Known for their catching reggae-rock-inspired tunes that include global hits Yellow Mellow and Confidence (which was Triple J’s Hottest 100 number one in 2018), the six-piece band from Sydney’s Northern Beaches would be forgiven for letting a little bit of the fame go to their heads. However, despite global stardom, Ocean Alley very much remains the laid-back, carefree bunch of guys who grew up surfing by day and playing backyard shows for their friends on makeshift milk-crate stages by night.
Ocean Alley’s music has a place on any beach lover’s playlist, with its sun-drenched blend of psychedelic rock, reggae, and indie-surf tunes resulting in a laid-back, soulful vibe that oozes coastal nostalgia. Surfers are among the band’s most loyal fans, which is undoubtedly down to their own deeply rooted connection to wave-sliding from a young age — in fact, that’s where it all started.
Guitarist Mitch Galbraith recalls how he, Baden, Angus, Lachlan, Nic, and Tom have all been friends long before the idea of becoming a band even materialised, bound by a typical coastal upbringing where surfing, sailing, and skating were daily rituals.
“Our whole connection to each other began with hanging out, surfing, and skating around our hometowns. We were friends before the band formed, and there were always a few busted-up guitars hanging around the back shed where we had some couches and a rickety half-pipe we’d skate on.”
In between the ocean’s flat spells and the rained-out halfpipe delays, the boys kept themselves entertained with musical experiments — the beginning of a chapter that would eventually change their lives forever.
“Once we started tinkering around together, we fell in love with it. We started doing covers of Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Marley. But once we started writing originals, the passion truly flared up. We just had fun making music together and passing the time while the surf was flat.”
Mitch credits those happy-go-lucky days with the influence on the band’s down-to-earth and playful attitude.
“It was your standard grom upbringing, and those carefree days will stay with us forever.
“Some of the most memorable moments were the local house parties we played before we ever made it to an actual venue. We loved playing for our friends in backyards on milk crate stages and always appreciated the invite, which saved us from having to jump the fence.”
Surfing is known to have influenced many of the world’s greatest musicians, including the likes of Jack Johnson, Donavan Frankenreiter, Eddie Vedder, and even some members of Metallica.
For Ocean Alley, things are no different, and the band’s ocean-centred upbringing is deeply entrenched in their songwriting style.
“Being in the water surfing can be meditative, and music-making can be the same. In that way, we probably have a good experience of being in a sort of flow state similar to riding a wave. Surfing and music have always gone well together, and we just enjoy carrying on that tradition,” shares Mitch.
It’s no surprise that for a band of Ocean Alley’s status, finding time in between tours and media responsibilities to get in the soup, as Mitch calls it, can be challenging, but super rewarding on all fronts.
“We always surf together when we have the chance. Most of us live super close and still share a home break. When we visit the other lads (band members), surfing is always on the menu.
“Even when we need time away from the band, I think surfing still helps us stay close. It’s a great equaliser just being tossed around by the ocean together and being creative with your mates.”
Each member surfs, and even when on tour, the possibility of sneaking in a session between gigs is always brought into consideration.
“One of the most memorable moments for me was when we were at the wave pool in Waco, Texas, with the tour bus parked in the lot. Warm water, heaps of laughs, and we even got a night session in there, too.
“We’ve also had some awesome sessions together in Bali. We’ve paddled out at the cave in Uluwatu together a few times and have gone on a skitz scooter mission to find a wave a bit further around at Pandawa Beach.
“I reckon if you asked each of us, we’d have loads of memorable surf experiences we’ve shared together.”
So, who is the most surf-obsessed member of Ocean Alley?
“Angus (lead guitar) gets out there the most, and Nic (bass) would beat us all in a comp, no doubt. I think my board collection is the biggest, and maybe borderline becoming a problem.
“Baden (lead vocals) moved over to Western Australia, so he’s charging the biggest surf for sure. Tom (drums) and Lach (keyboards, vocals) join us all the time on tour to surf in all the obscure spots we find ourselves in, but at home, they don’t have a weird wave-sliding obsession like the rest of us.”
As easy as it is to get carried away with thinking that a band as big as Ocean Alley live an exclusive and luxurious lifestyle, things couldn’t be further from the truth. Coming back home from international tours, sold-out concerts, and headlining festivals is all about connecting with the simple things that make them who they are.
“Sometimes it’s pretty hard trying to switch between tour mode and being at home. It normally takes a couple of days of adjusting, but it feels good to get back to normal.
“Getting back in the soup is one of the things we most look forward to. The best beaches in the world are in Australia, hands down. Also, I think stocking the fridge with all the nice food you’re familiar with is a simple but important pleasure. It’s fun trying new stuff abroad, but everyone is craving some comfort food when we get home.
“Obviously, we also love seeing our families and friends again, so we hang out at home. They keep us busy and make us happy. These lovely folk put up with our travel schedule and have supported us from the start. We can’t do it without them!”
After more than 15 years as a band, of which every member has been a constant, Mitch feels that the group is still as motivated and connected as ever, and even more so by the joy that others find by listening to their music.
“We still do it for the love of music-making together, that’s always brought us plenty of good times, but even more these days, we’re grateful that our music can affect so many people outside our circle. That for sure helps drive us to keep doing it and keep enjoying it.”
As the band prepares to tour its fifth studio album, Love Balloon, you can’t help but admire and respect Ocean Alley’s success. From those backyard shows to a near-sold-out fourth international tour, the group has built itself on passion and a pure love for creating music.
