Portishead, Robyn, The Smile: indie darlings Deep Sea Diver share the tracks that inspired their new album, Billboard Heart.
It’s been a long five year wait, but cult indie rock favourites Deep Sea Diver are finally back with a new album. Billboard Heart varies its tone seamlessly—from moments of cripplingly sadness to climatic highs and meditative musings. Written and performed by songwriter and guitarist Jessica Dobson and her partner and drummer Peter Mansen, there’s an intimacy to the song’s vulnerable tales of love, redemption and growth, an opaque and familiar timbre that warms the ears and the soul alike.
Wonderland asked Jessica from the band to share the tracks that inspired the album in our latest On Repeat.
Listen to Billboard Heart…
Deep Sea Diver’s On Repeat…
Cate Le Bon – “Home To You”
I find myself constantly referencing Cate Le Bon songs when it comes to her production and nostalgic sounding stark melodies. The opening riff on this track truly does make you feel like you’re at home in it, and the song feels effortless, and perfectly understated.
Wilco – “A Shot in the Arm”
Is there any better opening lyric than “the ashtray says you’ve been up all night”? I think this song and everything else on the album Summerteeth is a perfect experimental pop / Americana record and you there are so many heavy weight lyrics that stop you in your tracks. I love the way Tweedy drives home his simple repetitive lyrics, re-contextualising them with every progression and angsty delivery. The song is alive, active and full of electricity. One of our pillars while creating our album, we kept asking , “does it feel alive like this song does?” It is not afraid to welcome tension and darkness—which is lost in so many pop songs.
The Smile – “We Don’t Know What Tomorrow Brings”
Feels like driving to the end of the world and feeling cool about meeting your end. Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke have found a portal into a strange spiritual, liminal space that both feels cold, enigmatic, mysterious and wonderful. Lifelong artists still creating the highest level expressions. I referenced a lot of the drum sounds on this album when I was tracking “What Do I Know”.
Tom Petty – “I Won’t Back Down”
Tom Petty is a masterclass in simplicity, nothing out of place, the songs construction is so elegant, each instrument is so loud and clear—because there is nothing that is cluttering—while leaving a cavern of space for Tom Petty’s dry monolithic and eternal voice. Not a wasted note, measure, cadence, tone… anything. Perfect, elegant, simple. Both this one and “home to you” influenced the writing of the song “Billboard Heart”.
Brian Eno – “Third Uncle”
This one feels like the most wonderful mess, mistakes left in, notes upon notes, counter rhythms upon counter rhythms—delightful chaos. In a world of perfectionism, it is so great to go back to recordings that captured the creative spirit in real time and even build upon mistakes like sonic impasto, a kind of sound sculpture that reflects life’s imperfections and beauty.
Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon – “Empire Ants”
This song instantly puts you into the most wonderful dream. Damon Albarn has such a way of connecting joy and melancholy—almost like the two are inseparable. The songs construction is patient, sets you in the clouds, keeps you there for as long as it damn well pleases and finally delights its listener with a dance party, full of sequences, club bass and celebratory wistfulness.
Portishead – “Machine Gun”
One of the greatest arresting intros. You get immediately knocked over by the drum samples and militaristic sequencing. Portishead feels like the purest integration of light and dark. The sounds are on a different level. It’s impossible to even compare these songs to anything else because each sound is completely singular. Beth Gibbons voice is a ghostly dance atop the dangerous, rocky topography of music—a spirit hovering above the waters of darkness. A creative act that is unparalleled.
Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”
This song is a reminder that art can go anywhere. There is no level of darkness that cannot be explored. The guttural nature of the song feels like the darkest moments of David Lynch—an invitation into our shadow world and the places we have been too afraid to enter. But we find that even in these places, there is beauty and freedom. Something about it resonates at such a deep level and allows us to feel the depth of some of our own uncovered darkness.
Robyn – “Dancing On My Own”
This one just feels good. Some songs—you don’t want to think—you just want to let them take you into feel good land. And this song does just that. I listened to this a lot when making “Shovel”.
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – “Lavender Fields”
This song is simply beautiful. Pure longing, pure beauty. I’m a better lyricist because of Nick Cave and because of this song. I love how the instruments hang above his voice, up above in a higher realm. It was this spirit that I was seeking with our song “happiness is not a given”. Almost like a memory of an experience that you haven’t had yet.
