music
March 30, 2026
'After one gig, someone stole my car with my dole money in it': Morcheeba on how they made The Sea
'The string section we got in thought I was the tea boy. When I asked for a psychedelic improvisation like A Day in the Life, they went: “Why is this guy telling us what to play?”'
TL;DR
- Morcheeba wrote much of the 'Big Calm' album during an all-night vodka session.
- The song 'The Sea' was inspired by growing up on the Kent coast and a trip to Brighton beach.
- The string section initially mistook the singer for the 'tea boy' when he requested psychedelic improvisation.
- 'The Sea' was initially released as a white label for DJs after the record company lost confidence.
- The song gained significant popularity after being used as the theme tune for Channel 4's reality TV show 'Shipwrecked'.
- The singer overcame a childhood fear of water after a free-diving course in Thailand.
- The band met through mutual friends and a chance encounter at a party.