01Profile
A Swim Deep Photo
Swim Deep
Musician — Birmingham
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Austin Williams, born in Worcester, then lived in Birmingham. River boy @ heart I guess.
James Balmont, we're both from the band Swim Deep.
Describe your style in three words?
Seth from The O.C.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A: Nile Rodgers + Chic at Glastonbury. Literally everybody I knew went to see Arctic Monkeys croon on the pyramid stage, so me and my manager took a couple of massive pills and went to see Chic, it was genuinely the most joy I’ve ever seen en-masse. It was so beautiful, every single person dancing. Also the amount of inspiration I gained from this guy who had written an invincible army of hits.
J: In recent memory, it was Spiritualized at Hammersmith Apollo about a year ago. I've seen them a few times before but this time they were performing with full string and brass sections, and with a gospel choir. It was all seated and because of the way we'd bought tickets I ended up being sat by myself, right at the front. It was incredible, having this full, holy, musical force on stage right in front of me - and it was so loud. They ended on the gospel classic 'Oh Happy Day' and, having never heard it before, it instantly became my favourite song in the world after that experience.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
A: The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson. I think how I chose these was who would I be able to meet that I could show my songs to, and write with them or just talk. And tell them how special I reckon I could be? Sounds Uber cocky but I would wanna choose someone I utterly aspire to reach the heights of as a respected songwriter and storyteller. That’s all if they let me in the dressing room anyway. I’d proper nause it.
Carole King and Mark Ronson for all the same reasons. Such a hard one though, I could’ve picked loads.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
A: Throughout my whole life I think the UKG scene has had a strong current. I was born too late to experience the Aya Napa golden days, which then shifted in such a groundbreaking way to what we now know as grime. As much as I love the punk ethos of grime, I think I relate to that ‘f*ck everything and dance’ ethos of UKG. It’s just f*cking timeless and has always just been bubbling away, it’s made a resurgence recently and it’s such a massive influence for so many massive pop songs even today.
Also hearing Cav rap every single word to '21 seconds' was the definitive moment I properly fell in love with him.
J: When I was a teenager I was fully caught up in the fandom surrounding The Horrors and I think that's been the most I've ever been a part of a subculture. It was just raw, exciting music - they'd play for 15 or 20 minutes all dressed in black with all their back-combed hair and pointy shoes and drainpipe jeans and that would be it. The energy in the room would linger afterwards for such a long time. It was very addictive. And so I'd just hang around with all these people with bowl cuts and eye makeup and vintage shirts and blazers, and that was me for a bit.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Brian Wilson. The moment he wrote 'God Only Knows'. Actually making my hairs stand on end thinking about it. I know what it’s like to write something you think is amazing, that feeling is unrivalled. But I’ve never written a 'God Only Knows', God only knows what that feels like. Being in NWA when Ice Cube recorded the bars for 'F*ck Tha Police' would’ve been pretty wild also.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
A: Probably Manchester, The Ritz. The energy is unreal, and we had one of those gigs there where I had a real moment, as we walked on stage, it’s a hard feeling to describe, it’s unreal but so real at the same time, creating this mental state of mind.
J: The most memorable venues are always the ones that have something a bit different. In Bristol, Thekla is on a boat. Melt Festival in Berlin is on a former coal mine amongst all these massive industrial constructs like cranes and tanks. Best Kept Secret in Holland is in a safari park. One of my all-time favs was in Sheffield, at Queen's Social Club though. It was a working men's club and it felt like we were in Phoenix Nights or something.
Swim Deep will release their eagerly awaited third album 'Emerald Classics' on 4th October 2019. pre-order it at swimdeep.lnk.to/ECYo.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
A: 'Three Times A Lady' by Lionel Richie. One of my all-time faves. My mum used to rinse it on the car stereo so I guess that’s how I got into it. When I listen to it I get that same feeling I had in the car, safe, comfortable, driving back from somewhere fun that she’d woke us up in the morning and said we can skive school for the day for. The smell of cigarette smoke in cars is much different than anywhere else.
A song that defines the teenage you?
A: 'Let Me Entertain You' by Robbie Williams. I wasn’t happy unless someone was getting a laugh out of me or I was entertaining people, even if that meant winding teachers up and having a bit of a mare at school.
J: We've been talking about music videos recently and I used to love the Chris Cunningham video for Placebo's '36 Degrees', where loads of it is shot underwater. That debut album by them was one of my favs as a teen, it's very Sonic Youth. There's a song on it called 'Teenage Angst' which seems fitting.
One record you would keep forever?
