Sebastian Rochford is a singular force in British music, an extraordinary drummer, composer and producer. His work with the iconic group Polar Bear has helped redefine the boundaries of jazz and earned several Mercury Prize nominations. With a career spanning collaborations with Patti Smith, Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Adele and Grace Jones, and his 2023 ECM duo album A Short Diary with Kit Downes, an album written for his father described as a “quiet masterpiece,” Rochford has carved out a unique space in contemporary music. Finding Ways, his new major project, marks a bold new chapter for Seb Rochford. The first album focuses on guitar, featuring, among others, the dynamic lineup of Tara Cunningham, David Preston, Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Simon Tong (The Verve, Gorillaz), exploring various combinations and layering up to three guitars at once. The result is a striking blend of jagged experimental grooves and raw emotional depth, with an unaffected, pedal-free sound that evokes a timeless and exploratory side. Rochford’s music, as always, defies categorization – a sound that feels alive, fractured and deeply human, all mixed by the singular and masterful sound talent, Tchad Blake. The title Finding Ways refers to a mindset he chose to adopt after multiple major life events happened in quick succession. “It’s about finding ways to keep moving and floating, turning life’s challenges into something meaningful, also in a practical, everyday way. In Finding Ways, it’s direct and energetic music that refuses to be boxed in, a reflection of Seb Rochford’s pioneering spirit. For fans of his previous work as well as newcomers, this album is a testament to his ongoing quest to find emotional truth in sound.