Hey Ocean!

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Hey Ocean!

| image = Hey_Ocean_by_theducks.jpg

| caption = David Vertesi with Ashleigh Ball in 2010

| origin = Vancouver, Canada

| genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|pop rock|synthpop|power pop|alternative rock}}

| years_active = 2004–present

| label = Universal
Nettwerk

| website = {{URL|heyocean.com}}

| current_members =

Ashleigh Ball
David Beckingham
David Vertesi

}}

Hey Ocean! is a Canadian indie alternative rock and synthpop band formed in 2004 in Vancouver. As of {{currentyear}}, they have released four studio albums and four EPs.

History

David Beckingham (vocals/guitar) and Ashleigh Ball (vocals/flute) had been friends since sixth grade, joining with David Vertesi (vocals/bass) in 2004 to form the band.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/heyoceanband/status/195999165216595968 |title=Hey Ocean Twitter |publisher=Twitter |date= |accessdate=April 27, 2012}} They ran their own label for many years, being represented by Nettwerk Management,{{cite web|url=http://www.nettwerk.com/news/hey-ocean-signs-universal-music-canada-new-ep-and-canadian-tour-set-november-1-0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909014543/http://www.nettwerk.com/news/hey-ocean-signs-universal-music-canada-new-ep-and-canadian-tour-set-november-1-0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |title=Hey Ocean Signs with Universal Music Canada; New EP and Canadian Tour Set for November 1 |publisher=Nettwerk |accessdate=March 22, 2012 }} and had overtures from Gene Simmons{{cite web|last=Mack |first=Adrian |url=https://www.straight.com/article-238600/hey-ocean-gets-kissed |title=Hey Ocean! gets Kissed | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |publisher=Straight.com |date=July 9, 2009 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}} before signing with Universal Music Canada for distribution in 2011.{{cite web |url=http://universalmusic.ca/hey-ocean-sign-with-universal-music-canada/ |title= Hey Ocean sign with Universal Music Canada | Universal Music Canada |publisher=Universalmusic.ca |date=October 25, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108033907/http://universalmusic.ca/hey-ocean-sign-with-universal-music-canada/ |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

After releasing the EPs Triceratops (2004) and Rainy Day Songs (2005), Hey Ocean! issued their debut full-length album, Stop Looking Like Music, in 2006. They followed it two years later with It's Easier to Be Somebody Else.

In 2009, the band toured Canada with the Cat Empire{{cite web|url=http://www.pressplus1.com/concert-reviews/the-cat-empire-w-hey-ocean |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908191911/http://www.pressplus1.com/concert-reviews/the-cat-empire-w-hey-ocean |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |title=The Cat Empire | Concert Reviews |publisher=Pressplus1.com |date=November 20, 2009 |accessdate=March 22, 2012 }} and performed at SxSW.{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/sets/72157616727470734/ |title=Hey Ocean – SXSW 2009, Austin TX – a set on Flickr |publisher=Flickr.com |date= April 22, 2009|accessdate=March 22, 2012}} A year later, they again toured Canada and played several events{{cite web|url=http://two.nxew.ca/2010/02/live-blogging-olympic-music-hey-ocean.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718215842/http://two.nxew.ca/2010/02/live-blogging-olympic-music-hey-ocean.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |title=North by East West: Live Blogging Olympic Music: Hey Ocean! & First Canadian Medal! |publisher=Two.nxew.ca |date=February 14, 2010 |accessdate=March 22, 2012 }} for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

In 2011, Hey Ocean! released the EP Big Blue Wave, and in the summer, they performed at the City of Vancouver's 125th Anniversary{{cite web|url=http://www.celebratevancouver125.ca/2011/06/summer-live-artists/ |title=Welcome celebratevancouver125.ca – BlueHost.com |website=Celebratevancouver125.ca |date= |accessdate=March 23, 2020}} and at Live at Squamish, a three-day music festival in British Columbia.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.straight.com/article-434696/vancouver/live-squamish-gets-rock-n-roll-jolt-hey-ocean-and-stars |title=LIVE at Squamish gets a rock 'n' roll jolt from Hey Ocean! and Stars | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly |website=Straight.com |date=August 20, 2011 |accessdate=March 23, 2020}} They finished the year with another cross-Canada tour, including an appearance at the Prince George Winter Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.coldsnapfestival.com/2011/12/16/hey-ocean/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723231024/http://www.coldsnapfestival.com/2011/12/16/hey-ocean/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title=Hey, Ocean |publisher=Coldsnapfestival.com |accessdate=March 22, 2012 }} Ashleigh Ball suffered a vocal cord injury during a performance, which resulted in the cancellation of the Eastern Canada portion of the tour.{{cite web |url=http://ponyvillegazette.com/2011/11/04/ashleigh-balls-vocal-injury-worse-than-first-anticipated-eastern-tour-canceled/ |title=Ashleigh Ball's vocal injury worse than first anticipated, Eastern Tour canceled |publisher=Ponyville Gazette |date=November 4, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108030106/http://ponyvillegazette.com/2011/11/04/ashleigh-balls-vocal-injury-worse-than-first-anticipated-eastern-tour-canceled/ |archivedate=January 8, 2012 }}

In 2012, Hey Ocean! returned with their third studio album, titled IS, and they followed it up in 2013 with the IS Acoustic Sessions EP.

