Ships in the Night (musician)

Ships in the Night
Ships in the Night in 2025
Background information
OriginCharlottesville, Virginia, US
Genres
Years active2014 (2014)–present
Labels
MembersAlethea Leventhal

Ships in the Night (stylized as Ships In The Night) is a solo electronic, synthwave music project created by 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]

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, with themes of 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]

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

Style and influences

Ships in the Night's music includes 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's musical inspirations include sleep struggles (insomnia, nightmares), movies, outside noises (bird songs, church bells, trains), physical movement, and personal experiences.[2][4][20] She enjoys or has been influenced by 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

  • Alethea Leventhal[1] – vocals, keyboards, programming (2014–present)

Discography

Full-length albums

  • Myriologues (2017)
  • Latent Powers (2021)
  • Protection Spells (2025)

Remix albums

  • The Remixes (2019)

EPs

  • Ships in the Night (2014)
  • Wire & Light (2016), split EP
  • For a Sick World (2021)
  • Asleep in Midwinter (2023)

Works cited

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