A: I mean it should be 'Pet Sounds' but I’d have to choose Lionel Richie and The Commodores Greatest Hits, it will always keep me safe and comfortable, and remind me of the important things in life, family and being happy.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
A: "Everybody's gone surfing, surfin' USA."
I’ve forever been obsessed with America, the American dream, the yellow school buses, I wanted that life, I wanted to swap everything I had for that life, how daft is that? The grass is most certainly always greener for me, annoys me that I think like that but also it’s given me so much confidence and courage to do whatever I loved and make it work. I was obsessed with leaving river town and then Birmingham to go to the sea, everyone is happy on the beach.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
J: Think I can speak for everyone when I say 'Hypnotic Tango' by My Mine.
A song you wished you had written?
A: Randy Newman's 'You’ve Got A Friend In Me'. It sounds like the American dream, when them kids from 'Stand By Me' walk up the tracks into vast cowboy land. I tried to learn it on piano recently and my respect went through the roof, it's barmy. He sounds like my childhood because of toy story too, so I love it.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: We do a lot of DJing and at the end of the night things always get very loud. You can't go wrong with 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA, 'Raspberry Beret' by Prince or 'Just Like Heaven' by The Cure - in the red.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
A: I love drum and bass, I’m sorry but I love it. Used to sit in fields when we were 14 drinking Lambrini listening to Pendulum. I’m not sure I’d say I love it now but now I’ve listened to the pioneers so I’d say 'Inner City Life' by Goldie. Huge.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
A: Honestly ending all-nighters shouldn’t be soundtracked in my opinion. One way to ruin a song is to listen to it at the bitter end of an all-nighter, or listening to something in heartbreak. I don’t listen to music when I’m sad, makes me worse.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
A: 'Harvard' by Laundry Day. Incredible and very young bunch of proper fun kids from the states. There’s a mini doco they filmed on YouTube and it’s so inspiring to just watch. Even with so much distraction in the way of phones, people are still just solidly getting together and making good music.
'Door' by Caroline Polocheck. Harriet from Hatchie introduced me to this tune and I haven’t stopped listening since, it’s SOOOO gorgeous.
'Secret' by Hatchie - Shout out Hatchie all day long. Such a good feeling listening to her music, you can’t beat that.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Austin Williams, born in Worcester, then lived in Birmingham. River boy @ heart I guess.
James Balmont, we're both from the band Swim Deep.
Describe your style in three words?
Seth from The O.C.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
A: Nile Rodgers + Chic at Glastonbury. Literally everybody I knew went to see Arctic Monkeys croon on the pyramid stage, so me and my manager took a couple of massive pills and went to see Chic, it was genuinely the most joy I’ve ever seen en-masse. It was so beautiful, every single person dancing. Also the amount of inspiration I gained from this guy who had written an invincible army of hits.
J: In recent memory, it was Spiritualized at Hammersmith Apollo about a year ago. I've seen them a few times before but this time they were performing with full string and brass sections, and with a gospel choir. It was all seated and because of the way we'd bought tickets I ended up being sat by myself, right at the front. It was incredible, having this full, holy, musical force on stage right in front of me - and it was so loud. They ended on the gospel classic 'Oh Happy Day' and, having never heard it before, it instantly became my favourite song in the world after that experience.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
A: The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson. I think how I chose these was who would I be able to meet that I could show my songs to, and write with them or just talk. And tell them how special I reckon I could be? Sounds Uber cocky but I would wanna choose someone I utterly aspire to reach the heights of as a respected songwriter and storyteller. That’s all if they let me in the dressing room anyway. I’d proper nause it.
Carole King and Mark Ronson for all the same reasons. Such a hard one though, I could’ve picked loads.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
A: Throughout my whole life I think the UKG scene has had a strong current. I was born too late to experience the Aya Napa golden days, which then shifted in such a groundbreaking way to what we now know as grime. As much as I love the punk ethos of grime, I think I relate to that ‘f*ck everything and dance’ ethos of UKG. It’s just f*cking timeless and has always just been bubbling away, it’s made a resurgence recently and it’s such a massive influence for so many massive pop songs even today.
Also hearing Cav rap every single word to '21 seconds' was the definitive moment I properly fell in love with him.
