Drink the Sea

Anyone reading the names behind Drink The Sea might initially think of a classic all-star project. But the new band is far more than the sum of its prominent members. It brings together musicians who have been among the most creative minds on the international rock and alternative scene for decades and whose shared curiosity is greater than any look back at past successes.

Among them is Peter Buck, founding member and guitarist of R.E.M., whose unmistakable playing has shaped the sound of an entire generation. He is joined by Barrett Martin, former drummer of Seattle legends Screaming Trees and supergroup Mad Season, Chilean-American multi-instrumentalist and producer Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Eleven) and British singer/songwriter Duke Garwood (Mark Lanegan Band). The line-up is completed by Mexican-American percussionist Lisette Garcia.

The story of Drink The Sea began rather casually in 2022. Alain Johannes and Barrett Martin met for a session in Martin's studio in Washington State. Initial ideas turned into new songs, casual recordings into a creative process that spanned several years and numerous countries. Further pieces were created in Reykjavík, São Paulo, Joshua Tree and Santiago de Chile. The two debut albums were recorded around the globe, a fact that is also reflected in their musical language. Drink The Sea may draw on the classic means of a rock band, but they open up their sound far beyond that. Arabic oud, Indian sitar, Indonesian gamelan sounds and a rich arsenal of percussion instruments interweave with guitars, bass and drums. The result is no mere world music fusion, but an organic sound that makes the different biographies of its members audible.

The fact that a project of this magnitude came about at all is primarily thanks to Barrett Martin. Peter Buck recently described him as an extraordinary mediator of ideas and people. In fact, not everyone involved knew each other personally beforehand. The music they made together was the result of trust, curiosity and a willingness to break new ground. With "Drink The Sea I" and "Drink The Sea II", the band released two albums in 2025 that combine their enormous experience as songwriters, arrangers and producers. At the same time, the recordings seem remarkably fresh. Perhaps this is also due to the fact that the six musicians have never tried to reproduce past successes. Instead of nostalgia, the desire to experiment dominates.

The live realization should be particularly exciting. While the albums were created in different locations and in changing constellations, none of the members have performed together on stage for a long time. This is precisely why the upcoming concerts have a special appeal. They will show how the chemistry of this extraordinary line-up unfolds in direct interaction. For a band that has emerged from encounters across oceans, the stage could become the actual center of their work. Not only will the band's own songs be played, but also pieces from the members' previous bands. The evening will also be accompanied by films by filmmaker Tad Fettig, who has already won several awards for his work. In fall 2026, Drink The Sea will come to Germany for three exclusive concerts. A rare opportunity to experience this extraordinary music concept live for the first time.