Swim Deep

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Swim Deep
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Swim Deep in 2015. Left to right: James Balmont, Zachary Robinson, Austin Williams, Tom Higgins, Cavan McCarthy
Background information
Origin Birmingham, England
Genres
Years active 2011 (2011)–present
Labels
  • Chess Club/RCA
Associated acts
Website www.swim-deep.co.uk
Members
  • Austin Williams
  • Tom Higgins
  • Zachary Robinson
  • Cavan McCarthy
  • James Balmont
Past members Wolfgang J. Harte

Swim Deep is a British indie rock band formed in Birmingham, England. The band currently consists of Austin Williams (vocals), Tom Higgins (guitar), Zachary Robinson (drums), Cavan McCarthy (bass), and James Balmont (keyboards).[1][2]

Swim Deep was formed in 2011 by Williams, Higgins, and Wolfgang J. Harte. Harte left the band in late 2012 and was replaced by Cavan McCarthy. James Balmont joined the band as a live member in 2013 and became a full member the next year. They have been identified as part of the emerging Digbeth-based B-Town scene.[3]

In late 2012, in Brussels, the band began to record what would later become their debut album, Where the Heaven Are We.[4] Where the Heaven Are We was released on 5 August 2013. The band released their sophomore album, Mothers, on 2 October 2015.

History

2010-2012: Formation and record deal

Swim Deep was formed in 2010 by Austin Williams, Tom Higgins, and Wolfgang J. Harte. The band went through multiple drummers until they eventually recruited Zachary Robinson, who, at the time, was playing in a band called Cajole Cajole. On the subject, Austin said, “We thought it was a long shot but we’d just lost another drummer so we asked Zach if he wanted to join our band, that was one of the best things that happened, to be honest.”[5] After a few months, Harte announced that he was leaving the band. The band played as a three piece until they recruited Cavan McCarthy, a merchandise seller from a fellow Birmingham band, Peace.[6] The band put released two demos, "Isla Vista" and "Santa Maria", on Soundcloud in 2011.[7]

In 2012, Swim Deep signed with Chess Club and released their debut single, "King City", in May 2012. After a UK tour with Spector in November and December 2012, the band went to Brussels to record their debut album with producer Charlie Hugall. They released their second single, "Honey", in November. NME's review of "Honey" said that "the best bits of the Birmingham mob’s latest cut have the pull of a star-spangled whirlpool that’ll suck you back into the late ’80s."[8]

2013: Where the Heaven Are We

File:Swim Deep, Birmingham, 2013.png
Swim Deep performing in Birmingham, 2013

The band accompanied Two Door Cinema Club during their early 2013 UK tour.[9] On 3 February 2013, a video was released for their next single, "The Sea".[10] The single was released the month after on 7" vinyl and download, backed with a cover of "Down by the Seaside". On 10 May 2013, they released their fourth single, "She Changes the Weather", along with an EP of the same name.[11]

On 29 July 2013, Swim Deep's debut album, Where the Heaven Are We, was released.[12] Where The Heaven Are We received mainly positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 72.[13] NME and The Guardian both rated the album three out of five stars. The Guardian's Michael Hann commented that "Where the Heaven Are We is a pleasant wander through the byways of early-90s indie styles that doesn't ever really assert itself terribly strongly".[14] NME's Barry Nicolson said, "the dreamy, detached sneer of the vocals, the lolloping XXL basslines, all that unwashed hair… Some scenes come roaring out of the traps; B-Town seemed to roll out of bed, insular and uncontrived, smirking at its own in-jokes".[15]

2014-present: Mothers

Following tours throughout 2013 to support their debut album, the band began recording their second album in London in September 2014. In December, they returned to Brussels to continue their progress. They finished recording in January 2015. They released "To My Brother", the first single from the second record, in February. "To My Brother" was noted by critics for its marked change in direction, with many picking up on the unexpected influence of acid house music.[16][17] Speaking to DIY Magazine, Austin addressed the band's dramatic new direction: “I feel like we’re all shaving our heads and going to war with this record.”[18] The second single from the album, "One Great Song and I Could Change the World", was released in April 2015.

In June 2015, the band announced Mothers, their sophomore album, would be released 19 September.[19] The album release was later delayed until 2 October.[20] Mothers, heavily influenced by acid house and techno, received positive reviews from critics, with a Metacritic score of 79.[20][21] NME's Rhian Daly described "Namaste" as "a great big bolt of pop that’s impossible to ignore".[22] DIY Magazine's Stephen Ackroyd said that "Fueiho Boogie" "explodes time and time again into increasingly more ridiculous krautrock techno extravaganzas."[23] In December 2015, Swim Deep toured North America with The 1975.[24]

Musical style

The band's musical style has been described as "melodic, guitar-based rock that belies the influence of '80s dream pop and '90s shoegaze."[25] The band's debut album featured an indie pop sound, with influences from bands such as Ride and the Stone Roses, as well as from baggy, trip hop and new wave genres.[26][27] Nevertheless, the band transitioned to a psychedelic pop sound on their second album, Mothers, informed by acid house, Balearic beat, gospel music and Motorik rhythms.[25][28]

Members

Current

  • Austin Williams - vocals, guitar, sitar, keyboards, synthesizer, organ, piano, xylophone, percussion (2010–present)
  • Tom Higgins - guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, backing vocals (2010–present)
  • Zachary Robinson - drums, percussion, keyboard, synthesizer, backing vocals (2011–present)
  • Cavan McCarthy - bass guitar, keyboard, synthesizer, backing vocals (2012–present)
  • James Balmont - keyboards, synthesizer, keytar, piano, percussion, backing vocals (touring member 2013-2014, full member 2014–present)

Former

  • James "Wolfgang" Harte - bass guitar, backing vocals (2010-2012)

Discography

Albums

Year Title UK Albums Chart[29]
2013 Where the Heaven Are We
  • Released: 5 August 2013
  • Format: CD, LP, and Digital Download
 20
2015 Mothers
  • Released: 2 October 2015
  • Format: CD, LP, and Digital Download
 55

EPs

Year Title
2013 She Changes the Weather
  • Released: 10 May 2013
  • Format: CD, Digital Download
Sun On My Back
  • Released: 15 May 2013
  • Format: CD
  • Released in Japan Only

Singles

Year Title
2012 "King City"
  • Format: 7"
  • Released: 14 May 2012
"Honey"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 2 November 2012
2013 "The Sea"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 1 March 2013
"She Changes the Weather"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 5 May 2013
"King City" (re-release)
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 22 July 2013
2015 "To My Brother"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 9 February 2015
"One Great Song and I Could Change The World"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 30 April 2015
"Grand Affection"
  • Format: Digital Download
  • Released: 19 June 2015
"Namaste"
  • Format: 7", Digital Download
  • Released: 12 August 2015

References

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External links

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  13. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/music/where-the-heaven-are-we/swim-deep
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  21. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/music/mothers/swim-deep
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