Kevin Bronson on May 28th, 2020

0

Ships Have Sailed’s new single “Rise” proved to be an apt song for the moment. As Will Carpenter tells Buzz Bands LA in today’s QUARANTUNES, it was released after their tour went sideways. Here, he shares his lockdown musts, touring dreams and a playlist that’ll make you sail through the day.

THE LATEST FROM SHIPS HAVE SAILED

Ships Have Sailed — singer-guitarist Will Carpenter and drummer Art Andranikyan — craft buoyant, relatable pop songs, some ready for the dancefloor, some better for times of introspection. And others, like the new single “Rise,” are pep talks that work anywhere. “If anything, know that these scars / are a badge that you bear, my friend / The pain you feel now / turns to strength in the end,” Carpenter sings in the tune, which takes on a special relevance in this time of crisis.

“A song that started as the spark of an idea brought on by my being woken from a dead sleep by a powerful thunderstorm, ‘Rise’ had actually been finished for over a year when we released it, because it just hadn’t revealed where it should live in our story,” Carpenter says. “Then, in March, we were out on our first leg of tour when the COVID-19 pandemic escalated rapidly, and everything of course went sideways. As we were making our way back to Los Angeles, the first verse of ‘Rise’ popped back into my head, and I realized that right here, in this unique and surreal moment, was where it belonged.” (This week, the band released a “Quarantine Version” of the song, too.)

The single is the follow-up to their 2019 singles “Skin,” “Stay” and “Escape,” which as a group show SHS’s ability to turn emotional turmoil inside out … and into euphoric pop.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MANAGE THE ‘STAY AT HOME’ EDICT?

Will Carpenter: I’m not gonna lie … going a little stir-crazy. But I’m thankful that I have a studio in my house, and also for my years of working in restaurant kitchens! I’m actually feeling a lot busier even than ‘normal’ because I’ve really been focusing on productivity, being as creative as possible and also leaning back into cooking. I’ve been making sure to create a good morning routine to help with my focus and motivation, and I’ve been making sure to reach out to family and friends over FaceTime and Zoom, because I think the worst part about self-isolation is the lack of human contact. FaceTime isn’t the same, of course, but it definitely does help to be able to see your loved ones’ faces.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THIS IS OVER?

Will Carpenter: From a “normal life” perspective, I really miss the luxury of going out to a simple neighborhood restaurant for a nice relaxed meal, and I miss being able to hang with friends and family in person. And hugs — definitely miss those! As far as Ships Have Sailed goes, we really had to scramble and adjust our plans because of COVID, because this was supposed to be a touring year for us. As I mentioned, we were out on the first leg when this all escalated, and I was already planning at least three more for the year. I’m guessing venues won’t be back open until sometime in 2021, but once they are, I really can’t wait to be playing live shows again!

ANYTHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PLAYLIST?

Will Carpenter: We’ve had a lot of new fans asking us what our favorite tracks are, so I was super excited to put this together! Between Art and I, we have a really broad musical taste, so I tried to represent a range of that both within our own catalogue and also representing a lot of what we’re listening to lately. Some tunes are new, others are classics, and some artists you may know, while others (like us) are still emerging … Hope you enjoy!