Swim School

Last updated

Swim School
Swim School in 2024.png
Swim School on stage in London, 2024
Background information
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active2019–present
Labels LAB Records [1]
Members
  • Alice Johnson
  • Lewis Bunting
  • Billy McMahon
Past members
  • Matt Mitchell
  • Nairn Milne

Swim School (stylised in lowercase) are a Scottish three-piece indie rock band. Formed in Edinburgh in late 2018, the band initially comprised Alice Johnson and Lewis Bunting, before Bunting's schoolmate Matt Mitchell and their friend Nairn Milne joined the band. Mitchell and Milne later left the band, with Billy McMahon joining in June 2020. They have released the EPs Volume 1, Making Sense of It All, as well as Duality, and released their debut mixtape in April 2024, Seeing It Now.

Contents

History

2018-2020: Formation and early performances

Swim School were formed in late 2018; [2] Alice Johnson and Lewis Bunting met through their shared music course in college, [3] on which Johnson was the only woman studying guitar during her first year. [4] Johnson told Bodega Social Club in May 2020 that she and Bunting had been a member of "a few" bands as part of their course, and that these bands had played cover versions. [5] Bunting later introduced Johnson to Matt Mitchell, who knew him from school; [3] Bunting and Mitchell had previously been in bands, [6] including one together. Nairn Milne later joined the band, who knew Bunting and Mitchell through a friend. [5] The band's debut single, "Sway", was released in February 2019, [7] with a second single, "Take You There", released the following June. [8]

"When I was on that stage that night, without any real experience performing in a band, I was probably the most nervous and most insecure I had ever been. I had never sung in front of anyone before. And just to add to my nerves and the pressure, there was this incredibly sexist guy right at the front saying these horrible, horrible things and shouting throughout. I was young; I had no idea how to deal with it. I didn't know what to do – do I kick him out or what? In the end I just stayed quiet. I played the whole set but at some points I was holding back the tears. I was proud of myself for that."

Johnson in 2020 [4]

Their debut performance was in Galashiels, [4] took place in March 2019, and was a support slot for Indigo Velvet, another Edinburgh-based band. [2] Johnson told the Alloa Advertiser in October 2020 that their set had been marred by a "40-something stranger" heckling sexist abuse at Johnson before and during the performance, prompting her to struggle to hold back tears while performing and to break down after leaving. [4] Swim School spent around a year gigging; the COVID-19 pandemic caused the band to concentrate on writing. They met up again after the first lockdown, and invited Indigo Velvet's guitarist Billy McMahon along; after a period of him assisting with live streams, he was invited to join the band properly in June 2020. [3]

2021: Volume 1 and Making Sense of It All

The band released an EP, Volume 1, in 2021, [9] and then the single "Let Me Inside Your Head" that March. [10] They then released the single "Outside" in May 2021, [11] the first song they recorded without Milne, [12] and which was written about cutting toxic people out of their lives. [11] [13] The following month, they released "Anyway" and announced their second EP, Making Sense of It All, which comprised tracks about Johnson's mental state over lockdown, [14] and was released in August 2021. [15] [13] After releasing Making Sense of It All, Swim School spent a period gigging. [16]

2022-present: Duality and subsequent singles

Swim School became a three-piece in November 2022. [17] That month, they released the single "Kill You", [18] which Johnson had written the previous February [16] about being comfortable enough in a relationship to show quirks. [18] In February 2023, they announced their second EP Duality, which had been recorded at Narcissus Studios in London and produced by Iain Berryman, and took its title from the fact that it comprised love songs and angry songs; [16] they also released "Delirious", which Johnson had written in a fit of rage after suffering from constant misogyny from sound engineers during festival season. [19] A further single, "Don't Leave Me Behind", was released in April 2023, [20] with Duality released in June 2023. [21]

Swim School on stage in Brighton, 2023 Swim school.png
Swim School on stage in Brighton, 2023

