Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Swiims
THE RELEASE
SWiiMS emerges as a compelling indie rock group that transcends genre borders and captivates listeners with their distinctive sonic tapestry, hailing from the rich musical scene of Toronto, Canada. In late 2019, singer Mai Diaz Langou and guitarist Colin Thompson launched the group, merging his fuzzy, jangly, and swirling guitar tones with her insightful poems, rich melodies, and languid voice. The band's dynamic was complete with the arrival of bassist Cian O'Ruanaidh, who brought fresh insights, a varied variety of inspirations, and irresistibly hooky bass lines to their musical arsenal. SWiiMS is distinguished by its genre-defying style, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical giants.
The first single from the highly anticipated full-length LP "Into The Blue Night," "All I Die For," is a compelling musical trip that seamlessly weaves together the ethereal sounds of Dream Pop, the raw emotion of Indie Rock, the atmospheric depths of Shoegaze, and the nostalgic echoes of New Wave. This song is a riveting showcase for its languid and brooding vocal melody, which resonates with profound depth and beauty, similar to the exciting rush of early-stage love. With its opulent reverb-soaked vocals, the single expertly melds a traditional rock sensibility with a contemporary twist, capturing the spirit of the album's many musical inspirations.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
The Smiths, Radiohead, Beach House, The Cure
Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the music video, and if so, how did they shape the final product?
The making of the video was an organic experience. We wanted to capture parts of life in Toronto, experiences, and places that we see in our daily lives. The beauty of a streetcar ride on a dark and rainy night. The urban parks that lay hidden in between the towers of the city. We wanted the visuals to have some of the intensity of the lyrics and music, but also a bit of nostalgia and playfulness. We like videos that are not necessarily story driven, but stir emotions and are visually interesting.
What was the most rewarding aspect of making the music video, and what message do you hope viewers take away from it?
We take pride in being very DIY. We love that we conceive and execute our own ideas. This video is another example of the team collaborating on ideas and coming up with the end product.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
“All I Die For” is the first single from our first full length LP “Into The Blue Night” due out on November 10th. All of the songs on this record were made during Covid lockdown and we had to create a new way to keep working and moving forward. We would write the outline of the song with all it’s parts and change and send it off to Mai to work on melodies and lyrics, 100% online. It is odd to write completely separately at first, but we’ve become quite good at it.
When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?
I think the important thing for us was to evolve from our first EP. Stylistically, melodically, and lyrically move forward with this record. We wanted the record to still sound like SWiiMS but turn that up a bit. Something new and separate but a bit nostalgic and familiar as well.
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