Interview with Ancient Currents – Brotherhood, Desert Rock Influences, and Their Debut Album

Some bands take years to find their sound. For Ancient Currents, it took years just to get everyone in the same band.

The new project brings together Gordon, Steve, and Ross McCready, three brothers who had spent years playing in different bands before finally deciding it was time to join forces. Alongside longtime collaborator Jeff Lees, the group has launched Ancient Currents with two standout singles that hint at the sonic range fans can expect from their upcoming self-titled debut album.

The band’s roots stretch between Toronto and Pittsburgh, a cross-border collaboration that has required some creative problem solving. By sharing recording platforms and experimenting with online jam tools, the band has been able to build songs together despite the distance. The result is a sound that blends classic riff-driven rock with melodic hooks that stick with you long after the song ends.

Their debut single “Big City Stars” sets the tone with a gritty, atmospheric energy inspired by desert rock legends like Fu Manchu and Kyuss, while also tipping its hat to ’70s riff masters like Hendrix and Black Sabbath. At the same time, the band embraces the melodic tradition of Canadian rock with influences ranging from Sloan to Thrush Hermit.

The follow-up single “In The Shadows” reveals another side of Ancient Currents. The track leans more into melody and atmosphere, showing the band’s ability to balance heavier moments with laid-back grooves and thoughtful songwriting. It’s a contrast the band says runs throughout the upcoming record.

The self-titled Ancient Currents album arrives on March 20 and represents a mix of songs written over the years alongside brand new material developed specifically for this project. Mixed and mastered by Greg Dawson at BWC Studios in Kingston, Ontario, the album aims to capture both the heavier and more melodic sides of the band’s sound.

With plans already forming for a Toronto record release show this summer, Ancient Currents are just getting started. For the band, the goal is simple: create the kind of music that made them fall in love with rock in the first place.

Interview with Ancient Currents

Ancient Currents just launched last month with two really incredible singles. Who are the members and what brought this new project together? 

Thanks man! Huge compliment coming from you. Gordon McCready, Steve McCready, and Ross McCready, brothers from the same mother, finally decided to play in the same band for once. We’ve all been in different bands over the years along with our brother from south of the border, Jeff Lees.

Steve, Jeff, and I were playing together as Shadow of the Flag for a few years. We started off strong opening for Big Wreck in Pittsburgh along with a string of shows in the US. When Ross joined the mix we figured it was time for a fresh start. Hence…Ancient Currents.

How would you describe your sound to someone hearing you for the first time? 

Not too hard, not too soft. It’s rock, sometimes banging, sometimes swaying. No matter how heavy or laid back it gets, we’re always chasing the melody.

The band is based out of both Toronto and Pittsburgh, how do you guys make that work? 

It’s definitely a bit of a challenge. We all record on the same platform, which makes it easier to track songs and build the sound together. We’re also experimenting with some jamming software to try and capture our live feel. It’s a bit of a process, but we’re giving it a go. It does present more options for live shows though.

We know there’s some tension at the border these days, but we’re not letting that get in the way of making music together.

Can you tell us about your debut single Big City Stars? What was the inspiration behind the lyrics? 

With the new beginning (Ancient Currents), we knew we wanted to start things off with a banger. The lyrics…well, let’s just say a few bad habits turned into even worse decisions. It’s about youthful invincibility and getting a little lost under the starry sky and big city lights.

I love the sonic atmosphere of this track. How did you guys write the instrumentation and would you say that the instrumentation on this track was inspired by any other artists?

It actually started out as an older song I had kicking around that we adapted and upgraded. The original goal of this project was to finally record all the songs we’d written over the years. But it evolved into writing new material too, so the record’s a mix of both old and new.

Musically there’s influence from some desert rock, Fu Manch and Kyuss, mixed with some ’70s riff rock like Hendrix and Sabbath, with a little Canadian rock in there too, like Sloan or Thrush Hermit.

And what about your follow up single In The Shadows.

That’s actually a newer song I wrote and hoped the band would like. Jeff came up with the beat that fit it perfectly, and the percussion ended up being different from anything else on the record. It all just kind of came together.

Lyrically it’s about good intentions that might not always be taken that way. Musically it leans a bit toward that melodic side, Sloan comes to mind, maybe even a bit of Dan Mangan…or the Beatles, dare I say.

Outside of these?

The record shows both sides of what we do. There’s some middle ground in there too, but it really comes down to that light and dark contrast. There’s darkness in the laid back songs, and some light in the heavier ones.

I should also mention our affinity for QOTSA, their influence is probably pretty obvious at times, though we touch on a few other moods and directions along the way.

Your debut record is coming soon! How soon can new fans expect to hear it?

The self-titled album comes out on all the platforms on Friday (my favourite day of the week) March 20. We’ve also got a video for one of the songs that we’re excited about, which should follow shortly after. And if there’s any demand, we’re hoping to make a few hard copies as well.

What can you tell us about the upcoming album?

We put a lot of time into getting it right. We worked with Greg Dawson from BWC Studios out of Kingston ON, who mixed and mastered the album. He really made the record come alive and was great to work with. I’ve worked with him in the past and will definitely continue to do so.

The artwork kind of came out of nowhere, with direction from J Balthazar from Pittsburgh PA, who put the cover art, logo, and video together. We’ve been really happy with all the feedback so far. Let’s hope it’s the first of many.

What’s coming up next for Ancient Currents?

We’re hoping to throw a record release show in Toronto this summer, details are still to be worked out. Once we get our feet wet more shows should happen. There’s always more material to be recorded so that’s definitely going to happen. It’s hard to predict as we’re in a long distance band, but the hope is that we can make it work in whatever capacity possible. Again if there’s demand, we’re all about it.

If someone presses play on your band for the first time tonight, what do you hope they take away from it? 

That’s a good question. Ideally, we want people to feel like they’re listening to the bands they grew up with, that sense of nostalgia and familiarity. We want them to sing along to the riffs and melodies, pick up a guitar, and play along just like we did when we were young.