Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2006, Built for the Sea’s oceanic indie rock has earned them spots at the SXSW Music Festival (2007, 2008), San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival (2007, 2008, 2009), and the Live105 studios. The Bay Area quintet creates a sound that Live105 Music Director Aaron Axelsen has praised as “very mesmerizing, very hypnotic”.
At the center of this hypnotic sound is band leader Lia Rose. But music first came to Lia in an instrument that seems far removed from pop music -- wind chimes. As a child, her family owned a wind chime business in Southern California and she was always surrounded by music. But as she grew up, she gravitated towards the sciences and at age 18 she moved to the Bay Area to study at UC Berkeley. She eventually returned to her musical roots in 2005 when she stepped into the local limelight as a part of San Francisco's dreampop band, Minipop.
For the first couple of Minipop shows, Eric Kuhn was on drums; that is how these two met. Years would go by before they would play music together again. Meanwhile, Built for the Sea was beginning to slowly form and there were a few early underground shows with a rotating group of musicians. Lia and Jonny met at the first ever (impromptu) Built for the Sea show, which was at a small cafe that Jonny worked at in the North Bay. He soon got involved with the band, helping out for a few shows and it quickly became obvious that they’d be playing music together for the long run. Jonny pulled his good friend and former band mate Daniel McKenzie (The Rum Diary) out to an early Built for the Sea show and he shortly thereafter joined the band…
Fast forward a few years: Lia reunites with Eric on the streets of Santa Cruz where she says, “I randomly came across my old friend playing the buckets --and pots and pans and street signs-- on the corner with a few others. Eric was clearly the orchestrator of the group and after that meeting, sprouts of us playing music together again were firmly planted.” Eric joined the band in the summer of 2007 and by that fall, Built for the Sea would complete its lineup by adding Michael Fesckes on cello.
press:
"True to its name, San Francisco’s Built for the Sea crafts lush indie-rock that is at once dreamy, hypnotic, and emotionally powerful."
--East Bay Express
"Built for the Sea took the stage next and put on the night’s most impressive performance....the band’s tight instrumentals and the strength of Rose’s dreamy vocals and lyrics inspired a call for an encore at the end of Built for the Sea’s set - pretty impressive for a middle slot."
--West Coast Performer Magazine
"Built for the Sea’s self-released, eponymous debut album plays like a well-crafted novel in which good exposition, rising action, and an emotionally ambiguous resolution form a complete picture. If you’re into relaxing on your screened-in porch in your rattan rocking chair on a drizzly, dreary day… Built for the Sea is your soundtrack."
--Wiretap Music
"There are those moments where you hear someone play music and you say, 'Holy Shit. Must record.' Terri [Winston, Women's Audio Misson] was teaching a basics recording class, when student Lia Rose opened her mouth to sing and Terri had the moment mentioned above ... It's obvious what Terri heard, Lia's voice is captivating and beautiful. The band is versatile and play well, and Terri's recording and production prove that she is more than qualified to be teaching recording. Mastered by our pal Sarah Register @ The Lodge, NYC."
--Tape Op Magazine
"Few band names seem more SXSW-appropriate than pop outfit Built for the Sea. In an ocean of songwriters, singer Lia Rose is as prepared as anyone to breech the vastness. Able to sound loud and delicate without falling beneath the roar of her band, Rose sailed above the late afternoon heat for a set that proved memorable in an environment saturated with talent."
--7x7 Magazine
"The San Francisco indie-rock band Built for the Sea makes a sparkling debut. The band conjures a haunting mood, reminiscent of Mazzy Star or Cowboy Junkies, but glides higher with the ethereally beautiful vocals of Lia Rose. The music finds its own mesmerizing tone. Rose's extraordinary songwriting gifts are evident in such gems as "Hypnotist" and "Move in Time." They are immediately involving, but further enthrall the listener with each subsequent play. Built for the Sea performs tonight at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco."
--Palo Alto Daily News
"This is without a doubt the best CD I've listened to all year. Built for the Sea has such a great quality about them. I absolutely love Lia Rose's vocals and can listen to her sing all day long. The music is mesmerizing and alluring. Do yourself a favor and check out this hot band on the rise."
-- Madalyn Sklar, GoGirlsMusic.com
"San Francisco's Built For the Sea is the latest addition to my seduction playlist ... Lead singer Lia Rose's soothing voice creates a unique contrast against the powerful musical build up coming from the guitars, drums and piano behind her. The result is non-pretentious, satisfying mellow rock."
--Freeindie.com
"Built for the Sea’s sound can be described as dreamy indie pop music with Rose’s beautiful, haunting vocals at the forefront, backed by melodic instrumentals. The band’s passionate and lush live performances can captivate an audience, which has resulted in a loyal local fan base. Built for the Sea has been just as supportive of the local community as it has been of the band, making a case for reciprocity and the importance of friends. 'It’s not just about making money and promoting your own band – it’s about community,' says Rose. 'Make friends – make real friends – and actually go out there and support other bands.'”
--West Coast Performer Magazine
