Ships in the Night (musician)

Last updated
Ships in the Night
Ships In The Night - Protection Spells photo shoot 01.jpg
Ships in the Night in 2025
Background information
Origin Charlottesville, Virginia, US
Genres
Years active2014 (2014)–present
Labels
MembersAlethea Leventhal

Ships in the Night (stylized as Ships In The Night) is the solo electronic, synthwave music project of Alethea Leventhal based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and New York City. Her third full-length album, Protection Spells, was released via Metropolis Records on May 2, 2025. [1]

Contents

History

Following music projects in high school and college, Leventhal formed Ships in the Night in 2014 and released the first EP, Ships in the Night, in 2015. [2] [3] [4] The first full-length album, Myriologues, was self-released in 2017. The electronic album is stylized as witch house and chillwave, possessing themes that deal with loss and grief. [5]

In 2018, Leventhal began working on another EP and started recording in early 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, release of For a Sick World was delayed until 2021. In the summer of that same year, Leventhal signed with Cleopatra Records to release her second full-length album, Latent Powers. In contrast with Myriologues, this album has more themes of possibility, potential, and the "cathartic strength...found within darkness". [5] [6]

In 2024, Leventhal signed with Metropolis Records to publish her third full-length album, Protection Spells. She released the first single of this album, "Some of Those Dreams", in November 2024 and the second single, "Blood Harmony", in April 2025. [7] [8] Protection Spells was released digitally on May 2, 2025 and on CD May 9, 2025 via Metropolis Records. [9] The album features ten original tracks, including the two previously released singles and a cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence". [10] [11] Protection Spells is stylized as a dark pop, electronic album that expresses an overarching theme of inspiring "strength, focus, and transformation during challenging times". [12] Leventhal celebrated its debut with an album release show and tribute to David Lynch (dubbed "The Black Lodge Ball") on May 3, 2025 in her hometown of Charlottesville [1] and again on May 9, 2025 in nearby Richmond, Virginia. [13] Protection Spells has garnered positive reviews, with one critic describing it as "magical and mythological" and "an enchanting and evocative creative project". [14] [15] Another critic noted its significant shift toward "good electro-pop" compared to previous Ships in the Night albums. [16]

Ships in the Night performing at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2025 WGT 2025 Ships In The Night 01.jpg
Ships in the Night performing at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2025

In June 2025, Ships in the Night was selected to perform at the annual Wave-Gotik-Treffen goth festival in Leipzig, Germany. [17]

Style and influences

Ships in the Night falls under a number of musical genres and styles including electronic, synthwave, darkwave, vaporwave, witch house, goth, dream pop, ambient, and neo-classical. [4] [6] [13] The music typically features prominent harmonies, synthesizers, and upbeat rhythms coupled with emotional vocals and lyrics. [3] [5] [18] [19]

Leventhal has cited a number of inspirations to her music and lyrics such as sleep struggles (insomnia, nightmares), movies, outside noises (bird songs, church bells, trains), physical movement, and personal experiences. [2] [4] [20] She also cites musical/artistic influences including The Cure, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Motown artists, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Elizabeth Fraser, Björk, Missy Elliott, Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, the television series Twin Peaks, David Lynch, E.E. Cummings, Wim Wenders, and Laurie Anderson. [2] [3] [20]

Members

Current members

Discography

Full-length albums

Remix albums

EPs

Works cited

  1. 1 2 3 Gorey, CM (30 April 2025). "Ships in the Night". C-VILLE Weekly. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Bourgoise, Rick (28 December 2021). "Interview: Ships in the Night". Big Sonic Heaven. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 McMillan, Matt (22 June 2022). "Sun Spell Tour featuring Ships in the Night brings Atmospheric Electronica to JBA on Friday 6/24". The Creek 100.9 FM. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Van Isacker, Bernard (18 April 2024). "Ships in the Night release all new video, 'The Fire'". Side-Line. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Vogrič, Tomaž (22 November 2024). "Ships in the Night - Unveils Some Of Those Dreams". Terra Relicta. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  6. 1 2 Yücel, Ilker (5 March 2022). "InterView: Ships in the Night – Revealing Latent Powers". Regen Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  7. Yücel, Ilker (24 November 2024). "News: Ships in the Night signs to Metropolis Records, revealing first single from upcoming third album". Regen Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  8. "Ships in the Night – An Electric Spell". 1st 3 Magazine. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  9. "Ships in the Night: 'Protection Spells' - new album by US electronic dark pop artist out 2nd May 2025". FrontView Magazine. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  10. Kennedy, Alex (7 May 2025). "Ships in the Night, "Protection Spells"". I Die: You Die. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  11. "Enjoy the Silence ~ Recording by Ships in the Night". MusicBrainz. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  12. "Ships in the Night conjures "Protection Spells" – New Album Out Now!". Evol Radio. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  13. 1 2 Van Isacker, Bernard (29 April 2025). "David Lynch celebrated at The Black Lodge Ball + presentation Ships in the Night album 'Protection Spells'". Side Line Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  14. Blair Colver, Rowan (9 May 2025). "With Ships in the Night The Magic Is Real With The Self-Reliant No One Is Coming". Sound Read Six. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  15. Inferno Sound Diaries (26 June 2025). "Ships In The Night – Protection Spells (Digital/CD Album – Metropolis)". Side Line. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  16. Zivkovic, Ljubinko (3 May 2025). "Spill Album Review: Ships in the Night – Protection Spells". Spill Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  17. Pustianaz, Maurizio (2 June 2025). "Ships in the Night to Perform at Legendary Wave-Gotik-Treffen Festival". Chain D.L.K. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  18. Lusso, Fabrizio (9 July 2021). "WL//WH Track Of The Day: Ships in the Night "When I Was Found"". WhiteLight//WhiteHeat. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  19. Deserto, Frank (30 October 2019). "Ethereal Dark Electronic Act Ships in the Night unveils the powerful, self-produced video for "Lost Times"". Post-Punk.com. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  20. 1 2 Buracker, Dave (2 September 2017). "Ships in the Night". Hypnos Audio. Retrieved 28 May 2025.