Photo courtesy of Seablite
The fragile, shimmering world of indie-pop was abruptly submerged in a deluge of shared grief recently, as the Bay Area’s beloved underground architects, Seablite, announced their farewell performance. Since their emergence in 2017, Seablite didn’t merely specialize; they meticulously curated an aural tapestry, weaving the wistful, hazy textures of nineties shoegaze with the loose, sun-drenched swagger of baggy, all filtered through an undeniable prism of California’s melancholic cool. Their sound was not a pastiche, but a profound and resonant synthesis. When they achieved true, incandescent lift-off with 2023’s magnificent ‘Lemon Lights’ (_Mt. St. Mtn.), the band transcended influence, striking upon shimmering soundscapes that were utterly and irrevocably their own—a rare and precious singularity.
Yet, even as this chapter closes, a beacon of artistic renewal shines forth. The established, dazzling trajectories of other projects like Chime School and *Rhymies*—and the tantalizing, whispered promise of future sonic explorations (a space truly worth watching)—offer a poignant consolation. It is a profound comfort to recognize that the musical abundance, the wellspring of beautiful sounds, embedded within the souls of this exceptionally gifted four-piece will continue to enrich our lives. Looking back, the band pauses for a moment of introspection, sharing their collective memories and personal insights into their journey from the beginning to now.
Galine Tumasyan: Seablite will always hold the warmest place in my heart. The group was made up of four different folks with distinct tastes and styles — so different, in fact, that with our last names we could’ve easily passed for a panel on a United Nations committee! Somehow, those differences blended into something magical. What we achieved together still feels like a dream: all the amazing shows, the music we made, and the friendships we built. I’ll always be so proud of it — especially ‘Lemon Lights,’ which feels like our most fully realized work as a band. People have been asking why we’re splitting up. The simple answer is: it just felt like the right time, that’s all. As for what’s next… the answer is: more music! I’ve been working on a new project with a group of local SF musicians, and I’m happy to share that we’ll be debuting it in 2026.
Lauren Matsui: The last nine years playing in Seablite has been one of the best experiences in my life. It felt like friends who play music together, we never felt like just bandmates. I think that makes ending the band easier. We’re always going to be friends, we’re still very much in each other’s lives. I have so many memories that will always make me smile, like filming 3 music videos over 2 days, playing the Chickfactor 30th anniversary shows in NYC and London, UK tour with The Umbrellas, two Seablite/*Neutrals* tours, countless shows with buddy bands and just goofing around at practice. I’m super excited to see what’s next musically for Galine, Andy and Jen now that we’re wrapping up Seablite! Myself, I’ll continue writing Rhymies material and jamming with buddies. Seriously though, thank you to everyone who helped us along the way, put us on shows and listened to our songs, I appreciate you so much!!!
Jen Mundy: Playing in Seablite for the last nine years has been one of the most fulfilling, memorable, and rewarding experiences of my musical journey and my life. When Galine contacted me asking if I wanted to play, at first I was hesitant about joining a new band. But I had left my previous band, Wax Idols, a year and a half ago and I really missed playing music. So we all met up at their practice space and it felt comfortable and we all clicked right away, and the rest is history. I am so proud of everything that we have accomplished over the years. I will always cherish my incredible memories in Seablite and the music we made together. These are some of my favorite shows: The Ocean Blue at Troubadour, Los Angeles, The Charlatans at Great American Music Hall, Ladytron at UC Theater , UK tour with our buds, The Umbrellas.
Andy Pastalaniec: Looking back, what really strikes me is how seriously everyone took the band when we were starting out. We practiced a lot, and we really gelled over that time. Once we were playing the ‘Lemon Lights’ material, I could play an hour long set on the drums without hardly breaking a sweat! I’m really proud of the records we made, especially ‘Lemon Lights,’ which I spent a ton of time mixing. I wish the band could have toured more, but I’ll always remember the night in Liverpool with the Umbrellas where the owner of the venue (which was also a brewery) gave us the reins of the soundsystem and unlimited drinks, and just our two bands hung out in this giant warehouse all night drinking and dancing. Great times!
Seablite’s final performance marking a brilliance extinguished too soon, will unfold on December 5th at the Makeout Room. Supported by scene favorites The Umbrellas and April Magazine, it is a line-up less for a show, and more for a collective, commemorative ritual—a tribute to a band that defied categorization.
To Galine, Lauren, Andy, and Mundy: thank you. Thank you for the vivid, emotionally charged memories—the sonic moments that will forever occupy a cherished corner of our collective consciousness.
Seablite’s sublime sophomore album, Lemon Lights, a necessary touchstone, is available via Mt.St.Mtn.. A fully remastered edition of their debut LP, ‘Grass Stains and Novocaine,’ awaits discovery on Dandy Boy Records. Finally, for those seeking the nascent sparks of their genius, revisit the band’s earliest recordings via their Bandcamp page.
