Taking A Positive Stance Against Negative Minds

"Over the last year or so, we've all been sort of slowly going our separate ways, not musically, but in life a bit more," Lachlan Denton says of The Ocean Party's recent relocation to Melbourne. "The separation was a bit of a theme," he adds, along with the general shift from young adult life to adult life. "I guess a bit of existential crisis here and there, getting older. We try not to get too caught up in that, but you know, it's a bit of a theme, you can't sort of destroy yourself forever.

"For the newest record we actually, probably more than any other record, went in pretty bare bones," Denton says of how the band's proximity to each other affected their approach. "Everyone had simple song ideas but they were mostly fleshed out in the week that we went away and recorded in [the band's home studio] Stanwell Park," he says. 

Over the years the band's take on songwriting has evolved from being relatively headstrong to becoming more questioning and introspective. "The music has become a bit more, 'why are we here?'" he chuckles. "In a nice way, in a therapeutic way." Having six passionate songwriters has contributed greatly to their productivity, having pumped out an album yearly since 2011. "We're all such close friends," he explains, "and to be able to work on music together it doesn't actually feel that stressful to make as much music as we do."

Denton shares having tradie brother Zac [drums] listening to a "3AW shock jock" radio on the job ("not out of choice obviously") brought out the record's political side, reflected in song Strike. "It's specifically about the prison system and the lack of empathy," says the singer. "The total obsessed hype around the fact that anyone might be given a second chance." But despite honing their political voice, Denton assures no one is trying to push an agenda, and the message encompasses "having a little bit more empathy in the age of fear and media hype" and greater compassion for other's situations; "We can live in pretty negative times, it'd be nice for people to just feel the love."

Denton demonstrates this when questioned on the new Australian plebiscite on gay marriage. "I'm anti-marriage in general," he explains, despite expressing hopes for it to pass. "It'd send a really nice message to the community, that there's a little less hatred out there… If there's gonna be rights for one, then there should be rights for all."

Now, with a national tour looming, Denton illustrates how turning down the noise helps with tour life nerves. "If you're playing music all the time, sometimes just a good chunk of silence in the car I find to be good down time," he shares. Having pumped out album after album, with tours in between, the band find themselves with no immediate recording plans. "Our keyboardist won't be touring with us this album because he's been living in Canada, so for the first time in ages we haven't sort of got another record ready to go."

Despite expressing his excitement of being able to take a break Denton, ever positive and lively about the band's future, betrays his eagerness to get started on the next record. "I think everyone's kind of looking forward to going away early next year when it's a bit hotter and hanging out and catching up and writing another record."