The Safety of Life at Sea formed in 2009 as a song writing partnership between Kris Schubert and Stephen Helman, along with bass player Lian Wong and drummer Tony Bibby. The songs cover a wide variety of styles from aggressive guitar-based rock to mournful piano led ballads, but always have a focus on melody and lyrical content. The band has played regular gigs in Sydney and surrounding areas, while working on numerous recording projects as producers and session musicians. Their debut self titled-album was begun in late 2011 at a turning point for the band, as Stephen Helman prepared to live overseas. The album was worked on both in Sydney and a small village the south of France, with the finishing touches added on his return a year later.