Through 2015 and 2016, the group's performances were exclusively at charity events, such as Sing it Fwd,{{cite web |url=http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/labour+love+david+ambrosia+vertesi+sing+turns+five+signs/11639721/story.html |title=A labour of love: David and Ambrosia Vertesi's Sing It FWD turns five, signs off |website=www.vancouversun.com |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208074706/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/labour+love+david+ambrosia+vertesi+sing+turns+five+signs/11639721/story.html |archive-date=February 8, 2016 |url-status=dead}} while Ball and others worked on solo projects.{{cite web|url=https://ontheaside.com/music/it-isnt-all-sunshine-and-bubbles-for-ashleigh-ball/ |title=It isn't all sunshine and bubbles for Ashleigh Ball | A.Side |website=Ontheaside.com |date= July 7, 2017|accessdate=March 23, 2020}}

In July 2017, the band announced through their Facebook page that they had reunited to work on a fourth album, titled The Hurt of Happiness.{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/hey-ocean-splashes-back-with-hurt-of-happiness |title=Hey Ocean! splashes back with Hurt of Happiness |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |date=April 7, 2018 |accessdate=March 23, 2020}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://lfpress.com/2017/11/08/club-scene-the-happiness-is-back-for-hey-ocean/wcm/46aaac53-a1ac-cc0f-20c0-587e60c29e8e |title=Club Scene: The Happiness is back for Hey Ocean! | The London Free Press |website=Lfpress.com |date=November 8, 2017 |accessdate=March 23, 2020}} On September 19, they published two songs from the upcoming record: "Amsterdam" and "Can't Let Go".{{cite web |url=http://beatroute.ca/2018/04/03/39305/ |title=Hey Ocean! Drop Anchor with a Comeback Record | BeatRoute Magazine |website=beatroute.ca |access-date=January 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705232928/http://beatroute.ca/2018/04/03/39305/ |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |url-status=dead}} The Hurt of Happiness came out on April 6, 2018.{{cite web|last=Yuyitung |first=Matt |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/2018-04-02-hey_ocean_-the_hurt_of_happiness |title=Hey Ocean! The Hurt of Happiness |website=Exclaim.ca |date=April 2, 2018 |accessdate=March 23, 2020}}

''My Little Pony'' fandom

Lead singer Ashleigh Ball's voice acting work has drawn international attention to the band from members of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom. Fans have created music videos featuring the band's songs and footage from the show, some of which were featured on the group's official website.{{cite web|url=http://www.loveheyocean.com/2011/11/tour-restarting-soon/ |title=Hey Ocean Tour Restarting Soon |publisher=Love Hey Ocean |date=November 14, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322054318/http://www.loveheyocean.com/2011/11/tour-restarting-soon/ |archivedate=March 22, 2012 }} At the end of June 2013, Hey Ocean! performed at Fiesta Equestria, a brony convention in Houston, Texas. They also made a collaborative music video between the staff of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and bronies, titled #TweetIt. The band was featured in Brent Hodge's documentary A Brony Tale.

Recognition

In April 2009, "A Song about California" was featured as a top song on MuchMoreMusic.{{cite web|url=http://onecityjournal.blogspot.com/2009/03/listen-up-its-hey-ocean.html |title=One City Journal: Listen Up: It's Hey Ocean! |publisher=Onecityjournal.blogspot.com |date=March 23, 2009 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}} Hey Ocean! was nominated that year for a Western Canadian Music Award{{cite web|url=https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/western-canada-music-award-nominees-1.416570 |title=Western Canada Music Award nominees | CTV Winnipeg |publisher=Winnipeg.ctv.ca |date=July 14, 2009 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}} and in 2010 for an Independent Music Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/artist/hey-ocean/ |title=Hey Ocean |publisher=Independentmusicawards.com |date= |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}

In 2011, "Make a New Dance Up" was featured in a promotional video from HootSuite,{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKhYSuFDv80 |title=HootSuite Adds Advanced Facebook Management Tools |publisher=YouTube |date=August 29, 2011 |accessdate=March 22, 2012}} and the band performed for CBC's Canadian Indie Christmas Special. Hey Ocean! was also voted number one in the Best Local Band (Unsigned) category by readers of The Georgia Straight, a local news and entertainment paper, in its "Best of Vancouver 2011 Readers' Choices" recognition.{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/bov/category/2011/231 |title=Best of Vancouver 2011 Readers' Choices – Best local band (unsigned) | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |publisher=Straight.com |date= |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}

In 2012, "Islands" was featured in the episode "Last Known Surroundings" of One Tree Hill. The February 22, 2012, episode of Entertainment Tonight Canada ended with the music video for "Big Blue Wave". The song "Make a New Dance Up" was heard in the episode "Mother and Child Divided" of Switched at Birth.

