“Funeral Pyres” is an apocalyptic dream. Written the day after the 2019 Australian federal election, the world weary lyrics mourn the destruction of the environment and confront the baked-in complacency of our atomised lives. Dusty, rambling piano lines clash with machine gun motorik drum machines as Dougal, Cian and longtime collaborator Tali Mahoney’s conversational vocals intertwine above it all. 
The earnest throbbing heart of this song feels at home in today’s virus-ridden world, where every new lockdown reveals yet again how vital our communities are in keeping us knitted together.

~ Dougal James - lead vocals, synths, guitars, bass, piano
~ Tali Mahoney - Backing vocals 
~ Cian Bennet - Backing vocals 

~ Produced and mixed by Dougal James
~ Mastered by Simon Lam
~ Artwork by Artek Halpern-Laurence

Funeral Pyres

"Is It Living?" is borne out of duelling pressures: long hours of work blur into tense, fleeting scenes with lovers, which end with the inevitable trek to work the next morning.
This song is steadily, insistently despairing in the midst of carving a fulfilling life out of the doldrum. The repeated, unfinished question in the coda suggests that we can get so trapped in the ritual of our despair that we lose sight of what we actually desire in life.

Written, produced and mixed by frontman Dougal James in various sharehouses and studios, and mastered by Becki Whitton, this tune is the culmination of the band’s last six years honing their craft in Melbourne. Local singer-songwriter Stella Farnan lent her rich voice for some gorgeous backing vocals, which sit perfectly amongst the band’s careful blend of motorik drums, buzzing guitars, soaring synths and booming lead vocals.

Dougal James - lead vocals, bass VI, guitars, synthesisers, piano, percussion
Ben Fleming - drums
Cian Bennet - backing vocals
Stella Farnan - backing vocals

Recorded, produced and mixed by Dougal James
Mastered by Becki Whitton
Artwork by Rafferty Amor

Is It Living?

figure it out

Engineered and co-produced by Alexander M Sokolow
Everything played by Dougal James

Cover image taken by Liam Brownlie

sharehouse song

I wrote these songs a while ago, I think they thread nicely together. Both were influenced by time spent floating around Fitzroy, kicking around the Melbourne band scene in my early 20s. 

Thanks to Soren for helping bring "Catastrophe" to life with your inspired production choices and sharp drum chops!


Dougal James - lead vocals, bass VI, guitars, synthesisers, piano, percussion
Soren Maryasin - drums on "Catastrophe"

Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Dougal James
"Catastrophe" initial session and co-production with Soren Maryasin
Cover photo by Liam Van Der Vlist

Catastrophe

Brunswick Street

"Bones and String" is a dive into the depths of fragility and anxiety. Zeroing in on moments of personal strife and specific markers of change, the song faces down the fear of crumbling under the continually evolving challenges of life and relationships.

Lead vocals, piano, bass guitar, synthesisers: Dougal James 
Drums: Ben Fleming 
Trumpet, backing vocals: Cian Bennet 
Trombone: James Farrough 
Guitar: Matt Si 
Cello: Alex Olijnyk 

Production and mixing: Dougal James 
Tracking and co-production: Hamish Keen 
Mastering: Steve Smart 
String arranging: Hamish Keen, Alex Olijnyk and Dougal James

Art by Eleanor James

Bones And String

The Sunken Sea are an art rock band from Melbourne.
Led by the turbulent lyrics and baritone vocals of songwriter Dougal James, they forge syrupy harmonies and intricate rhythms that evolve in unexpected ways.

The Sunken Sea

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