Deep Sea Diver & Byland in Brooklyn: Two Acts, One Wavelength
There are nights where everything clicks—not just on stage, but behind it too. Where the music hits, but so does the connection with people. The nerves. The laughter. The shared sense that everyone in the room is part of something that matters. That was this night. Deep Sea Diver. Byland. Brooklyn. A family of talented people doing what they love—and letting the rest of us in.
I had the chance to shoot this one all-access, which meant I wasn’t just watching from the crowd—I was in the room before the lights came up, part of that calm, pre-show stillness most people never get to see. There was an ease to it all—people joking around, being kind, family stopping by the green room like it was just another Friday night. And honestly, that kind of access strips away the mystique in the best way. You realize the people about to take the stage aren’t here to perform at us—they’re here to share something with us.
BYLAND: A SHARED FREQUENCY
Byland is the indie-rock project of Seattle-based Alie Renee, whose last name doubles as the moniker she performs under. They opened the night, and right away it felt less like an opening set and more like an invitation into their world—emotional, expansive, and full of light. Sure, their songs carry emotional weight, but it’s never heavy-handed. Maybe it’s the way Alie holds the room, even when the lyrics cut deep. Maybe it’s her generous smile and infectious laugh when she’s lost in the moment—whether on guitar or behind the keyboard.
Somewhere between “Monstera” and “I’m Sorry,” I realized I was completely immersed in their set, and it became so clear why the person, her bandmates, and the music all align. There’s a kind of magnetic pull when artists share the same emotional frequency—something more than chemistry, something deeper than chance. Maybe that’s what drew me to this show in the first place: the sense that this wasn’t just a band—it was a wavelength I recognized before I ever heard it live.
Then Deep Sea Diver took the stage—and that frequency didn’t fade. It amplified.
DEEP SEA DIVER: CONFIDENT SIGNAL, FULL VOLUME
Frontwoman Jessica Dobson leads with a quiet confidence that doesn’t need volume or spotlight. She walks onstage like she’s already earned your respect—but still plays with the kind of intention that wins it anyway. Nothing about her delivery feels forced. Her guitar work is sharp, her vocals steady, and she never reaches for connection—which might be exactly why it happens so naturally.
What stood out to me was how in-sync the band felt. Everyone was dialed in, fluid without overplaying. And shoutout to Kristyn Chapman—an incredibly versatile multi-instrumentalist who brought a kind of infectious joy to the set. From hyping the drummer mid-solo to jamming across the stage with the bassist to… playing cowbell? Yeah, that happened! I don’t know any of these artists personally, but I recognized the energy. As a creative myself, I get that wavelength. And I wanted to capture it.
Mid-set, Alie returned to the stage for “Let Me Go”. Jessica and Alie clearly get each other, folding their voices together like they’ve done it a hundred times. It didn’t need to be a moment—so of course it became one.
There was a kid perched at the front of the stage—no barricade that night. No phone. Just awe. While I was on the mezzanine shooting Dobson during a transition, I saw her meet the kid’s gaze. She knelt down and played directly to them. Not for show. Because she saw them. A human moment that won’t show up on a setlist—but that’s the kind of thing that sticks. The kind of thing that makes someone fall in love with live music forever.
We’re not even into June and I’m averaging close to two shows a week behind the lens. But Friday night hit differently. It reminded me why I started doing this in the first place. Deep Sea Diver isn’t about hype. It’s about honesty. It’s about connection. And I’m damn grateful to have been someone tuned into their frequency.
We talk a lot about community in music. Sometimes that means the fans. Sometimes it means the bands. Sometimes it’s just recognizing when you’re in a room full of people who still give a damn. I’ve shot a lot of shows. But nights like this—where the art, the energy, and the people all align—those are rare. That’s what made this one matter.
Brooklyn didn’t get noise. It got resonance. Two artists on the same wavelength, creating something real and unforced. I wasn’t just there to capture it—I was tuned into it. And when connection hits that clearly, it stays. It’s the reason I keep showing up.
SET LISTS
DEEP SEA DIVER (WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE)
Billboard Heart
Emergency
Lights Out
Secrets
Let Me Go
What Do I Know
Tiny Threads
Shattering
See in the Dark
Be Sweet
Always Waiting
You Go Running
Impossible Weight
Shovel
Eyes Are Red (Don’t Be Afraid)
Happiness Is Not a Given
BYLAND (WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE)
Two Circles
Temporary Everything
Settle My Mind
Lean In
Monstera
I’m Sorry
These Days
Like Flies
Mine