Hey Ocean! was nominated in the Breakthrough Group of the Year category for the Juno Awards of 2013, (later won by Monster Truck), and featured on the compilation album released by Warner Music for the event.{{cite news|title=2013 Juno Award Nominees |url=http://junoawards.ca/nominees-winners/ |website=junoawards.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221085934/http://junoawards.ca/nominees-winners/ |access-date=20 September 2023|archive-date=February 21, 2013 }}{{cite news|title=2013 Juno Award Nominee CD |url=http://junoawards.ca/2013-juno-awards-nominee-cd/ |website=junoawards.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501185526/http://junoawards.ca/2013-juno-awards-nominee-cd/ |access-date=20 September 2023|archive-date=May 1, 2013 }}

Band members

Current members

Ashleigh Ball – lead vocals, flute, glockenspiel (2004–present)
David Beckingham – lead guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)
David Vertesi – bass guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)

Session / live musicians

Devon Lougheed – guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
Johnny Andrews – percussion

Past members

Dan Klenner – percussion
Adam Cormier – percussion
Tim Proznick – percussion
Andrew Rasmussen – keyboard, backing vocals

Discography

=Albums=

Stop Looking Like Music (2006)
It's Easier to Be Somebody Else (2008)
IS (2012) No. 70 CAN{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20041226005640/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 26, 2004 |title=Archived copy |access-date=August 7, 2011 }}
The Hurt of Happiness (2018)

=EPs=

Triceratops (2004)
Rainy Day Songs (2005)
Big Blue Wave (2011)
IS Acoustic Sessions (2013)

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Song ! colspan="2"\| Chart peak ! rowspan="2"\| Album
style="width:40px;"\|CAN {{cite web \|url=http://acharts.us/song/85332 \|title=Hey Ocean – Big Blue Wave - Music Charts \|website=acharts.us \|access-date=February 2, 2022 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150426054139/http://acharts.us/song/85332 \|archive-date=April 26, 2015 \|url-status=dead}} ! style="width:40px;"\|CAN Alt [http://canadianrockalt.blogspot.ca/2012/01/alternative-rock-january-3-2012.html Canadian Active Rock and Alt Rock Archive], January 5, 2012, America's Music Charts, accessed May 9, 2012.
rowspan="2"\|2011 \| "Big Blue Wave" \| — \| 40 \| Is
"Tonight It's Christmas"{{cite web\|url=https://www.amazon.com/Tonight-Its-Christmas-Single/dp/B006JO3HEM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_a_2 \|title=Tonight It's Christmas Time – Single: Hey Ocean!: MP3 Downloads \|website=Amazon \|date= \|accessdate=March 22, 2012}} \| — \| — \| {{n/a\|Non-album single}}
rowspan="2"\|2012 \| "Islands" \| — \| — \| rowspan="3"\| Is
"Big Blue Wave" (re-release) \| 88 \| —
2013 \| "Make a New Dance Up" \| — \| —
rowspan="2"\| 2017 \| "Sleepwalker" \| — \| — \| rowspan="3"\| The Hurt of Happiness
"Amsterdam / Can't Let Go" \| — \| —
2018 \| "The Hurt of Happiness" \| — \| —
2020 \| "Happy Now / Honeydew" \| — \| — \| {{tba}}
colspan="5"\| "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Song

! colspan="2"| Chart peak

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="width:40px;"|CAN
{{cite web |url=http://acharts.us/song/85332 |title=Hey Ocean – Big Blue Wave - Music Charts |website=acharts.us |access-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150426054139/http://acharts.us/song/85332 |archive-date=April 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}}

! style="width:40px;"|CAN
Alt
[http://canadianrockalt.blogspot.ca/2012/01/alternative-rock-january-3-2012.html Canadian Active Rock and Alt Rock Archive], January 5, 2012, America's Music Charts, accessed May 9, 2012.

rowspan="2"|2011

| "Big Blue Wave"

| —

| 40

| Is

"Tonight It's Christmas"{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Tonight-Its-Christmas-Single/dp/B006JO3HEM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_a_2 |title=Tonight It's Christmas Time – Single: Hey Ocean!: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |date= |accessdate=March 22, 2012}}

| —

| {{n/a|Non-album single}}

rowspan="2"|2012

| "Islands"

| —

| rowspan="3"| Is

"Big Blue Wave" (re-release)

| 88

| —

2013

| "Make a New Dance Up"

| —