Taking their name from a coastal flower, Golden Samphire Band is a new project from brothers Mik and Rich Hanscomb and fellow Sussex seaside dweller, Hannah Lewis. Having worked together on tracks for the brother’s previous album as Junkboy (2023’s Littoral States), the three resolved to move forward as one with a set of songs that expand on those earlier ideas—maritime suburbia in all its mythical and marvellous mundanity. This time, however, they approach it through a cycle of home-recorded, informed psych-folk-pop-pocket-symphonies. Their debut album, Dream Is The Driver, released on Wayside & Woodland, was recorded at home between 2024 and 2025, with the band handling writing, production, and much of the engineering themselves. The band itself describes it as “psychogeographically-informed” music, meaning it draws heavily on place and environment, particularly the Sussex coast. Across its nine tracks, the tone is reflective and atmospheric, focusing on small, everyday experiences elevated into something slightly surreal or poetic. At times (I dare to say) it recalls a 1960’s psych-folk band gently flirting with dream pop. The title track comes from a phrase used by Rich’s pen friend’s young son to describe pictures of bullet trains he drew from his home in Yokohama. Upon seeing these pictures, Hannah developed the idea into a meditation on movement: municipal transport passing by trees, as well as on aspiration, self-actualisation, and the search for creative agency in what can feel like an artless, screen-mediated world. The result is a suite of songs that are the culmination of three friends’ shared interests and intersecting lives along the Sussex coastline, while also expressing a sense of hope and a beautiful tomorrow. After all, in seaside towns, surf’s never really up…

What They Say: “The title track, Dream Is The Driver, comes from a phrase used by my Japanese pen friend’s young son to describe pictures of bullet trains he drew from his home in Yokohama. Upon seeing these pictures, Hannah ran with the idea of municipal transport and passing by trees, of fulfilling one’s hopes, aspiring to self-actualization and seeking agency as a creative in what can feel like an artless, screen mediated world. This was the first song we worked on together as a band for this album and as soon as I heard it I knew we were onto something special between us. It’s a great name for an album too given that Golden Samphire Band are essentially Romantic humans.“

“We’re also nature boys and (a) girl, and we venerate our immediate surroundings of the Downs and the sea on cuts like Waking Moment, Harbour Waves and Chalk Space. They offer an Anglicized spin on Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese concept of nature bathing. Bid Farewell shines a light on coastal care homes and the brittle normalcy of the lives featured within. The album also deals with salt corroded, familial routines on (We Wunt) Travel Further (staycations as an economic necessity), whilst Phosphorous Sun covers commendable but thwarted attempts to grow vegetables in a small garden. Starling Dance was written after walking along Brighton Pier and gazing at the murmuration unfolding in early winter’s fading afternoon sun.“ 

Their Mixtape:

Prince – Seven

Rich: I’ve spent the entire past autumn and winter on a Prince jag! I think I got back into the Love Symbol album out of nostalgia – my nan bought it for me on cassette Christmas 1992 – and I wanted to hear it again amidst my recent reviving of the Parade and Batman albums. I remember at the time being old enough to recognize that Prince wasn’t defining the rock trajectory as he did in the 80s but was essentially hitting a peak as an artist and writing songs other, so called hipper artists – that were shaping the early 90s pop culture narrative –  would kill for. Love Symbol is chock full of brilliance like the joyous New Jack Swing of The Sacrifice of Victor and the anthemic Morning Papers. I’ve gone for Seven on this mix tape as Golden Samphire Band is all about yer hippy dippy trippy acoustic head music after all….

Jacob Collier – Sky Above 

Hannah: Jacob Collier has always had the showman touch and brings different types of music to a modern audience. His generous use of instruments from around the globe I feel adds a natural magic, down to earth tone and his delicate, and at times, energetic use of layered harmonies. Jacob’s music is eclectic for sure, but my personal preference comes from his earlier, tamer work, reminding me of sunrises and taking morning walks across meadows – the enjoyment of freedom it brings.

