Sharks and Minnows STAY LOST EPK

Stay Lost EP

By 2023, Sharks and Minnows could have been an indie rock institution. After a flurry of beloved albums and acclaimed live shows in the early/mid 2000s, Sharks and Minnows entered an indefinite hiatus that continued for years and years. Their original vision for the band eroded in the procession of time,

So, when Sharks and Minnows began work on their new EP, many circumstances were against them: the pandemic was raging, they now occupied two distant cities, and perhaps most importantly, they had not played together in a decade. Drummer Dan Heisel elaborates: “We hadn’t spent the 2010s hiding from songs from each other; we were just weirdly inert. We channeled our creativity in a million different ways, but hardly ever towards music. The idea of reactivating the band was just not a priority.”

But as the U.S. locked down, Sharks and Minnows entered a period of great productivity. They recorded in their home studios, shared files, and created dozens of songs. With regular video call discussions replacing their erstwhile practices, the band forged a vision for the 2020s: not just an update of their lauded indie rock sound, but a transformation. “Having unlimited time at home to create without the expensive ticking of the studio clock freed us to pursue some new territory,” says multi-instrumentalist Devin Simony. Bassist Chad Spangler adds: “Recording alone in a small room helped us understand the ethos of all the bedroom pop artists – even if we didn’t share much of their sound, per se.”

What emerged is a new trove of songs, with the new Stay Lost EP designed as a salvo, a reintroduction of sorts. The release embodies the kaleidoscopic vision of Sharks and Minnows, as the band enthusiastically visits different genres and sounds. Beginning with the coltish pop of the title track, Sharks and Minnows moves from the flirtatious funk-pop of “Runner,” to the punk fury of “Half.” They shift from the dispirited crawl of the ironically titled “Rock Song” before completing the EP with the ambience-heavy, lovesick anthem “The Airport Mesa.”

Although the personal dynamics of the band remain unchanged after 20 years, the songwriting objectives have shifted: Christopher Simony explains: “Songwriting has always been slightly autobiographical for me, but when I started writing again after a long hiatus, the lyrics became very focused and detailed. I suppose that these songs are like letters with specific recipients. Some are almost uncomfortably personal, but I chose not to resist the words the songs required.”

With a level of excitement and commitment unmatched in their previous in their first incarnation, Sharks and Minnows proudly offers up the Stay Lost EP.

Sharks and Minnows Brief

Indie rock stalwarts in a former life, Sharks and Minnows returns after a decade of dormancy, embracing a new kaleidoscopic, cinematic vision. Always melodic, always atmospheric, the band moves gracefully across genres from danceable pop to furious punk to their classic indie rock sound. Embracing an intimate lyrical focus and experimental approach to songwriting, Sharks and Minnows has reemerged with a newfound maturity and enduring enthusiasm. Still a quartet aware of the trappings of indie rock, Sharks and Minnows pushes against boundaries. Though comparisons to other artists might be applicable (Yo La Tengo, Spoon), Sharks and Minnows truly sounds like no one other than themselves.

Sharks and Minnows Bio

Sharks and Minnows became a band in Atlanta, Georgia, shy of the 21st century.  Originally the trio of Dan Heisel, Christopher Simony, and Chad Spangler, the band fit in with their punk and indie rock peers. They moved quickly. Before they reached their first birthday, the band recorded their loud-and-fast debut EP, Julie et cetera, featuring their live staple, “Sleeping Sickness.” Sharks and Minnows was already known for their emotionally raw live shows, and the EP accurately demonstrated the band’s coltish, frenetic sound. Dissatisfied with the inflexibility of genre, however, the Sharks began a sonic evolution that marked their first five years. When they confronted the fact that they were more than just a rock band, everything changed. They became dazzlingly prolific; they grew fearless in their artistic choices; and they developed a more nuanced, experimental approach to music making.

Their first LP, Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, showed that while the band's sense of rock abandon had not faded, they were more comfortable to leave space for acoustic guitars, piano, and hushed vocals. The album featured the standout songs “Cardinal Puff” and “Fainthearted,” which drew attention from college radio across the Southeast. On the heels of the album’s release, the Discovery Channel sought the band for soundtrack work.

 In 2003, Sharks and Minnows took up part time residence in Athens, Georgia, where they added multi-instrumentalist Devin Simony to their line-up and teamed with producer Eric Friar to complete their second LP, the eclectic, multi-textured The Cost of Living. Treating the studio as an instrument itself, Sharks and Minnows revealed their exploratory spirit, incorporating danceable polyrhythms, electronic percussion, and lush ambience into their established indie rock sound.  The album was widely acclaimed, yielding college radio hits “Sunday Driver,” “Cleopatra Song,” and “Statue of Marie.”

 With a fourth album all but complete, and with The Cost of Living catching attention at home and internationally, Sharks and Minnows surprised their growing body of fan (and themselves) by going on indefinite hiatus, pausing to concentrate on their families, relationships, and other labors of love. During that time, the band’s members flirted with other musical endeavors, but every project felt like an infidelity.

 Having shared stages with Jets to Brazil, the Dismemberment Plan, Rainer Maria, Jason Molina, and even Biz Markie(!), Sharks and Minnows always relished the opportunity to participate in unique shows. Unsurprisingly, the band reunited in 2011 for a one-off gig with their hero, Hüsker Dü’s Grant Hart. A quick performance in Athens followed.

 For the remainder of the decade, the rest was silence. The band could have never imagined that they would next share a room over a decade later.

 Like so many recent stories, Sharks and Minnows’ revival gained momentum during the pandemic. Now populating two coasts, the band was reborn during quarantine, recording in home studios, save for a long weekend in Atlanta. Though discussing the band’s maturity seems obligatory, their new work is remarkable for an expanded vision and finer strokes. They hop genres like Yo La Tengo, summon big emotions like Spoon, and craft exquisite pop songs like Elvis Costello, all the while sounding like no one other than themselves. 

 With a kaleidoscopic vision and cinematic sound, Sharks and Minnows now returns for their second act.

Album Artwork (click to save full size)