By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Between his responsibilities as both part of a band and as a touring professional and studio drummer, Eric Miko Findlay believes his desire not to do anything else but music and ability to work with any genre have got him to where he is now.
Based in Los Angeles, Findlay is a founding member of alternative emo group Seahaven, who released their latest record ‘Halo Of Hurt’ on Nov. 20, 2020 via Pure Noise Records.
The Music Bugle had the opportunity to chat with Findlay about what he’s been up to lately and more.
Music Bugle – What inspired the Seahaven band name?
Eric Miko Findlay – It’s the name of the fictitious city from the film ‘The Truman Show.’
Music Bugle – What are some of the challenges of drumming that other musicians might not recognize?
Eric Miko Findlay – Keeping your body primed and keeping/building endurance. Other instruments, of course, require time spent on the craft to keep your chops up, but with drumming, it’s an entire-body effort. So many parts of your body are used when playing the drums. It takes work to maintain. Like how a weight lifter can drop weight after not lifting, drummers can quickly revert to the more natural body without constant practice and upkeep. I’d work out and start running a lot before tours to make sure my physical stamina was up. I’ve never seen a guitarist or pianists do that.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Los Angeles to someone who has never been there before?
Eric Miko Findlay – There’s a little something for everybody here. It’s a really big place, which accepts all walks of life. Most people either love it or hate it. Depends on your perspective or why you came here. Weather is nearly always beach weather and folks are rather kind long as you’re kind to them. It’s also very, very expensive. (Laughs)
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your musical style?
Eric Miko Findlay – Seahaven lives in a world which I’d consider a dying subgenre. We’re not Top 40, we’re not trying to be – but fans of this style tend to really love and support it. Contributing and pushing on with a genre that’s little-known or accepted by the mainstream excites me.
Music Bugle – Which of your new songs were the hardest to write?
Eric Miko Findlay – From a drumming standpoint, the whole record had its fair share of difficulty when writing drum parts. With Seahaven, the vocals and guitars are the focal points. Coming up with drum parts that fit and supported those elements would sometimes be difficult. There would be a handful of occasions where I’d have this groove or fill that everyone agreed was cool and we liked it, but it was too busy. Or conflicted with the vocal melody, so I had to learn how to put my brain in Seahaven-mode and make parts that complimented the main elements of what makes Seahaven. Very proud of what we came up with.
Music Bugle – What was it like making your new record ‘Halo Of Hurt’?
Eric Miko Findlay – We flew to Omaha for three weeks to work at Another Recording Company. We stayed in a house connected to the studio, so we really didn’t leave that little bubble the whole time. We’d wake up, eat, make coffee and get to work. It was pretty painless. Everything was written and accounted for in pre-production, so we simply just laid down what we demoed at home.
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt music?
Eric Miko Findlay – It’s become a massive tool and pretty much a necessity. I dislike generally how it’s made bands and its members so accessible. I miss the old days where you either had to buy a record, turn on MTV, or go to the show to know anything about a band. That being said, social media is just a game. You either play it or you don’t. Hardest part is finding your own lane and creating content that makes someone want to stop and click rather than keep scrolling.
Music Bugle – Where do you go when you feel the need to escape?
Eric Miko Findlay – My studio. Simply playing is the best therapy for me. It’s those times I’m the most appreciative of the instrument. On a larger scale – scooting out of the area or the country for a few days does the trick and helps me reset.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Eric Miko Findlay – Touring and traveling are some of my most cherished pleasures in life. That obviously got put on pause for a while. The silver lining in moving forward is I’ll have a greater appreciation for it and inherently enjoy it more entirely.
Music Bugle – What do you hope happens in 2021?
Eric Miko Findlay – Whatever it takes to get people outside and in hoards again. Festivals back, touring back, borders opening up again to foreign travel with ease. I hope we find our new normal asap and can simply move on. I have high hopes.
