This week, Seattle’s Deep Sea Diver are releasing their fourth album, ‘Billboard Heart’, and it’s a triumphant crystallization of realization and assuredness in the face of failure. Songwriter and guitar player Jessica Dobson retreated home after self-doubt struck when the band tried to record new music in LA. This period of reflection birthed unbridled freedom and a renewed belief in her art. There are shimmers of light in the darkness on this album, which reflect the album’s fragmented creative process.
Opening and title track ‘Billboard Heart’ has a shimmery, ethereal feel to its intro before an electric guitar transports it into an epic indie-rock track. The line “I’m welcoming the future by letting go of it” sums up the album’s essence: once you allow yourself to fail, you give yourself the space to create something amazing.
‘What Do I Know’ combines gritty guitar with melodic strong vocals and loud, clattering drums. The repeated refrain “What do I know” shows that Dobson turned her uncertainty into a source of inspiration, to create a confident and catchy track. The song’s quieter moments have softer vocals and alternative production which gives the track some balance.
‘Emergency’ has punk shouty vocals and heavy, screeching guitar, giving it an anxious edginess. ‘Shovel’ has dark, grungy verses that contrast with the lighter, 80s pop, twinkling choruses. According to Dobson, this track is steeped in “grit, rawness and intensity”, themes which are mirrored in its powerful lyrics and euphoric sound.
‘Tiny Threads’ has more minimal backing than the previous songs. Dobson’s vocals are showcased on this track, as she croons softly. The song’s lyrics are poetic: “I’m a pendulum swinging / I’m a flickering livewire / Blinded by reason / When I’m a moth on fire / Like Icarus dreaming / Don’t follow behind”.
Things slow down for ‘Loose Change’ which starts off as a laidback guitar track. Lyrics like “Spinning wheels in overdrive / We’re just kicking those spokes that won’t ever align” showcase the band’s songwriting capabilities. In the middle, the song begins to build up into a loud rock sound with electronic production, climaxing as Dobson repeats the words “Everything is changing / And I’m learning to love”.
The only collaboration on the album is ‘Let Me Go (featuring Madison Cunningham)’, a moody and honest song. The layered instruments, elastic bass and enchanting harmonies make this a standout track on the album. The addition of Grammy award-winning Madison Cunningham to the song enhances its sound, with her melodic vocals.
The album comes to a close with ‘Happiness Is Not A Given’, a track about discovery and self-belief. This track combines ballad-like piano, emotive vocals and revelatory lyrics to create the perfect ending.
‘Billboard Heart’ is a boundary-pushing experimental indie-rock album born out of a time of uncertainty. The combined talents of Jessica Dobson (songwriter and guitarist), her partner Peter Mansen (drummer and co-writer) and Elliot Jackson (synth player), combine to create a captivating album that explores doubt, discovery and desire.
The album is set to be released via Sub Pop on the 28th of February. You can pre-order and pre-save it now. The Billboard Heart Tour is coming to North America, starting at the end of next month. Get your tickets here for one of the following shows:
Sat. Mar. 29 – Walla Walla, WA – The Motor Co
Sun. Mar. 30 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest
Tue. Apr. 01 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
Thu. Apr. 03 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
Sat. Apr. 05 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriets Indoors
Sun. Apr. 06 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up
Tue. Apr. 08 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
Fri. Apr.11 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Sat. Apr. 12 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Club
Thu. Apr. 24 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
Fri. Apr. 25 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Mon. Apr. 28 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
Wed. Apr. 30 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Lounge
Thu. May 01 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Fri. May 02 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sat. May 03 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
Sun. May 04 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall
Tue. May 06 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
Wed. May 07 – St. Louis, MO – Off-Broadway
Fri. May 09 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Mon. May 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Urban Lounge
Sat. May 17 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox at the Market
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