Q&A: Ships Have Sailed Explore The Collision of Truth and Deception on Their Latest Single “Exit Wound”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
SHIPS HAVE SAILED HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PROJECT DEFINED BY AN ARDENT WORK ETHIC and a refusal to be pinned down to a single genre lane. Since their inception, vocalist and guitarist Will Carpenter and drummer Art Andranikyan have cultivated a "sanguine sensibility" that manages to feel both deeply personal and universally accessible. It is a formula that has clearly resonated; the Los Angeles-based duo has built a formidable resume that includes international tours, high-profile industry showcases, and numerous awards honoring their steadfast independence. Their music has a way of finding its own home in the cultural zeitgeist, from "Get Loud" serving as an anthem for the LA Kings to "Alive" soundtracking the cinematic rise of Jenna Ortega.
While their previous work, particularly the expansive pandemic-era album Ages, thrived on buoyant indie-rock alacrity and lush, upbeat production, their newest release signals a more contemplative and atmospheric chapter. Their latest single "Exit Wound" finds the duo taking matters into their own hands, moving away from "unabashed pop structures" to explore the haunting collision of truth and illusion. Carpenter describes the track as a reaction to a world increasingly comfortable with "convenient truths" and systemic deception, a theme that carries a different kind of weight than their earlier, more optimistic catalog.
By combining an impressive creative range with a relentless desire to be heard, Ships Have Sailed continues to prove that they are more than just a band name; they are a case study in artistic evolution. We chatted with the duo to discuss the transition into this darker territory, the "glitches in the matrix" that inspired the new lyrics, and how they maintain their authenticity in a digital age designed to distort it.
LUNA: The name Ships Have Sailed is often seen as a positive spin on a typically pessimistic idiom. How does that mindset of "unexpected positive outcomes" play into the creation of "Exit Wound," especially since the song deals with the heavier concepts of truth and deception?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: What a way to start this conversation! I’m not sure I’ve given this angle a lot of thought, so thank you for the question. I’d say that, as heavy as the topic might be, if you listen to the first couple lines, the song really does enter with a hopeful message—no matter how far adrift you are, there is almost always a way back to the light. I think those first two lines lyrically encompass the answer to your question.
LUNA: Will, you’ve mentioned that this track explores a "collision of truth and deception." Was there a specific moment or "glitch in the matrix" in your own life that made you want to dive into the idea of a "convenient truth”?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: It’s less a single moment and more the global circumstance we find ourselves careening towards (or perhaps neck-deep in) at the moment. The rise of AI, which is itself a very convincing deception, becoming more convincing by the day. The fact that our politicians and suppliers of information have become more and more comfortable massaging the truth or purveying flat-out lies. The fake personas we create—or believe, depending on which side of consumption we land—online to make ourselves look or feel better. At this point, deception seems almost systemic, and so I guess “Exit Wound” was a reaction to that.
LUNA: What’s your favorite lyric from the track?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: Oh, that’s a tough one—I really don’t like choosing favorites, especially when they’re all my “babies,” so to speak. If I have to choose: “They planted seeds, want you to doubt, their roots have dug in… but you can still pull them out.” It speaks again to the silver lining of it all... that idea that it’s never too late to change.
LUNA: You pose a haunting question regarding "Exit Wound": If we become accustomed to "flexibility" where fact is concerned, do we wind up living in a fantasy? Do you view the song as a warning, or more of a mirror reflecting where we already are?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: Sadly, I think it’s too late for warnings—we’re here. But as I’ve mentioned a couple of times in this interview, I do think there are opportunities to course-correct. I just think it will take an exercise in collective consciousness in order to do that.
LUNA: From "Get Loud" being an anthem for the LA Kings to "Alive" soundtracking a Jenna Ortega film, your music has a massive, cinematic reach. When writing "Exit Wound," were you consciously trying to maintain that "indie rock alacrity," or did the subject matter push you toward a darker, more atmospheric territory?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: Another great question. As with most of the music I’ve created over the years, I try to let the song itself guide the creative sensibilities within the production. I’d love to see this one find a cinematic home, don’t get me wrong, but more important than that is for it to be an immersive experience that causes humans themselves to feel something. For that to happen, the music, lyrics, and delivery need to be extensions of each other.
In my experience, the less “contrived” something feels, the more it translates emotionally. Having industry-driven goals in mind is one of the best ways to suck the emotion out of something. It’s worth noting that none of our songs that have ever landed in a TV show or film were particularly written “for” that.
LUNA: You’ve built an impressive catalog over the years, from Ages to your live virtual album. Does "Exit Wound" feel like a standalone statement, or is it the first chapter of a larger project or EP we can expect later this year?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: That’s a tricky one. We’ve been a little less active online and with our release cycle—largely due to family and personal commitments—but I won’t rule out a larger body of work making its way into the world. The truth is that I just don’t know. I can feel something percolating, which is why I wanted to release this song; it felt like the right time. But also, I’m not sure that “Exit Wound” would necessarily be part of that larger body of work—it would need to find its place. So for now, let’s go with a standalone statement.
LUNA: Who have you been listening to lately?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: My daughter really loves The Little Mermaid, particularly “Under the Sea,” haha… so that’s in heavy rotation! She also loves “Edge of an Ocean,” which is a huge compliment because clearly she has a discerning ear. When I DO get control of the airwaves, though, I’ve been enjoying Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, and also revisiting some past obsessions like Nothing But Thieves, Andrew McMahon, CHVRCHES, and Bleachers.
LUNA: If a listener is hearing Ships Have Sailed for the first time through this single, what is the one "truth" you hope they take away about the band’s identity?
SHIPS HAVE SAILED: Honestly, I hope folks can hear that the one thing we always strive for is authenticity, whatever that might mean for a given song in a given moment. I hope that “Exit Wound” gives them a little taste, leading to some curiosity, and that they feel inspired to dig a little deeper into our catalogue—deep and diverse as it may be. One song is only ever the beginning of a bigger journey.
