Since their inception, Ships Have Sailed have always struck a balance between exuberant pop and substantial alternative rock. Their debut EP ‘Someday’ (2014) was well received throughout the US, Canada and the UK, catalyzing a Northeastern US tour and landing the band showcases at SXSW, CMJ Music Marathon, Canadian Music Week, & NAMM in 2015. They took home accolades from ISC and Unsigned Only that same year, furthering the band’s impetus for the release of their first full length album, ‘Moodswings’. The eleven song studio effort earned glowing reviews from Blackbook, Wild Honey Pie, and The 405, again receiving notice from ISC, Unsigned Only and The John Lennon Songwriting Competition, and spawned a sister release ‘Re: MIX’, whose tropical house remixes seemed in perfect step with the evolving music climate.

An invigorated 2016 began with an acoustic EP, ‘Whispers’, and the band spent the summer touring the West coast and set out on an East coast tour in late fall. In November, their track ‘Drive’ (from their 2015 release ‘Moodswings’) received Best Alternative Song at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, a massive feat and a testament to the group’s ability to translate their own momentum into a pulsing, universal anthem about love, longevity and forward motion. Along with the success and progress achieved over that year, for which they were unwaveringly grateful, Ships Have Sailed also saw the inherent challenges of unexpected events and unpredictable variables of their continuing journey.

Coming off the road on the final leg of their 2016 tour cycle, and in a particularly reflective moment, a mixture of elation and exhaustion brought their single ‘Up’ into the world.  Released in February of 2017, ‘Up’ propelled Ships Have Sailed to new heights within the industry, again receiving praise from the press, accolades from the songwriting community, and sparking new live opportunities including a return to SXSW in 2017 a festival appearance at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, U.K., and a follow-up acoustic tour across England, Ireland and Scotland in the fall of that year.

Not prone to sitting still, the band was working behind the scenes on something new in between bouts of touring.  In an effort to push his own limits, Will brought in a new songwriting partner (Robert Reid Gillies) and sought out a co-producer (Wally Gagel of Wax Ltd. – Family of the Year, Zella Day, etc…) to assist with the creation of the next single.

In Will’s words: "Let's Just Dance is a dreamy, exuberant swirl of emotions...disguised as a whimsical love song. I wanted to dive a little deeper and explore the struggle of always wanting more no matter what you already have, which I think is almost a feature of the human condition. At the same time, I wanted to break new ground musically, and reach for some new areas of my songwriting palette...ultimately this track surpassed my own expectations, and I can't wait to see how people respond."

Let’s Just Dance was released on February 7th 2018 and is available everywhere digital music is sold or streamed!

Press:

"Let’s Just Dance is a euphoric anthem basking in the moment, celebrating the here and now and embracing the life we’re living today for all it’s worth."
- Atwood Magazine

"Ships Have Sailed may be your favorite new discovery."
- Black Book

"The contagious low-key vocals remind one of Elliot Smith while the buzzing instrumentation leans more toward calculated early work of The Killers. Overall, Ships Have Sailed flex their implicit control over the pop-rock genre."
- The Vinyl District

"Ships Have Sailed is the rare case of a band name embodying its sound. Their melodies soar effortlessly and their inspired, rounded resonance reminds me of 90s alt-rock bands that have since gone out to sea; Something Corporate or mainstream Christian rock power players, Hillsong United"
- Earmilk

"A spark of positivity, 'Up' is a track you need to have on your radar."
- Paste Magazine

"Ships Have Sailed taps a massive electro pop-rock vein and rides that unbeatable high for 11 addictive tracks."
- The Wild Honey Pie

"Quality pop rock that will leaves fans of Wheat, Quiet Company, and The Walkmen longing for an LP from this LA group.”
- What The Kids (Are Into)

Discography:

Let’s Just Dance (Single)
Up (Single)
Whispers Acoustic EP
Re: MIX EP
Moodswings
Someday EP
Midnight Single

Ships Have Sailed:

Will Carpenter - Vocals, Guitar, Production, Composition
Art Andranikyan - Drums