Ocean Alley Tell Us How New Album "Lonely Diamond" Is Perfect Listening During Coronavirus

This post is presented in partnership with Ocean Alley.

The past few years have been one hell of a whirlwind for Australian alternative psychedelic-rock band Ocean Alley. They have headlined some of the country’s largest music festivals, performed sold-out shows across the globe and won the coveted top spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 with their track "Confidence" in 2019.

Considering the band started off playing at house parties and dive bars on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, I’m left wondering how much they have developed as a group since becoming so immensely successful. But as their guitarist Mitch Galbraith tells Student Edge, in many ways, they’re still exactly the same.

"In some [ways] we’ve changed quite a bit," he says.

"We work together better, and we can communicate and write music more efficiently together.

"But in other ways, we still have the same bad habits, the same friends, and we still love it just as much as we did when we first started."

Pictured: Ocean Alley (The Sauce/Kane Lehanneur).

The band is gearing up to release their highly anticipated third studio album, Lonely Diamond, this month. Mitch explains that the creative process for the upcoming record was similar to their 2018 album, Chiaroscuro. 

"It was pretty much done in the same vein, apart from the fact we had more time to write the songs and rewrite the songs and demos," he says.

"I think it translated into a record that’s more thoughtful, flows better, but has a familiar vibe to it."

Fans of Ocean Alley would know that the band’s "familiar vibe" blends '70s guitar rock, funk and surf-rock. Because of that vibe, their tracks have amassed more than 250 million streams.

"It’s not something that we can really put our finger on," he says.

"But I suppose maybe it’s the blend of nostalgia with something a bit new, and I think that mystery is what keeps people entertained. They don’t know why they like it."

While Lonely Diamond was written before the coronavirus pandemic hit Australia, the underlying themes of the album are exploration and escapism. In fact, Mitch says it’s likely that listeners will resonate with the songs even more given the challenges people have been facing across the country.

"It was all said and done well before the pandemic, so it’s a lesson in how context and time can affect music," he says.

"It was just a happy coincidence. I think everyone might be finding their own patterns in things."

Mitch also encourages listeners to derive their own meaning from the tunes on Lonely Diamond.

"It’s the music that’ll do the talking. We felt a certain way when we were writing it, and the listener will feel a certain way when they’re listening to it. We just hope it’s entertaining and that it’s captivating, whatever that message is," he says.

The band also decided to capture the recording process of the upcoming record in a five-part video series called Constructing The Diamond, as a way to connect with fans and provide insight into their individual personalities.

While they are chilled for the most part, Mitch points out that things can get fiery occasionally.

"We don’t like to take our music too seriously. We don’t take ourselves too seriously either," he says.

"There are times where stuff gets heated between us, but that’s normally over pretty petty stuff and we can kind of shrug it off and get over it.

"When it comes to writing music and making creative decisions, we make them as a group."

With their rising popularity, the band is also understandably under more pressure than ever before.

"There are moments where there’s a lot of people looking at you, and a lot of people counting on you, but that’s the same as every job. Sometimes you need to step up to the plate and be the best person you can be," Mitch says.

"It’s good that we’re all very close friends and we can support each other in that way. By sharing some of that pressure over all of our shoulders, it becomes much easier."

Right now, Ocean Alley is preparing for their nationwide tour in February and March 2021. However, Mitch tells us the band is also focused on smashing even larger goals.

"We just want to play bigger shows. Picture the biggest stadium you can: Madison Square Garden. We want all the goals," he laughs.

"We’re in this to take it as everything comes, and to put our all in and see where it goes."

You can pre-order Lonely Diamond (or buy it from 19 June) here.

Header Image: The Sauce/Kane Lehanneur