Swim Deep

Swim Deep
Swim Deep performing at Melt! Festival 2013.
Background information
Origin	Birmingham, England
Genres	Indie pop, dream pop, baggy, funk rock, neo-psychedelia
Years active	2011-present
Labels	Chess Club, Sony
Associated acts	Galahads, Austin and Ellie
Website	swim-deep.co.uk
Members	Austin Williams Tom 'Higgy' Higgins Zachary Robinson Cavan McCarthy James Balmont
Past members	Wolfgang J Harte

Swim Deep are an indie pop band from Birmingham, England consisting of Austin Williams (vocals), Tom Higgins (guitar), Zachary Robinson (drums), Cavan McCarthy (bass) and James Balmont (keys and percussion). Swim Deep formed in 2011 by Austin Williams, Tom 'Higgy' 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, becoming a full member the next year. They have often been identified as part of the emerging Digbeth-based B-Town scene.^[1]

The band began to record in Brussels in the last few months of 2012 of what would soon be their debut album.^[2] During their career, they have released eight singles which have received critical acclaim. They released their debut album Where the Heaven Are We on 5 August 2013. Again recording in Brussels, the band released their second album, on 2 October 2015, titled 'Mothers' which marked a shift in style featuring elements of acid house, psychedelia and krautrock.

History

2010-2012: Formation and record deal

Swim Deep formed in 2010 with Austin Williams, Tom 'Higgy' Higgins and Wolfgang J Harte. The band went through multiple drummers until they eventually recruited Austin's best friend Zachary Robinson on drums 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 and he said yeah. That was one of the best things that happened, to be honest.” After a few months, Harte announced that he was leaving the band and the band played as a three piece until they recruited Cavan McCarthy, the merchandise seller from fellow Birmingham band, Peace.^[3] The band put some demos up on Soundcloud, "Isla Vista" and "Santa Maria", in 2011.^[4]

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/December 2012, the band went to Brussels to record their debut album with producer Charlie Hugall. They released their second single, "Honey", in November which got them well critical acclaim and is usually associated with the band. NME magazine 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."^[5]

2013: Where the Heaven Are We

Swim Deep performing in Birmingham, 2013

They have played shows with Splashh, Spector, Citizens! and the Mystery Jets. The band also accompanied Two Door Cinema Club on their February 2013 UK tour, alongside Bastille. In February 2013, a video was released for their next single "The Sea". The single was released the month after on 7" vinyl and download, backed with a cover of "Down by the Seaside". In May 2013 they released their fourth single "She Changes the Weather", along with an EP of the same name.

In early May, Swim Deep put the pre-order links up on their official store. Where the Heaven Are We is due to be released in August, 2013, on 12" vinyl, CD and digital download. Limited edition signed vinyl are also to be released featuring a 7" of two early demos.^[6] A Japan only EP was released in May titled Sun on My Back made up of early demos, B-sides and "King City".^[7] In June, the band released a new video for the re-release of "King City". The single is due for release in July.^[8] In July 2013 it was revealed that the deluxe edition of Where the Heaven Are We would feature a bonus track "Crush".^[9] The album peaked at number 20 in the UK album charts.

2014-present: Mothers

The band begun recording their second album at The Church studios in London in September 2014. In December they returned to ICP Studios in Brussels to continue their progress, finally wrapping up recording in January 2015. They released 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.^[10][11] 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.”^[12] The second single from the album, titled "One Great Song and I Could Change the World", was then released in April 2015.

In June 2015, they announced that the second album, titled Mothers, will be released on 2 October 2015.^[13]

Members

Current

Swim Deep

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

Former

• James "Wolfgang" Harte - bass guitar, backing vocals (2010-2012)
• Johnny Aries - keyboards, percussion(touring member only) (2013)

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

References

External links

Official website

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