Today Archie Sagars releases his new solo album Dreams Along The Shore. As well his solo work, you may have seen him onstage as a quarter of Ladylike, or know him as the face behind Crafting Room Recordings, releasing music from the likes of ELLiS·D and Maximilian. We caught up to chat about the album, and how his solo work slots alongside his other activities.
The album has been preceded by a clutch of singles – Silver Lake, Tolcarne and Fistral on 20th August. Those of you with a detailed knowledge of Cornwall might recognise the latter two singles as beaches on the north coast of the county.
AS: The whole of the second half is named after places around Newquay. it literally follows the coastline from Tolcarne, Great Western, Towan, Fistral, Crantock. I’m originally from Wiltshire, not Cornwall, but went to Newquay a lot as a kid. It’s a place that I’ve gone back to most summers and pretty much whenever I can. It’s following the memories made on each of the beaches. And then the first half is more themed around the sea and the coast around Brighton – but like a love letter to the sea in a way and to the places that I’ve grown up in.

The songs were mostly written over the last five years, spanning Archie’s time since he relocated to Brighton. While memories of beaches from his childhood provide the backdrop, the album also explores relationships with people that have come and gone over that period through dream pop, ambient and dark post punk.
Alongside the development of Dreams Along The Shore, Archie has also been a member of Brighton band Ladylike. I asked him how he decided whether his songs would end up being brought to Ladylike or saved for himself
AS: The only track on the album where there has been crossover was Fistral – I was just messing around while other people who were setting up and I really liked the riff and I took it home and made it something different. And there’s been some times where at their root the riffs might be quite similar, but I feel that they’re disguised enough to not notice. But I think in terms of writing songs, Ladylike and my own stuff is quite different. There’s not really a lot of overlap where I’ll be taking something to my own stuff instead of taking it to Ladylike . It’s kind of, you know, they feel really quite separate.

Archie’s other big project – Crafting Room Recordings dates back even further. It started in 2019 as a vehicle to launch his own music, and his friends bands. Over lockdown he started working with other bands to put out their music, including a number of EPS from Hualan, a band from Wuhan in China, where Covid was first identified. Their releases all sold out quickly, while behind the scenes Archie was hearing about how the lockdowns were affecting things for them. The success of these releases was a turning point for the label, elevating it things way beyond their roots. The next big landmark came after seeing ELLiS·D at Green Door Store’s 234 Festival:
AS: I went to see Hutch and then saw Ellis afterwards and then just thought he was amazing, just sent him an email, then met up and figured things out about a cassette to release. Then we did another cassette, then released his debut EP about two years ago now, on vinyl, and it’s been like a long process of us both learning the ropes together at the same time, figuring out how to make this a properly professional thing and really technical next level. He’s always been very DIY-spirited, running his own gig nights, in Hove and then in the Rossi Bar. He’s always been pushing the local scene every step he can. And it’s been really fun to watch him. When I saw him I just thought he was one the best things I’ve ever seen. And I still think that now.

At the end of last year Crafting Room Put out “Brighton Compilation 2024” which firmly put them at the centre of the local scene, featuring releases from Ellis D, Ladylike, Ideal Living, Eva Lunny, Maximilian, Soft Top, Attic-O-Matic, Opal Mag, Sad Dads, and more. Around the same time, Lambrini Girls announced their album and featured on the cover of NME. The world had their eyes on the Brighton Music scene, and at the centre of it seemed to be Crafting Room, who appeared in a Bandcamp feature on the city as well as being interviewed on 6Music.
AS: I wouldn’t say that I’m responsible for the way that the Brighton Music scene has exploded over the last few years, but I’ve been very happy to play a small part in whatever way I can. Helping out by releasing Ideal Living’s EP and Ellis’s EP on vinyl. But I think there’s just been so much great stuff going on Brighton for quite a while now, so it’s really exciting to see things kick off. And hearing people talk about the Brighton scene from other places is fantastic.

Dreams Along The Shore by Archie Sagars is out today on Crafting Room Recordings