Music: Shearwater

American Indie sounds from Austin, Texas

Born out of another acclaimed American indie band, Okkervil River, Shearwater have just released their seventh album, Animal Joy, their first for legendary label Sub Pop. “I wanted to take a different approach this time, including the recording process,” says founder member Jonathan Meiburg, from his base in Austin, Texas.

“I wanted to write more about my life this time even though I am generally suspicious of confessional songwriting. I wanted to make a record that had more flesh and blood to it. I like the other records a lot but they are a little bit more cerebral, more removed. I also wanted it to sound more like a band as well. But we’re still very meticulous about our records. I love the recording process; you have to pry me out of a studio with a crowbar…”

Meiburg was originally with Okkervil, River, and along with Okkervil’s frontman Will Sheff, they formed Shearwater as a side project. Co-existing for several years, and releasing a stream of critically lauded albums, the pressure of being in two bands became too much for Meiburg and he decided to concentrate full-time on Shearwater in 2008, while Sheff continues to head-up Okkervil River. “The previous three album formed a loose trilogy,” says Meiburg, referring to Palo Santo, Rook and The Golden Archipelago.

“It wasn’t the goal from the outset but as we were making them I noticed similarities, so I tried to make the artwork similar, and went back to the same themes.”

Shearwater is named after the long-winged seabird of the same name, and Meiburg is a big bird-watching fan. “I studied to be an ornithologist for years. I’m even going back down to the Falklands for a month in the summer to work on a bird survey. I’ve been there four times. I went there before I ever went to the UK! I really enjoy the remote outer islands where there is no one at all; it’s one of the best places for sub-Antarctic wildlife… Shearwaters actually breed on the islands.”

And with the sound of sea birds in the background while on the phone, Jonathan is once again looking forward to playing Brighton, just one of four UK dates a part of a European tour. “Brighton seems to me like it’s barely hanging onto the English coast… Brighton would go well on the Mediterranean coast!”

Shearwater, The Haunt, Fri 30 March, 7.30pm, £10