This feels like deja-vu. With Sails Ahead, a progressive post-hardcore band from Asbury Park, New Jersey was the first band I ever interviewed when I initially started Myze Music back in 2018. I thought it only felt right for them to also be my first interview back as well! We had a lot to catch up on between their latest single, “Murder Mountain,” to how the band grew over the course of the pandemic and what their listeners can expect in 2022.
1.) First of all, hi guys! It’s been a while since we last chatted.How has the band been since we last spoke back in 2018?
Sierra: Hello!! We’ve been good! Busy, haha. But we’re good. 2018 onward has actually been pretty great. Been growing slowly but surely, and writing/releasing music we’re really proud of.
2.) How did the pandemic affect the band? In what ways did you guys see any light of positivity for the band during these times?
Sierra: We actually saw the most growth we’ve ever had during the pandemic. We took this time to find ways to stay connected and in people’s faces such as virtual festivals and streaming on Twitch.
3.) What are you guys looking the most forward to in 2022 now that things are “seeming” to get better?
Sierra: We are extremely excited to be going on tour for the first time since 2019. We can’t believe it’s actually been nearly 3 years since we last hit the road with our friends pulses. It’s going to be so incredible to be back on the road in a van again.
4.) I saw you guys open for The Ones You Forgot back in December (2021) at The House of Independents in Asbury Park, NJ! What has it been like performing on stage again to a live audience?
Sierra: AH thank you so much for coming!! It’s been more fun than ever before. When you’re forced to step away from it, it really makes you appreciate what it’s like to play in a room with people. The energy was absolutely thrilling. We had missed playing shows so much, and we missed playing House of Independents.
5.) I am currently looking at your newest single, “Murder Mountain,” on Spotify and it has over 40,000 streams. That is AMAZING. Congratulations you guys! What inspired this song to be written and what has the feedback been like?
Joe: Thank you SO MUCH. We are so freaking proud of this song and we’ve been absolutely blown away by the response! The inspiration behind “Murder Mountain” is a little all over the place, strangely enough, the biggest inspiration for this song was season 1 of Demon Slayer! The pure intensity of that show inspired the sense of urgency throughout “Murder Mountain.” However, musically, the inspiration can be summed up simply with bands like, Dance Gavin Dance and Periphery.
6.) I also am IN LOVE with the music video for “Murder Mountain.” Can you tell me what inspired the screenplay for it and how you guys came up with the visual concept?
Sierra: The “Murder Mountain” video is the part two to the “In Fear and Loathing” video! It continues a story where we’re being followed by sinister villains. A long time ago I conceptualized that whatever the MM music video was going to end up being, it needed to involve weapons. So I built the video treatment around that, and worked backwards. Kris Khunachak made it all come to life. He always does a killer job of creating amazing music videos for us. He’s super receptive to ideas and always improves upon whatever we bring to him.
7.) Is “Murder Mountain” going to be part of a bigger project? How long do you guys think it will be until we hear more new songs from With Sails Ahead?
Joe: “Murder Mountain” may… or may not be part of a bigger project. I believe it’s no secret that we’re currently working on a full length album, but it’s undecided whether we want to include MM on that release or not.
8.) Are there any particular goals With Sails Ahead is hoping to achieve in 2022?
Joe: Our biggest goals for this year are to go on tour again, and to finally drop our album!
Sierra: Yep. We are doing everything in our power to just put our energy into those things, with the occasional gig. They’re the most ambitious (and costly lmao) things we’ve ever set out to do. It’s taken this long to get to the point where we can do a tour where we’re going and a full length album due to financial reasons. We’re not pushing them another year any longer, haha.
9.) If you guys could give any advice to new and upcoming artists in the New Jersey music scene, what would it be?
Joe: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, mistakes are how we learn. Nobody ever played their first gig as a pro. It takes time, effort, and dedication to achieve your goals. Never lose sight of what you initially set out to do!
Sierra: Don’t forget- it’s supposed to be FUN. If you have ambitious goals, definitely be sure that you’re working with like-minded people, but they should be people you genuinely like to spend time with. And like writing with! When all is said and done, you want to look back on the time you spent making music and playing gigs to be full of great memories.
10.) Any “local” bands you’d like to give a shout out to?
*Inhales deeply*
pulses., Highwind, I Dreamt The Sea, Poeta, The Ones You Forgot, American Stereo, Serious Matters, Destination Dimension, Calling Down Fire, Science Penguin, I Met a Yeti, Wave Break, Still Ghost- I could keep going (and I’m probably forgetting some) but these bands are good friends of ours. Some of them are from Jersey, some of them are bands from different states that deserve your attention.
11.) Last but not least, where can everyone find your music and show their love and support for you guys?
You can find us on Spotify, Bandcamp, and anywhere you stream music! You can also follow us on Twitch. We are planning to start up Smash streams again as soon as possible.
Myze Music 