Daniel Tashian, lead singer and chief songwriter of … Read Full Bio ↴THE SILVER SEAS
Daniel Tashian, lead singer and chief songwriter of Nashville-based quartet The Silver Seas, claims that the inspiration for the bittersweet pop songs on the group's Cheap Lullaby debut didn't come from a romantic breakup, some unrequited love or any of the typical catalysts for tunes like these, which teeter thrillingly between hopefulness and heartbreak. Tashian says it was sitcoms.
"I was wishing someone would hear one of my songs and pick it up for a sitcom theme," Tashian confesses, "so I got into that mode of writing for a while. There is something about that music – songs from The Odd Couple, Laverne and Shirley, the Pink Panther cartoons –that got ingrained in my brain. The Odd Couple theme is the perfect form of music for me because it's minor chords, but it's not sad. In fact, there is song on High Society, 'Tativille,' that tips its hat to The Odd Couple."
Opening track "Country Life" is an upbeat, fish-out-of-water story – a hipster city slicker's version of Green Acres, if you will – that could indeed double as a jaunty sit-com theme. But the title track, which follows, is its darker, yearning flipside. With tunes about outsider guys longing for girls who are just out of their reach or their income bracket, High Society has remarkable emotional depth, even if the arrangements --which boast layers of harmonies from all four band members, jangly 12-string acoustic guitar solos, and shimmering keyboard touches - - have such an easygoing feel.
Tashian, who'd been reading Evelyn Waugh and P.G. Wodehouse while he wrote these songs, is decidedly more Tin Pan Alley than Music Row. He's got a knack for creating instantly memorable melodies to pair with often plaintive lyrics, though he's no show-off; his craftsmanship seems effortless, as if he just dashed off these sneakily addictive numbers in his spare time. Says Tashian, "My lyrics and melodies are straightforward, but I think it's harder to do these kinds of pop songs than, say, a heavier ballad." Any one of them would surely be AM radio-worthy – the cocktail-hour croon of "We'll Go Walking," the country rock of "Catch Your Own Train," the breezy romanticism of "Imaginary Girl," which, come to think of it, would have made a great theme to the classic '60s sitcom The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis.
Grammy-winning producer, arranger and keyboardist Jason Lehning doesn't polish these songs to perfection because they sound gorgeous in nearly naked form. Lehning points out that Tashian constructs his songs in an appealingly weird fashion, generally avoiding bridges for a verse-chorus, verse-chorus approach or, in the case of "Miss November, "it's just three verses and then it's over. There's such an interesting structure to it." And it works, conveying the urgency of a narrator pleading with a centerfold for a date, a time-honored rock and roll scenario; harmonies piled on ELO-style help to sweeten the plot.
"We're a good team," says Lehning. "We bring to each other what the other one doesn't have. Daniel's an incredibly spontaneous person and I'm an incredibly pragmatic person. When we work together, we get to be ourselves in a really good way. That makes a nice balance and it's really enjoyable for me."
High Society was recorded in two days at Sound Emporium Studio A in Nashville, which played host to R.E.M, when they were making Document, as well as many country, folk and indie-rock artists. Along with Tashian and Lehning, The Silver Seas feature John Deaderick on electric bass and David Gehrke on drums. After the foursome had rehearsed and gigged enough to get comfortable with the new material, Lehning gathered his band-mates in one large room at the studio to cut these tracks live. Admits Lehning, "We didn't have any money, so this was designed for us to get done fast." He later added home studio overdubs and cut some more vocals. For the most part, though, the resulting album reflects one inspired weekend's worth of intense recording.
Both Tashian and Lehning were raised deep within the Nashville music scene. Tashian's dad Barry was lead singer of the Boston-based, mid-sixties cult combo the Remains and subsequently toured with Emmylou Harris' Hot Band. Lehning's dad Kyle is a well-respected country music producer and the former president of Asylum Records Nashville. While the young Lehning apprenticed behind the boards, Tashian was developing into a formidable singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He signed with Elektra Records in New York City and, in 1996, released his solo debut, Sweetie, produced by T-Bone Burnett.
Lehning and Tashian first met briefly by chance before choosing to work together. Recalls Lehning, "I remember a foggy night in a Nashville bar called the Iguana, right after Daniel finished his Elektra record. I talked with him for a couple of hours, and then he disappeared for about two more years." Tashian laughingly says he had "an allergic reaction" to Lehning, but something about their exchange stuck. Lehning continues, "Daniel called me out of the blue one day with his idea for the band, saying 'I have this sound in my head, and I know who I want to be a part of it. Would you help me get started?'"
