KATIE BROWN - 10 NOV 2021

“Even within the darkest night, the fire can burn so goddamn bright”

New single “Moon & Mountain” by Australian folk-indie outfit SS.Sebastian is a slice of jangly piano pop cheer that promises better times to come, and not only that, but the possibility of finding joy in the present, no matter the circumstances. Recorded outside Brisbane at Mt Nebo pre-lockdown, the single was finished gradually over the last year by the band’s members, who were split between Brisbane and Tasmania due to COVID restrictions.

“We recorded a number of tracks at Wild Mountain Sounds with celebrated Brisbane producer Jamie Trevaskis for me to work with remotely, from my home studio in Tasmania,” SS.Sebastian’s Brett Harris explains. “Serendipitous really, given the numerous lockdowns we experienced later, when the pandemic arrived. I overdubbed vocals, keys and some more guitar, while Janey Mac and Kat Cooke recorded more backing vocals and horns in Brisbane (with James Lees overseeing production) sending our takes back and forth between Queensland and Tasmania. I really wanted the mix to have a bookish, earnest charm that isn’t so present in my other songs. Something to celebrate the sentimentality rather than drown in it.”

The accompanying video to “Moon & Mountain”, which we are delighted to premiere today, was produced at a train museum in Toowoomba in 2020, and was the first time most of the band and crew had worked on a shoot. Produced by Katherine Cooke via production company Compadre Picture Co., the video was directed by Dos Amigos (Sam Scoufos & Joshua Bartlett) and features performers Dani Cabrera & Nadia Milford, who choreographed the routines themselves. Heartwarming and wistful, it’s a nostalgic vignette of one of those classic boy-meets-girl meet-cute moments, this time taking place on a train. Playing into the song’s theme, a duo shyly make eyes at each other, but there’s a tension between hope and reality with the girl constantly slipping just out of reach. Both single and video are an ode to the possibility of romance in life - and not just in terms of relationships, but within the world we live in. Intentionally earnest, sweet, and simple in its message, it’s the perfect antidote to life’s present demands. You never know what’s just around the bend now do you?

SS.Sebastian is the musical project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Brett Harris, who previously launched his musical career via folk-rock septet The Good Ship (2010-2016). Since, he’s also created soundtracks for a selection of Australian theatre productions and contributed to several artist projects, including Sahara Beck’s Panacea, Ayleen O’Hanlon’s Blend and Spill, and Aviatrix by Silver Sircus. He has also released a collection of singles, including a BADC Award winning music video.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Brisbane towards the end of November, you can catch SS.Sebastian live with a solo performance at new Brisbane venue It’s Still A Secret (48 Montague Road, South Brisbane) on Thursday 25th November 2021 as part of a double-bill show with Brett’s good friends Silver Sircus. Details here.

Watch the video for Moon & Mountain below in our exclusive premiere. Full credits below video.

Find SS.Sebastian on Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Website | YouTube

CREDITS:

PERFORMERS: Dani Cabrera & Nadia Milford

DIRECTORS: Dos Amigos (Sam Scoufos & Joshua Bartlett)

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Compadre Picture Co.

PRODUCER: Katherine Cooke

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: James Lees

DP: Sam Scoufos

1ST AC: Adrian Eyre

ELECTRICS & GRIP: Lightforce Productions (Dave & Ben Russell)

POST PRODUCTION: Joshua Bartlett

SPECIAL THANKS TO: DownSteam Tourist & Railway Museum, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia