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After their stunning show on Dunk!Festival (read our review), we went to look whether The End Of The Ocean would have some nice merchandising with them. Serge bought the CD from the drummer and inquired if the band would like to be interviewed. After a while we got seated in the shade of the woods with these six enthousiastic, young Americans: Bryan (bass), Josh (guitars), Kevin (guitars), Tara (keyboards), Trish (guitars) and Wes (drums). We do it the analog way: with a notebook and a pen. At some point Trish asks if that doesn't hurt. I reply that I'm used to writing fast. I look at the huge smiles on their faces and I can feel their delight, which is contagious. I'm always a bit sceptic towards Americans, but these ones are innocent and just sweet.
MOA: Awesome show! How have you been liking Europe so far?
This was actually our first European show. We simply love Europe. It's amazing, like a dream that came true. It feels like home, but way better. Everyone's so nice to us and treats us well. And the food!
MOA: The pleasure's all ours. Do you have many gigs to play on your first European tour?
Our motto was "go big or go home": we have 11 different shows in several different countries coming up. For three years we've been wanting to play at Dunk!Fest, because it's a great festival. We've been working hard to save some money for this journey, because man, it's expensive. So maybe this is a unique experience... We're enjoying every minute of it, that's for sure.
MOA: Would you like to tell us something about the origin of The End Of The Ocean?
Six years ago, Kevin and Bryan started out as an ambient/soundscape bedroom project. Neither of them had expectations: the idea of ever performing live on stage or releasing an album just sounded ridiculous.
MOA: How did the band get its name?
(laughter) Well, one day Kevin and Bryan came down from their appartment bedroom and yelled: "Tara, we made a song! How do you like The End Of The Ocean fo a band name? It's the most epic we can think of." Tara said: "That's a terrible name." "We're ging to keep it anyway, because in French it sounds beautiful: la fin de l'océan."
Funny thing is, none of us live anywhere near an ocean.
MOA: The name reminds me of the scene in 'The Truman Show' where Truman (Jim Carrey) tries to escape over water but hits a painted wall.
We never thought of that, that is a cool reference.
(Then someone asked Tara if she likes the bandname better with this reference, but she still doesn't. Trish never saw the movie which made the others laugh and say "well, you're too young for that movie")
MOA: Awesome show! How have you been liking Europe so far?
This was actually our first European show. We simply love Europe. It's amazing, like a dream that came true. It feels like home, but way better. Everyone's so nice to us and treats us well. And the food!
MOA: The pleasure's all ours. Do you have many gigs to play on your first European tour?
Our motto was "go big or go home": we have 11 different shows in several different countries coming up. For three years we've been wanting to play at Dunk!Fest, because it's a great festival. We've been working hard to save some money for this journey, because man, it's expensive. So maybe this is a unique experience... We're enjoying every minute of it, that's for sure.
MOA: Would you like to tell us something about the origin of The End Of The Ocean?
Six years ago, Kevin and Bryan started out as an ambient/soundscape bedroom project. Neither of them had expectations: the idea of ever performing live on stage or releasing an album just sounded ridiculous.
MOA: How did the band get its name?
(laughter) Well, one day Kevin and Bryan came down from their appartment bedroom and yelled: "Tara, we made a song! How do you like The End Of The Ocean fo a band name? It's the most epic we can think of." Tara said: "That's a terrible name." "We're ging to keep it anyway, because in French it sounds beautiful: la fin de l'océan."
Funny thing is, none of us live anywhere near an ocean.
MOA: The name reminds me of the scene in 'The Truman Show' where Truman (Jim Carrey) tries to escape over water but hits a painted wall.
We never thought of that, that is a cool reference.
(Then someone asked Tara if she likes the bandname better with this reference, but she still doesn't. Trish never saw the movie which made the others laugh and say "well, you're too young for that movie")
MOA: So what happened next?
After a while we wanted to do something bigger. We had quite some line-up changes, it's hard to find fixed members. The current line-up is the best we ever had. Every member gives the band something special. From the moment we found each other, it felt right and we started working on songs. One song, "Worth everything ever wished for", which we don't particularly like and never play live, all of a sudden became popular on Spotify. It appeared on three playlists. We made two EPs and one full-length. We were very happy with our first EP but we've evolved since then.
MOA: How do you write songs?
Because we all work and some of us live 1000 miles apart, we do a lot via the internet.
One of us comes up with a catchy riff, we all add bits to it and keep the good ones so it becomes like a big sandwich, which we practice.
MOA: I noticed you switch (guitar)-parts on stage. Sometimes Trish plays a certain riff or melody and sometimes Josh or Kevin does. How do you decide who gets to play which part?
After a while we wanted to do something bigger. We had quite some line-up changes, it's hard to find fixed members. The current line-up is the best we ever had. Every member gives the band something special. From the moment we found each other, it felt right and we started working on songs. One song, "Worth everything ever wished for", which we don't particularly like and never play live, all of a sudden became popular on Spotify. It appeared on three playlists. We made two EPs and one full-length. We were very happy with our first EP but we've evolved since then.
MOA: How do you write songs?
Because we all work and some of us live 1000 miles apart, we do a lot via the internet.
One of us comes up with a catchy riff, we all add bits to it and keep the good ones so it becomes like a big sandwich, which we practice.
MOA: I noticed you switch (guitar)-parts on stage. Sometimes Trish plays a certain riff or melody and sometimes Josh or Kevin does. How do you decide who gets to play which part?
Quite simple actually, the one who wrote something plays it. (Like Sonic Youth do with their lyrics). It feels natural to do it that way.
MOA: Do you have a big fan base in America?
Well, actually people dislike instrumental music, so most of our fans live in Europe. Americans are unfamiliar with our genre so sometimes the crowd, which is never very big, doesn't pay attention at our gigs, they rather look at their smartphones or play wait-and-see. some of them love us.
MOA: That's quite different from the crowd at Dunk!Fest, to say the least. The moment where you looked up, Tara, and showed that honestly amazed smile, was beautiful.
Yes, I felt such a connection when I saw all of you guys smiling back at me! We were truly amazed and you were our biggest audience ever. Josh: "Two hours after the concert I'm still shaking!".
MOA: Any plans for the future?
We're working on new material and we hope to do some recording soon.
Eline
MOA: Do you have a big fan base in America?
Well, actually people dislike instrumental music, so most of our fans live in Europe. Americans are unfamiliar with our genre so sometimes the crowd, which is never very big, doesn't pay attention at our gigs, they rather look at their smartphones or play wait-and-see. some of them love us.
MOA: That's quite different from the crowd at Dunk!Fest, to say the least. The moment where you looked up, Tara, and showed that honestly amazed smile, was beautiful.
Yes, I felt such a connection when I saw all of you guys smiling back at me! We were truly amazed and you were our biggest audience ever. Josh: "Two hours after the concert I'm still shaking!".
MOA: Any plans for the future?
We're working on new material and we hope to do some recording soon.
Eline
