Halifax chill-fi act Nap Eyes are not as sleepy as they sound. You may recognize members of the quartet (made up of songwriter and guitarist Nigel Chapman, bassist Josh Salter, drummer Seamus Dalton and lead guitarist Brad Loughead) from Monomyth (Salter + Dalton) or Each Other (Loughead). Together, they’re making some comforting tracks that have sunken under our skin. In fact, Nigel and Brad first met in high school at rock and roll camp, so it’s no wonder their songs are soaked in sunshiny nostalgia.
In case you’re wondering how to pronounce the band’s name…
It’s pronounced “nap” like a sleepie and “eyes” like those egg things above your nose, sorry for the confusion
— NapEyes (@NapEyes) March 28, 2016
In 2015 they made their full-length debut with Whine of the Mystic and then earlier this year they released their sophomore album Thought Rock Fish Scale. Chapman refers to the latter’s sound as “a little calmer in demeanour.” While Whine of the Mystic was recorded in Montreal, the boys went back to the East Coast to record Thought Rock Fish Scale to recorded live to 4-track tape on the North Shore of Nova Scotia. On the difference in the physical location, Chapman explained…
“Everyone is influenced by the environment, probably more fundamentally than any of us typically realizes. So being out in the country or in the big city, you experience life differently and think different thoughts. Your environment also consists not just of the physical landscape around you, but of people also, and the social fabric of your community, which is always changing, and affects everybody deeply.”
When asked about the driving emotions of Thought Rock Fish Scale, Chapman confesses…
“I’d say with most of my work a consistent theme is trying to balance my need for solitude and independence with my need for community and close relationships with other people. Or that idea of balance in any form or pattern of thinking, trying to live well and be a part of things without sacrificing your independence and personal values, in other words, a lot of the meaning in your life, in order to fit in.”
Nap Eyes recommend listening to their new record while going for walks and we honestly cannot agree more. Thought Rock Fish Scale goes incredibly well with spring wandering & helps shake off the winter blues.
Thought Rock Fish Scale is out now on Paradise of Bachelors. Grab the vinyl via bandcamp or grab a digital copy via iTunes here. You can also follow Nap Eyes on Twitter and Facebook.
On The Rise is our spotlight series on new and emerging artists. We last featured The Lytics. Stay tuned for next week’s On The Rise artist!