Tashian says, "Jason came over to my house and I played him 'Message From the Birds' and 'Sea of Stars'" – both of which appear on the group's 2004 debut, Starry Gazey Pie, self-released under its former band name, The Bees (U.S) –"and he said, 'Yeah lets do it.' Then I told him I always wanted to do something with the drummer David Gehrke, and we got him in, and we were off and running."
Upright bassist Robbie Harrington was part of the original lineup and played on the debut CD; then electric bassist Deaderick stepped in. Starry Gazey Pie garnered airplay on stations like Boston's WFNX and L.A.'s KCRW and critical kudos from the press. For a time, the self-pressed disc was so hard to find that original copies were fetching premium prices on eBay. High Society began to circulate in a similar fashion, but a tour with Guster and lots of local gigs, praised by publications like Nashville Scene, brought the group a wider following and a record deal.
The Silver Seas cram a lot into the 35-or-so minutes of High Society and even offer, with "Broadway Lights," a slightly wistful but nonetheless happy ending – for now. Stay tuned for the next episode. -- Michael Hill
For more information, please contact Samantha Tillman at samantha@tellallyourfriendspr.com
Imaginary Girl
The Silver Seas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a song for you
Sorry it took, forever
I know it's really nothing,
It was the least I could do
Better late, than never
I was stranded in the middle of the night
Out of the water
You appeared like a dream to me
And I wanna thank you...
Imaginary Girl,
You really blow my mind
You got to be joking
I know I dream a lot,
But I could do it full time
If the position, was open
Things have changed since you came my way
You gave me something to live for
Darkened the night and brightened up my day, yeah...
And I wanna thank you
Imaginary Girl,
This is a song for you
Be mine, forever
I really need to know that if you feel this too,
It's gotta be now, or never
Got to be now, or never
It's gotta be now, or never...
Imaginary Girl,
This is a song for you.
The lyrics to "Imaginary Girl" by The Silver Seas is a heartfelt ode to a person who only exists in the imagination of the poet. He acknowledges that it took him a long while to write this song for her, but he hopes that his belated efforts will be appreciated. The singer claims that meeting this imaginary girl has changed his life for the better. He was stuck in a dark and turbulent phase of his life, but then she appeared like a dream and breathed new life into his existence. He thanks her for being there for him even though she was never really there.
In the second verse, the poet explains how he has become so preoccupied with his imaginary lover that he jokes that he could do it full-time, given the opportunity. She has given him a renewed purpose and something to look forward to. He portrays her as an angel who has brought him out of darkness and into the light. He finally asks her to be his forever but acknowledges that this is an impossible desire since she is not real. The song is a sentimental tribute to how love can enter our lives in mysterious ways and take hold of our hearts and minds, even in the absence of a physical person.
Line by Line Meaning
Imaginary Girl,
Addressing the girl who exists only in his imagination.
This is a song for you
The song is dedicated to this imaginary girl.
Sorry it took, forever
Apologizing for taking so long to create this tribute.
I know it's really nothing,
Acknowledging the existence of the imaginary girl.
It was the least I could do
Creating a song was the minimum effort to pay tribute to her.
Better late, than never
Even though it took a long time, it's still better than never doing it at all.
I was stranded in the middle of the night
Facing a difficult situation with no help at a time when it was least expected.
I was washed out to sea
Being carried away at the mercy of the tides.
Out of the water
Suddenly finding a solution or support when things seemed hopeless.
You appeared like a dream to me
The imaginary girl came to his rescue in his imagination.
And I wanna thank you...
Expressing gratitude to the imaginary girl for being his savior.
You really blow my mind
The girl's presence in his imagination pleasantly surprises and impresses him.
You got to be joking
Even though she isn't real, the feeling of happiness she brings feels like a joke.
I know I dream a lot,
Acknowledging his habit of dreaming often.
But I could do it full time
He could continue dreaming, creating stories, and living in his imagination for the rest of his life.
If the position, was open
If there was a way to make a career out of daydreaming, he would take it.
Things have changed since you came my way
The arrival of the imaginary girl has led to a significant shift in his life.
You gave me something to live for
The presence of the imaginary girl gives him a reason to live.
Darkened the night and brightened up my day, yeah...
The imaginary girl has changed his whole outlook on life, making it seem brighter and more enjoyable.
And I wanna thank you
Continuing to show appreciation for the imaginary girl and how much she has changed his life.
Be mine, forever
Asking the imaginary girl to stay by his side forever.
I really need to know that if you feel this too,
Asking for confirmation that the imaginary girl has similar feelings towards him.
It's gotta be now, or never
Asking for an immediate answer, because he needs to know the truth to move on.
Got to be now, or never
Reiterating the urgency of the situation.
It's gotta be now, or never...
Concluding the song with the same sense of urgency and importance felt throughout the lyrics.
Contributed by Charlie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.