Scarlet Sails is an indie rock band from New York City, formed in 2015 by founding members Olya Fomina (lead vocals, guitar, piano, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums, backing vocals, bass, guitar).

Scarlet Sails
Rock group performing on stage, spotlit
Scarlet Sails performing at Rough Trade NYC, 2018
Background information
OriginNew York City
Genres
Years active2015 (2015)–present
MembersOlya Fomina
Mark Christopher Kohut
Kevin Jones
Websitescarletsailsband.com

The band’s name comes from the 1923 romantic novel by Russian author Alexander Grin, a story about dreams coming true, no matter how silly, futile, or far-fetched they may seem. The young heroes in the story, Assol and Gray, are described as dreamers, misunderstood by those around them. Gray, a wealthy heir, wants to become a captain and runs away from home to fulfill his dream, eventually meeting Assol, who as a child, encounters an old man who claims to be a wizard and promises the girl that one day a prince will come on a ship with scarlet sails to carry her away. The villagers scoff, but Assol believes her dream will come true one day. As a child, this story was among Olya’s favorites.[1][2][3][4]

History

edit

When singer Olya, a classical music school trained pianist, was 21, she left her home country of Russia to move to New York City.[5][2] She met Brian Viglione at Bowery Electric in June 2013 at a Black Flag tribute show.[6][4][7][8] At the time of their meeting, Brian had recently joined the American folk punk band Violent Femmes. In March 2014, the two were married in New York City.[9] In the interim, he collaborated with Olya, recording their first EP as Scarlet Sails in late 2015. In December 2015, Brian left Violent Femmes to dedicate his time to Scarlet Sails. Their self-titled EP, produced by Martin Bisi, was released January 15, 2016.[10][11][12]

In the summer of 2016, they embarked on their first US tour with Nina Diaz of Girl in a Coma, starting in Boston.[13]

They recorded their debut album, Future From The Past, in December 2016, and after a successful Kickstarter campaign, it was released on April 10, 2017.[11]

Throughout 2018, they plan to release a series of singles produced by Ben Rice.[14]

Musical style and influences

edit

Their style is most often described as "lyrical and intense," and often "theatrical,” “noir-pop,” and “genre-bending.”[15][16][17][18][19] They have been described by Impose Magazine as managing to “tie in a wealth of tracks divided by several genres to create a succinct and strangely beautiful whole.”[20]

They have cited artists and bands such as David Bowie, Oasis, Radiohead, and Nina Simone among their musical influences.[21][17]

Members

edit
  • Olya Fomina - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Ukulele, Guitar
  • Mark Christopher Kohut - Guitar
  • Kevin Jones - Bass Guitar

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
Year Album Information
2017 Future From The Past

Extended plays

edit
Year Album Information
2016 Scarlet Sails

Singles

edit
Year Title Album
2016 "I'll Be There" Scarlet Sails EP
"Wonder Why" Non-album single
2017 "Boy You're Wrong" Future From The Past
"Spell My Name"
"Butterfly"
2018 "Hideaway" Non-album single
"Upside Down"
2020 "It's Alright" Non-album single

References

edit
  1. ^ "Punchline, Your Persona, and Scarlet Sails Release Music Videos". Strife Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b Beaudoin, Jedd (22 May 2018). "Scarlet Sails Seeks "Hideaway" (video premiere)". PopMatters. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  3. ^ Godim, Olga. "Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin - Foreword by the translator - Wattpad". www.wattpad.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b Friedman Ph.D., Michael. "How Olya Viglione Stays True to Herself". Psychology Today. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Scarlet Sails' Artist Collective in Morningside Heights • anna and the lens". anna and the lens. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  6. ^ "INTERVIEW: Scarlet Sails". Music Musings & Such. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Interview ~ Scarlet Sails - I'm Music Magazine". I'm Music Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  8. ^ Vigil, Dom. "Q&A with Scarlet Sails: "This Album is the Glue Between my Past and Present and a Necessary Step to See the Future"". The Prelude Press. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  9. ^ Levy, Piet. "Recently reunited Violent Femmes replaces founding drummer". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  10. ^ Cronin, Madeline (13 April 2017). "Interview: Scarlet Sails on coming to America, new music and life". Concert Crap. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  11. ^ a b Brungardt, Leah. "An Interview With The New York-Based Rock Band SCARLET SAILS! | All Access Music". music.allaccess.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Scarlet Sails EP, by Scarlet Sails". Scarlet Sails. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  13. ^ "NYC Piano Rockers Scarlet Sails To Rock Lizard Lounge Tomorrow Night 7/21". MusicBoxPete. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  14. ^ Hafey, Lisa (29 May 2018). "Scarlet Sails – 'Hideaway'". Essentially Pop. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  15. ^ Ruether, Kaitlin. "Scarlet Sails – "Hideaway" (Video)". newsickmusic.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  16. ^ Geslani, Michelle (7 April 2017). "Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione shares new album as Scarlet Sails, Future From the Past: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Scarlet Sails – "Future From The Past" | Album Review". Pursuit Of Pop. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  18. ^ Marotta, Michael (4 May 2017). "Brian Viglione is back with new band Scarlet Sails and they play ONCE tonight - Vanyaland". Vanyaland. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  19. ^ "Scarlet Sails at Gramercy Theatre-December 8th, 2017 - Live Music News and Review". livemusicnewsandreview.com. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  20. ^ Schneider, Meredith (6 April 2017). "Scarlet Sails, Future From The Past - Reviews - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  21. ^ "The 28 Best Albums Of 2017 - I'm Music Magazine". I'm Music Magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
edit