Fotheringay – The Sea

Mik: Fotheringay was a short-lived folk rock outfit, formed in 1970 by Sandy Denny, not long after she left Fairport Convention, and her then partner, Trevor Lucas. Though Fotheringay was not the commercial success Island Records anticipated, there are several stand out songs on the album including The Sea, penned by Denny herself. It has a wistful, sea-shanty like quality, with lyrics depicting a great flood gradually engulfing London. The motion of the ocean is a constant theme running through the Golden Samphire Band tracks when we were putting together Dream is the Driver!

Laura Nyro – Timer

Rich: My dad first hipped me to Laura Nyro initially through the Todd Rundgren song, ‘Baby Let’s Swing’ which namechecks her. Dad was a bit obsessed with Laura Nyro and when he moved into our nan’s bungalow later in his life, one of the first things he did was photocopy a picture of her from the biography Soul Picnic and then Sellotape it to the kitchen wall. I’ve been listening again to Laura because she was the first singer I thought of when I heard Hannah’s voice. Both Laura and Hannah come from a jazz background I guess- both are ridiculous talents. I adore Timer, the way is shuffles and lurches around but still grooves. Everything about this song and the album it comes from, Eli and the Thirteenth Confessional, is pure late 60s singer songwriter genius.

Ella Fitzgerald – Over The Rainbow

Hannah: A pioneer of Jazz, with her instantly recognisable voice and style, Ella is truly a legend! I picked her cover of Over The Rainbow because it’s the version I first learned when I started singing lessons, back in the early 2000s and gave me the first steps to pursuing what would become my passion and enter a world of musicals, make believe, and jazz- all year round not just for Christmas!

Forest – Much Ado About Nothing

Mik: Much Ado About Nothing is taken from Forest’s second album, Full Circle, and embodies British acid folk at its pastoral finest; lyrically the narrator is passing time trying to make sense of life, which is set against climbing mandolin refrains and monastic harmonies in the chorus. Full Circle is an album I came to admire during the making of Dream is the Driver, thanks to its folky instrumentation of acoustic guitars, strings, recorders, mandolins, and vocal harmonies. Full Circle was a worthy follow-up to the Grimsby trio’s eponymous debut and although neither album was well received at the time, both have gained popularity over the years and are now regarded as acid folk gems of the era. To quote Dez Allenby – I hope that someone somewhere will dig this little song.

Ruthan Friendman – Glittering Dancer (Carry On)

Rich: Friedman is best known for writing The Association’s eternal sunshine pop anthem, Windy. Her only solo album is full of sparse Laurel Canyon style singer songwriter fare, but this cut from is lush and a real banger. It’s produced by Van Dyke Parks and it shows – amazing instrumentation, dense, tape saturation production, almost akin to his work with Brian Wilson. But Ruthan is the star of course– the superb songwriting and deadpan stacked vocals delivery are sumptuous.

Laufey – Dreamer

Hannah: Laufey is a young, contemporary artist, but she has gone above and beyond to create music that brings jazz and classical music to the younger generation (at a gig I attended two years ago, everyone was younger than 30!) Now performing around the world, singing with her fantasy-inspired romanticism and comedic flair, and winning numerous Grammy awards, it proves she’s a gentle voice but a soulful force for women in music.

R.E.M. – Green Grow the Rushes

Mik: Taken from R.E.M.’s 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction, Green Grow.. is something of a turntable hit with its Byrdsian, college rock feel. Lyrically, the song addresses the exploitation of migrant workers in the US, coupled with Peter Buck’s trademark melodic electric guitar arpeggios. The coda lifts the track into a beautiful crescendo, with overlapping vocals that give the outro an almost joyous quality, despite the darker, socially conscious themes of Michael Stipe’s lyrics.

Dream is the Driver is out now Wayside And Woodland. Look HERE for more information on Golden Samphire Band.