Two weeks after Duality was released, the band re-released that album's track "Bored", a more positive derivative of "Delirious"; explaining their unusual release strategy to Metal, the band attributed the practice to wanting to surprise their fans. [22] In November 2023, Swim School and Nieve Ella supported Inhaler on their Cuts & Bruises tour. [23] A further Swim School single, "Give Me A Reason Why", was released in January 2024, [24] and later that month the band announced their "Seeing It Now" tour in April and May 2024, [25] followed by the release of their debut mixtape, Seeing It Now, featuring a cover of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind" and a new version of their earlier track "See Red", [26] with physical copies also sporting a cover of their earlier track "Anyway". [27]

Artistry

Swim School performing at the 2022 Great Escape Festival Swim School (52074599463).jpg
Swim School performing at the 2022 Great Escape Festival

The band used a May 2020 interview with Bodega Social Club in Nottingham to cite Jaws, Wolf Alice, Pale Waves, and Palace as influences, [5] a May 2021 Clout interview question of their "biggest influences" to mention Foals, Wolf Alice, The Cure, Slowdive, Ben Howard, Boards of Canada, and Paolo Nutini, [6] and a January 2024 interview with The Skinny to cite My Bloody Valentine, the Smashing Pumpkins and Slowdive. Johnson used the last of these to state that she had idolised Taylor Swift and Beyoncé growing up, and described the pair as "two very strong and powerful women who never let men hold them back or tell them what to do". [28] In May 2021, [29] the band performed a cover version of Swift's "Love Story" for a BBC live session after deciding to incorporate a cover into the set and rummaging through some Spotify playlists, with Johnson having been inspired by a grungy take on Bon Iver she had seen on Triple J; the following month, Andy Von Pip of Under the Radar noted that their rendition "turned a sweet, romantic optimistic pop song into a heavy dystopian doom rocker". [3]

Johnson additionally noted in a 2021 interview with Dork that Wolf Alice's lead singer Ellie Rowsell was her inspiration for being in a band, with Swim School using the interview to describe themselves as a "Tesco Value" version of that band, [30] and Bunting used an August 2021 interview with Guitar.com to note that he was a big Metallica fan growing up and wanted to be the band's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. [31] Writing in July 2021, NME described the band's works as indie pop, while Mala Mortensa of Alternative Press described "Let Me Inside Your Head"'s vibe as "expect[able] from a Halsey-fronted version of Nirvana" [10] and Skiddle described Johnson's vocals in January 2024 as having a "Hayley Williams-esque delivery". [32]

Awards and accolades

Lists

PublisherListicleYear [lower-alpha 1] ResultRef.
Dork"Hype List 2024"2023Included [33]

Discography

Mixtapes

TitleDetails
Seeing It Now

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
TitleDetails
Volume 1
  • Released: 8 January 2021 [35]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Making Sense Of It All
  • Released: 4 March 2022 [35]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Duality
  • Released: 1 June 2023 [35]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: LAB Records

Singles

TitleYearAlbumVideo director(s)Ref.
"Sway"2019Volume 1— [8]
"Take You There"— [8]
"Let Me Inside Your Head"2021Making Sense Of It All— [10]
"Outside"— [11]
"Anyway"— [14]
"Kill You"2022Duality— [35]
"Delirious"2023— [35]
"Don't Leave Me Behind"— [35]
"Bored"Non-album single Rory Barnes [35] [36]
"Give Me A Reason Why"2024Seeing It Now— [35]
"To Grow"Liam Beazley [35] [37]

Tours

Headlining

Supporting

Notes

  1. ↑ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Glass</span> Canadian singer and songwriter

Margaret Osborn, known professionally as Alice Glass, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She is the co-founder and former frontwoman of the electronic band Crystal Castles. In 2014, she embarked on a solo career. She released her eponymous debut EP in 2017. Her solo debut album, Prey//IV, was released in February 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fit for an Autopsy</span> American deathcore band

