If you’ve ever listened to the music of Seafret then you’ll know how raw their sound is. Their poetic lyrics pierce through your heart to make an ever lasting connection, allowing you to have a cathartic experience that lets the emotions pour out of you like a cascading waterfall. The multi-talented artists have consistently exceeded expectations, with each project they release being better than the last they’ve continually offered us music that leaves an everlasting impression that stays with us long after the single finishes playing. With them releasing new music for the first time since their 2020 album Most of Us Are Strangers, I got the opportunity to sit down with them and chat about their new era of music.
Your name is a play on your growing up by the sea and the fret of a guitar, which one of your songs do you think encapsulates that wordplay the most?
I think ‘To The Sea’ will always be super special to us. It was one of the first songs we ever wrote together and seems to remind us of home and those early days whenever we play it. H
The first time you both met was at an open mic night in your home town, where Harry was playing the banjo in his dad’s country band? Based on your lyrics do you think that country music has influenced your storytelling?
Yes I would say so, almost all music is linked and inspired by other music in one way or another. Sometimes we’ll write a melody and it’ll feel like a Seafret song but definitely have country elements without us trying to make it that way. H
You’ve also said in the past that you write from your own personal stories and struggles you have. How do you get yourself out of this solemn headspace and into a more jovial one once you’re finished writing?
Writing seems to take a long time to catch up so when I actually come to putting pen to paper I have generally moved past whatever I was going though and have the headspace to get it out. It seems to be on a 6 month kind of thing. Emotional songs have an amazing positive effect on me – after singing a sad song I feel so much better, feels like all that emotion has escaped and I’m left feeling myself again. J
In your music video for Wildfire you had people partake in an experiment done in 1997 to see if strangers could fall in love. Are there any other experiments you’d want to recreate as a part of a music video because this was such a sweet video?
I’m sure there are plenty of cool experiments out there but I can’t think of any off the top of my head! The ‘Wildfire’ video was so much better than we were all expecting and just caught that raw intensity of meeting someone for the first time. H
Your most renowned song Oceans was written about you both leaving home for the first time and moving to London. With a lot of young musicians currently doing the same thing to pursue their dreams have you got any advice you’d wish you were told at that time?
It’s hard and expensive but it’s all worth it. Play wherever you can, even if there’s only 5 in the room. Try and win them over. Be humble with your success. J
Last year you left the hustle and bustle of London to go into the countryside and start writing your upcoming project. Your music is very rustic in that sense so do you think going to that naturalistic surrounding helps you understand what you want to write about?
It definitely influences us and gives us the head space to concentrate. It’s like taking a step back out of a situation and looking in up here. H
Have you got any nature walks you’d recommend for people to experience in the UK? I know Plymouth had plenty when I lived down there.
There’s a little cafe at Hunmanby Gap and a beach there that’s outstanding. Also, Flamborough Head, North Landing is up there with our favourite places here. J
Your latest release Pictures was inspired by the unblemished photos of your youth, do you have a memory from your adolescence that you look back upon with fondness when you think of this track?
We both have so many that we look back on fondly such as camping trips with friends and family, beach days where you’d be running on the sand with an ice cream melting down your hands and all over your face – good times! Still do that now to be fair. J
You’ve also been doing some live shows as of late, what is the most fulfilling part about performing live for you both?
We absolutely live for it! The people, the traveling, the outlet of emotion. It’s an incredible thing to do and we feel very lucky to be able to do it. H
What impression do you want to leave on the world when you eventually pass on?
As long as people remember you as kind and generous I don’t think you can go far wrong. J
What’s next for Seafret?
A new album! It’s almost there so people will start seeing the new music rolling out now. Super excited for it! H
Who’re you counting in?
I’m not sure how new they are but recently we’ve been listening to Post Malone, Tre Burt, Kendrick Lamar and a bit of Meatloaf on the side haha! J