J: When I was a teenager I was fully caught up in the fandom surrounding The Horrors and I think that's been the most I've ever been a part of a subculture. It was just raw, exciting music - they'd play for 15 or 20 minutes all dressed in black with all their back-combed hair and pointy shoes and drainpipe jeans and that would be it. The energy in the room would linger afterwards for such a long time. It was very addictive. And so I'd just hang around with all these people with bowl cuts and eye makeup and vintage shirts and blazers, and that was me for a bit.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Brian Wilson. The moment he wrote 'God Only Knows'. Actually making my hairs stand on end thinking about it. I know what it’s like to write something you think is amazing, that feeling is unrivalled. But I’ve never written a 'God Only Knows', God only knows what that feels like. Being in NWA when Ice Cube recorded the bars for 'F*ck Tha Police' would’ve been pretty wild also.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
A: Probably Manchester, The Ritz. The energy is unreal, and we had one of those gigs there where I had a real moment, as we walked on stage, it’s a hard feeling to describe, it’s unreal but so real at the same time, creating this mental state of mind.
J: The most memorable venues are always the ones that have something a bit different. In Bristol, Thekla is on a boat. Melt Festival in Berlin is on a former coal mine amongst all these massive industrial constructs like cranes and tanks. Best Kept Secret in Holland is in a safari park. One of my all-time favs was in Sheffield, at Queen's Social Club though. It was a working men's club and it felt like we were in Phoenix Nights or something.
Swim Deep will release their eagerly awaited third album 'Emerald Classics' on 4th October 2019. pre-order it at swimdeep.lnk.to/ECYo.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
A: 'Three Times A Lady' by Lionel Richie. One of my all-time faves. My mum used to rinse it on the car stereo so I guess that’s how I got into it. When I listen to it I get that same feeling I had in the car, safe, comfortable, driving back from somewhere fun that she’d woke us up in the morning and said we can skive school for the day for. The smell of cigarette smoke in cars is much different than anywhere else.
A song that defines the teenage you?
A: 'Let Me Entertain You' by Robbie Williams. I wasn’t happy unless someone was getting a laugh out of me or I was entertaining people, even if that meant winding teachers up and having a bit of a mare at school.
J: We've been talking about music videos recently and I used to love the Chris Cunningham video for Placebo's '36 Degrees', where loads of it is shot underwater. That debut album by them was one of my favs as a teen, it's very Sonic Youth. There's a song on it called 'Teenage Angst' which seems fitting.
One record you would keep forever?
A: I mean it should be 'Pet Sounds' but I’d have to choose Lionel Richie and The Commodores Greatest Hits, it will always keep me safe and comfortable, and remind me of the important things in life, family and being happy.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
A: "Everybody's gone surfing, surfin' USA."
I’ve forever been obsessed with America, the American dream, the yellow school buses, I wanted that life, I wanted to swap everything I had for that life, how daft is that? The grass is most certainly always greener for me, annoys me that I think like that but also it’s given me so much confidence and courage to do whatever I loved and make it work. I was obsessed with leaving river town and then Birmingham to go to the sea, everyone is happy on the beach.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
J: Think I can speak for everyone when I say 'Hypnotic Tango' by My Mine.
A song you wished you had written?
A: Randy Newman's 'You’ve Got A Friend In Me'. It sounds like the American dream, when them kids from 'Stand By Me' walk up the tracks into vast cowboy land. I tried to learn it on piano recently and my respect went through the roof, it's barmy. He sounds like my childhood because of toy story too, so I love it.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: We do a lot of DJing and at the end of the night things always get very loud. You can't go wrong with 'Dancing Queen' by ABBA, 'Raspberry Beret' by Prince or 'Just Like Heaven' by The Cure - in the red.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
A: I love drum and bass, I’m sorry but I love it. Used to sit in fields when we were 14 drinking Lambrini listening to Pendulum. I’m not sure I’d say I love it now but now I’ve listened to the pioneers so I’d say 'Inner City Life' by Goldie. Huge.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
A: Honestly ending all-nighters shouldn’t be soundtracked in my opinion. One way to ruin a song is to listen to it at the bitter end of an all-nighter, or listening to something in heartbreak. I don’t listen to music when I’m sad, makes me worse.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
A: 'Harvard' by Laundry Day. Incredible and very young bunch of proper fun kids from the states. There’s a mini doco they filmed on YouTube and it’s so inspiring to just watch. Even with so much distraction in the way of phones, people are still just solidly getting together and making good music.
'Door' by Caroline Polocheck. Harriet from Hatchie introduced me to this tune and I haven’t stopped listening since, it’s SOOOO gorgeous.
'Secret' by Hatchie - Shout out Hatchie all day long. Such a good feeling listening to her music, you can’t beat that.
Swim Deep | To Feel Good (2019)
Swim Deep | One Great Song And I Could Change The World (2015)
Swim Deep | King City (2013)
Swim Deep | Honey (2012)