Fit for an Autopsy is an American deathcore band from Jersey City, New Jersey, formed in 2008. The band consists of guitarists Pat Sheridan, Will Putney and Tim Howley, drummer Josean Orta, vocalist Joe Badolato, and bassist Peter "Blue" Spinazola. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast and have released seven studio albums since formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Spook School</span> British four-piece indie pop band

The Spook School were a British four-piece indie pop band from Edinburgh, Scotland. The name is a reference to the Glasgow School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundara Karma</span> British rock band

Sundara Karma are an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, Berkshire. The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans. The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dizzy (band)</span> Canadian indie pop band

Dizzy is a Canadian indie pop band from Oshawa, Ontario, whose debut album Baby Teeth won the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2019.

Sea Girls are a British indie rock band formed in 2015, comprising four members: Henry Camamile, Rory Young, Andrew Dawson (bass), and Oli Khan (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inhaler (band)</span> Irish rock band

Inhaler are an Irish rock band originating from Dublin. Formed in 2012, the band consist of vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson, bassist Robert Keating, guitarist Josh Jenkinson and drummer Ryan McMahon. Their debut album, It Won't Always Be Like This, was released on 9 July 2021. It entered the Irish & UK Albums Charts at number one, while also entering the top 10 and top 20 album charts in other European countries such as the Netherlands and Germany. The band's second studio album, Cuts & Bruises, was released on 17 February 2023, and their third album, Open Wide, will be released in February 2025.

<i>Swim Against the Tide</i> 2016 EP by The Japanese House

Swim Against the Tide is the third extended play by the English indie pop act The Japanese House, released on 11 November 2016 through Dirty Hit. The EP's first two songs — "Swim Against the Tide" and "Face Like Thunder" — were released as singles before the EP's release. The EP peaked at number 12 on Billboard's Heatseekers album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Humberstone</span> British musician (born 1999)

Holly Ffion Humberstone is an English singer-songwriter from Grantham, England. In 2021, she signed a recording contract with Interscope and Polydor Records. Her first extended play (EP) following the signings, The Walls Are Way Too Thin, was released in November 2021. Afterwards, she won the Brit Award for Rising Star at the 2022 Brit Awards. She released her debut studio album, Paint My Bedroom Black, in October 2023. Her work Haunted House was nominated for the Best Song Musically and Lyrically Ivor Novello Award.

Bryan M. Ferguson is a Scottish filmmaker and music video director, best known for his music videos for artists such as Garbage, Alice Glass, Ladytron, Arab Strap and Boy Harsher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Static Dress</span> English rock band

Static Dress are an English rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire. The band formed in 2018 and currently consists of vocalist Olli Appleyard, drummer Sam Ogden, bassist George Holding, and anonymous masked guitarist Contrast. They have released one full length studio album, three EPs and various standalone singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Swims</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1992)

Jaten Collin Dimsdale, also known pseudonymously as Teddy Swims, is an American singer-songwriter whose music blends genres including R&B, soul, country, and pop. He originally attracted fans through song covers on his YouTube channel throughout 2019 and 2020. His third extended play Tough Love (2022) caused him to chart on the Billboard 200 for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glaive (musician)</span> American musician (born 2005)

Ash Blue Gutierrez, known professionally as Glaive, is an American singer-songwriter. After posting a string of hyperpop songs to SoundCloud during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that earned him a following, he signed a record deal with Interscope Records and released his debut extended play, Cypress Grove, in 2020. His debut album, I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All, was released in 2023. His second album, May It Never Falter, was released in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan (musician)</span> English singer-songwriter

Natasha Katherine Woods, known professionally as Dylan, is an English musician, singer and songwriter. She signed to Island Records in 2022 and released her debut mixtape The Greatest Thing I'll Never Learn in October 2022, which peaked at No. 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matilda Mann</span> British musician

