Grant Nesmith is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He began his career as the frontman of the trippy Alt/Surf Rock band Ocean Forest. Between 2015 and 2019 the group released two studio albums, an EP and a live record. Last year Grant made his solo debut with the album “Between Tides.” That record took his style in a more traditional Americana direction. Nesmith is back in 2021 with a brand new album and a further evolution of his sound.
“Dreams of the Coast” is Grant Nesmith’s new album, scheduled to be released everywhere on February 5, 2021. The 11 song collection finds the artist blending the psych/surf sounds of Ocean Forest with the twang of “Between Tides.” The record exists in a unique creative space that lies somewhere between Psychedelic Alternative Rock, Surf Pop and Alt-Country. Dreamy Beach Boys-inspired harmonies meet lap-steel guitars. Hendrix-esque fuzz tone distortion weaves in and out of ambient organ scenes and electric piano funk. Around every corner we find an unexpected and intoxicating mix of style and instrumentation.
In both style and content the record comes from the same universe as classic some Psychedelic Pop classics, from the Beatles-esque vibes of “Kaleidoscope” to “Souvenir” which sounds like a long lost Beach Boys album cut. The underlying Country/Soft Rock instrumentation adds a peaceful, easy Eagles feeling to tracks like “Dreams of the Coast” and “Haunt.” The latter track also features some really nice Byrds-style harmonies. All of this groovy premise is filtered through Grant’s Indie Rock roots which really shine through on songs like “Morning” and “Another Day.” Each sounds like it could be a classic 70’s/80’s College Rock tune, a-la Big Star or REM.
Lyrically, throughout the album Grant Nesmith paints dreamy scenes of the ocean, the sky and the various people and objects of his affection. Surreal images float through these songs like disembodied spirits. They are the threads that tie the record together into a cohesive whole. His visual lyricism and expert performances from band members like Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) on lead guitar and Gene Elders (George Strait, Lyle Lovett) on the fiddle, make “Dreams of the Coast” a beautifully surreal listen. It’s the perfect soundtrack for your next road trip along your favorite coastal highway.
The album was recorded with analog gear. A lot of the mics we used are SM-57s from the 70s. We used a rotating Leslie Speaker on this album and ran unconventional instruments through it to experiment with sounds. We recorded backwards guitar to tape, experimented with tape loops and speeding tape up and down. I wanted this album to sound vintage, but really fresh at the same time. This was an incredibly fun album to write and record!
Grant Nesmith
“Dreams of the Coast” will be available everywhere on February 5. Or, you can give it an early listen right now at Bandcamp. Follow the links below to connect with Grant Nesmith. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of his past, current and future projects from this talented and diverse artist.