You may have heard this off Fronds' self-titled from DO NOT DISTURB RECORDS, or Sonny & The Sunsets' I Need You Bad Polyvinyl compilation of various artists; but today we debut the video for "Wash", courtesy of Andrew Tonkery. Fronted by Dylan Tidyman-Jones, a guitarist from the Bay Area's former and highly lauded band The Mallard, he began Fronds sometime around 2012 with an array of notables from Adam Myatt, Adele Bidet, Ela J, Dylan Edrich, Greer McGettrick, Kevin Woodruff, Mark Clifford, and various other friends. Fronds' "Wash" is a song that evokes life's own natural baptismal rites, where the vocals, guitars, and restrained rhythm all flow into the same dream catcher drain that empties into the ocean's immensity. Tonkery's video watches birds in flight, deep fields of liquid blue, sailboats idling on the horizon of the sea, as Fronds serenades these private moments of blissful tranquility.
As the VHS tape lines scroll, images of seagulls soar along to the tone and tune of guitars and surface cresting keys-coasting on a cloud of serenity. The images of tidal waves rising, falling and crashing are chased and watched throughout "Wash", as the AM singer-songwriter style of Dylan Tidyman-Jones softly sings above the oceanic scope like a transistor radio brought out to sea. Andrew's moving photographic captures seek each new swell followed by the next, as the free flight of the featured seagulls become the music video's star attractions. Listen closely and watch as the birds' sky flight over sea becomes bathed in the eternal bathtub expanses of Fronds' gentle audio breezes for early-bird surf activities.
We also had the opportunity to talk with Dylan about Fronds, life after The Mallard, the beginnings of DO NOT DISTURB RECORDS, the persistent element of water in music, amongst other short stories.
Moving on from the The Mallard, and focusing full-time on Fronds, how do you feel the former has informed your current creative and multi-collaborative work?
I've always enjoyed playing a supportive role in other peoples' projects. The Mallard was the first band I was in that toured the country and made records that got attention outside our group of friends. It was fun. Creatively, Fronds is totally different. I've been working on the songs for a long time.
How does working with so many folks from different Bay Area and California bands projects challenge your sound?
When I started working on the first record I’d just moved to San Francisco, and didn’t know a lot of people, so I ended up playing most of the instruments myself, but I always wanted it to be a proper band, as it is now.
Tell us about the beginnings and dawning of DO NOT DISTURB RECORDS.
Brian Lee Hughes was very supportive of the record and wanted to put it out, but it wasn't the right fit for Castle Face, so he started DNDR to release it. I am grateful.
What lead you and Thee Oh Sees videographer Andrew Tonkery to put together slow motion video images and overlays of crashing waves and wild surf?
The video for 'Wash' was directed by Andrew Tonkery. I can't take any credit. I think it compliments the music well.
What is it do you think that attracts so many artists and musicians to coasts and fascinations pertaining to oceanic bodies of water?
We are naturally fascinated by the immensity we come from, that will someday consume us.
What are you excited about for 2014?
Right now we're working on the second album, again with Rob Jackson at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, and I'm excited about how it's sounding.
Fronds' self-titled is available now from DO NOT DISTURB RECORDS.