Matilda Mann is a British indie folk musician from West London. She has released three EPs: If That Makes Sense (2019), Because I Wanted You to Know (2020), and You Look Like You Can't Swim (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Pony</span> Scottish pop punk band

Dead Pony, formerly known as Crystal, is a rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band started as a duo comprising vocalist Anna Shields and guitarist Blair Crichton after Shields wanted a guitarist to make music with. After the duo formed Crystal with three of their university classmates, the band supported Paolo Nutini at a BBC Scotland's Hogmanay concert, appeared on Tony Visconti''s Unsigned Heroes, and released the Sex Rich EP. Shields and Crichton then formed a quartet with bassist Lizzie Reid and drummer Aidan McAllister and released numerous singles, before Liam Adams replaced Reid and the band changed their name to Dead Pony. After Euan Lyons replaced McAllister, the band released the EP War Boys, which was inspired by the 2015 movie Mad Max: Fury Road, and performed at numerous festivals. Their 2024 album, Ignore This, charted at No. 8 on the Scottish Album Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamish Hawk</span> Scottish musician (born 1991)

Hamish James Hawk is a Scottish musician. Hawk began his career in 2012 while he was a student at the University of St Andrews, and released his debut solo record, Aznavour (2014), under the mentorship of Scottish musician King Creosote, who produced the album. A year later he formed a band to back him up during live performances, and played with them under the name Hamish Hawk & the New Outfit. They released their first record From Zero to One in 2018, and an EP Laziest River in 2019. Laziest River was produced by Idlewild's Rod Jones, whom they had met in 2016. In 2021, now performing with the band as Hamish Hawk, he released his first album, Heavy Elevator, followed by Angel Numbers (2023), both produced by Jones and shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023, respectively. His third album, A Firmer Hand, was released on 16 August 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nieve Ella</span> English singer (born 2003)

Nieve Ella Pickering is an English singer. Her 2023 release, Young & Naive/Lifetime of Wanting, charted at No. 38 on the UK Independent Album Chart. She has also supported Dylan, Inhaler, Courteeners, and Girl in Red, and is a member of Loud LDN.

Stone, stylised uppercase as STONE, are an English alternative rock band, formed in Liverpool out of The Bohos and consisting of members Fin Power, Elliott Gill, Sarah Surrage, and Alex Smith. After two EPs and a number of singles, the band released their debut album Fear Life for a Lifetime in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizzie Esau</span> Musical artist

Elizabeth Jane Esau is an English musician. Born in London, she grew up in Ryton in Tyne and Wear and later settled in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for university. She began gigging in 2020, later supporting Baby Queen, Beabadoobee, The Amazons, Upsahl, and Swim School, and began releasing music that year as well, usually in the indie rock or alternative rock genres. Her releases include "Bitter Weather", which went viral on TikTok, the EPs Perspectives, Deepest Blue, Spilling Out The Truth, and a cover version of the Yardbirds's version of "I'm a Man" recorded for the soundtrack of My Lady Jane. She is the subject of an article in The Courier that was shortlisted for Best Arts and Culture Piece at the 2023 Student Publication Association National Awards and the daughter of Tim Esau, a member of the band IQ.

