EP Review: Seafret – 'Anywhere from Here'
Bridlington duo Seafret are back, with their gorgeously introspective new EP, ‘Anywhere from Here’.
Formed in 2011 after a chance meeting at an open mic night, Jack Sedman and Harry Draper have gone from strength to strength since the release of their viral hit Oceans in 2015, which currently boasts over 150 million Spotify streams and 95 million YouTube views – the music video in question starring Game of Thrones legend Maisie Williams.
The group’s latest EP, produced by Draper with Cam Blackwood (who has worked with big names such as Florence and the Machine and George Ezra) combines folk influences with intimate lyricism to carefully craft a sublime record. Evidently, Seafret have managed to successfully toy with their trademark sound, and interlace it with richer, more sweeping instrumentals than seen previously – and the result is quite possibly their best work yet.
The opening track and lead single Running Out of Love sets the tone for the project, with Sedman stating that this tune is about ‘fighting for a love that’s breaking’. Interestingly, the singer-songwriter was inspired by observing couples on the London Underground, and also on Instagram – how many of us will present our lives online as perfect, when in reality we’re plastering over the cracks.
Sedman’s aforementioned inspiration is apparent when listening to the song, with the twanging guitar instrumental fusing with powerful lyricism that’s practically oozing with emotion. The duo manage to manufacture an almost cinematic feel, with Running Out of Love sounding as though it would be at home on the soundtrack of an indie heartbreak flick.
Hollow, the second tune on the EP, is equally gut-wrenching, yet for very different reasons. Sedman wrote this sorrowful ballad during lockdown, when he was unable to see his grandparents – something many listeners will sadly be able to relate to. The Yorkshire native felt that ‘everybody became more aware of how lucky they were, and what they had’, and this sentiment is felt throughout this track.
Earthy vocals are enriched by sprinkles of percussion, with a sustained, building guitar backing. The tune seems cautiously optimistic at points, with Seafret reminding us that all we can do is try to make the most of each day, and appreciate our circumstances for what they are.
Sandwiched neatly in the middle of the EP is the tender yet fiery Valentine, which incorporates the use of a banjo. Described by the duo as the perfect campfire song, the slow-burner is gloriously melancholy, fortifying raw lyricism with spectral, hazy backing vocals.
In the penultimate track, Everlasting, the pair explore the difficulties that can arise in relationships (echoing the themes of the opening single). Complex guitar riffs and subdued vocals combine with lyricism that holds steady in a stormy melodious sea. The electric guitar line at the end of the song is a particular highlight, with the band showing us that hope is always just over the horizon.
The closing track, Pictures, is delightfully delicate, with Sedman penning the piece after he and his partner discovered they were expecting their first child. The songwriter began to envisage his life as a father, and how quickly time would inevitably pass. The tune is wistful, and surprisingly melancholy despite the subject matter, but the genuine emotion is palpable and creates a unique listening experience, with the ballad meaning something different to each listener.
Words by Tabitha Wilson
