Would you put yourselves in this category?
It’s hard to put yourself or your music into a certain category or genre. I’d say we were closest to indie-pop, but I feel we naturally make sounds that are a little darker and atmospheric. We have tropical elements to the sound, but I guess the darker notes are something that sets us apart.
Is there a particular message behind your new song ‘Lost In Your Love’?
‘Lost In Your Love’ is about desperately trying to hold onto a feeling for someone, but feeling like you’re failing. It’s set in a specific place and time from last summer on an island called Mykonos in Greece. I guess lots of people have felt that way, but it’s something that was really prominent in my life at the time, so that’s where the lyrics come from.
Do you plan to film a music video for it? If so, what can we expect?
N: We shot a video not too long ago! It’s coming, be prepared…
Are you playing any live shows soon? Is playing live what it’s all about?
C: Yes we are itching to get out and play some shows. For me, playing your tunes live is a big thing. I mean I love hearing our tracks recorded, but hearing them live makes everything sound so much more gritty and powerful. I feel like we have a lot of energy to release when it comes to it.
N: Yeah playing live is what it’s all about. We will definitely be doing some shows in the coming months – all we know is that we want to get out on the road and play.
What would be your dream collaboration?
C: For me? Bieber, Straight up.
N: Thats too hard. Everyone ever. Too much talent.
What are your plans for the rest of 2016?
N: I guess we just take it as it comes. We’d love to get out on the road and just be playing music every night really. That would be the dream. 2016 is going to be a good year though, I can feel it down in my plums. We’re just super grateful we are releasing with LAB Records and have a whole team behind us. So cool.
C: We do have plans for the future, but like Nick said, we will take it as it comes. Things take time. All I can say is that I hope everyone enjoys the journey with us.