References

  1. ↑ Farr, Jacob (10 July 2022). "Edinburgh music map launched to showcase the best venues and hotspots in the capital". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Under the Radar: swim school". The Scotsman. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Von Pip, Andy (25 June 2021). "Swim School on Expanding Their Sound During Lockdown and Their Upcoming Debut EP". Under The Radar . Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Swim School's Alice Johnson will continue to battle sexism in the music industry". Alloa Advertiser . 9 October 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Keirl, Sam (15 May 2020). "Interview: swim school". The Bodega. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Who TF are swim school?". Clout. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Edinburgh-native Swim School debut the joyous single 'Sway'". The Student. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Swim School". Sneaky Pete's. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Swim School play 'Independent Venue Week' gig at unusual location". Brighton and Hove News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Mortensa, Mala (29 March 2021). "10 emerging Scottish bands who are innovating alternative music". Alternative Press . Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "Edinburgh's swim school release heavyweight angst-anthem "Outside"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Band Of The Week // SWIM SCHOOL". GIG GOER. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  13. 1 2 Sefton, Max (16 December 2021). "Swim School @ The Mash House: live review - The Skinny". The Skinny. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  14. 1 2 "swim school thrash out their vulnerable side on "Anyway" | Best Fit". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ↑ "Swim School establish themselves as bold, brash, and bright on Making Sense Of It All". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 Taylor, Sam (1 February 2023). "Swim School GET ANGRY TO KICK AGAINST THE SEXIST PRICKS WITH THEIR NEW RIGHTEOUS RAGER 'DELIRIOUS': "I'D HAD ENOUGH"". Dork . Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  17. ↑ Corrine, Brianna (28 November 2023). "A Conversation with Swim School: "At the end of the day, you're inspired by people."". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. 1 2 Holden, Finlay (16 November 2022). "Edinburgh indie-rock trio swim school have returned with their vulnerable new single, 'kill you'". Dork. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ↑ Forstneger, Steve (1 February 2023). "Swim School's "Delirious" teaches how to bat lashes and give the finger". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ↑ Taylor, Sam (5 April 2023). "swim school have released a new single, and confirmed a London headline show". Dork. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Swim School - Duality EP". Dork. June 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Swim School | English | Metal Magazine". metalmagazine.eu. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  23. ↑ tessbowen (20 November 2023). "Live Review: Inhaler rock Barras". Brig Newspaper. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  24. ↑ Murray, Robin (10 January 2024). "swim school's 'Give Me A Reason Why' Is An Illuminating Return | News". Clash . Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  25. 1 2 "Swim School HAVE ANNOUNCED A HEADLINE UK TOUR". Dork . 22 January 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  26. ↑ Reeve, Adam (17 April 2024). "swim school talk all things Seeing It Now / Peeled Back". Dead Good Music. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  27. ↑ "Swim School Have Released a New Mixtape EP, 'Seeing It Now'". Dork . 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  28. ↑ "The Skinny On... Swim School Q&A". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  29. ↑ "BBC Introducing in Scotland, Swim School in Session". BBC Radio Scotland. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  30. ↑ Holden, Finlay (23 August 2021). "Swim School: "BASICALLY, WE'RE TESCO VALUE WOLF ALICE"". Dork .
  31. ↑ "Swim School on their debut EP, their love of Strymon pedals and opening up about mental health". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  32. ↑ "Women Rock! Day 2024: Female fronted bands to watch out for in 2024". Skiddle. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  33. ↑ "INTRODUCING THE BUMPER END-OF-YEAR DOUBLE ISSUE OF DORK, FEATURING OUR ANNUAL NEW MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA, THE HYPE LIST". Dork . 5 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  34. ↑ "Seeing It Now, by swim school". LAB Records. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "swim school Singles and EPs Discography". Spotify .
  36. ↑ "swim school - BORED (Official Video)". YouTube . 1 October 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  37. ↑ "swim school - To Grow (Official Video)". YouTube . 27 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  38. ↑ @livejoy (16 February 2023). "ALL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED for Lovejoy Inselaffe Tour '23!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024– via Twitter.
  39. ↑ "Grandson - Electric Ballroom". Electric Ballroom. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  40. ↑ @InhalerDublin (12 September 2023). "Very happy to announce our supports for our upcoming European and UK tour dates! Remaining tickets here: https://inhaler.band/tour/" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2024– via Twitter.
  41. ↑ @TheAmazons (7 November 2023). "Delighted to welcome Fiona Lee aboard this December, alongside the wonderful @weareswimschool ❤️‍🔥" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2024– via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.