The band began to record in Brussels in the last few months of 2012 of what would soon be their debut album. During their career, they have released five singles which have received critical acclaim. They released their debut album Where the Heaven Are We on August 5, 2013. It was originally meant to be on 29 July, but it was moved to a later date for unknown reasons.
Their music has been described as "Beach grunge". the band often get mentioned in the same sentence as fellow Birmingham bands Peace and Troumaca who also make slacker beach rock.
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. The band put some demos up on Soundcloud, "Isla Vista" and "Santa Maria", in 2011.
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."
2010-2012: Formation and record deal
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.
2013-2014: Where the Heaven Are We
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. A Japan only EP was released in May titled Sun on My Back made up of early demos, B-sides and "King City". In June, the band released a new video for the re-release of "King City". The single is due for release in July. In July 2013 it was revealed that the deluxe edition of Where the Heaven Are We would feature a bonus track "Crush".
2014-2017: 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. 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." 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. The album release was later delayed until 2 October. Mothers, heavily influenced by acid house and techno, received positive reviews from critics, with a Metacritic score of 79. NME's Rhian Daly described "Namaste" as "a great big bolt of pop that’s impossible to ignore".DIY Magazine's Stephen Ackroyd said that "Fueiho Boogie" "explodes time and time again into increasingly more ridiculous krautrock techno extravaganzas." In December 2015, Swim Deep toured North America with The 1975.
2018-: Untitled third album
Swim Deep confirmed they were recording their third album in July 2018. The band confirmed the departures of long-serving members Zachary Robinson and Tom Higgins in a statement. Captioning a photograph of a new-look Swim Deep on the beach, they said: “We’re off to a studio by the sea to finally finish the album we’ve been dreaming of our whole lives and we’re so ready to share it with you.”
Members:
Austin "Ozzy" Williams - vocals, guitar, keys, percussion (2010–present)
Cavan "Cav" McCarthy - bass guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
James Balmont - keys, percussion, guitar, backing vocals (2013–present)
Robbie Wood - guitar, backing vocals (2017-present)
Past members:
James "Wolfgang" Harte - bass guitar, backing vocals (2010-2012)
Johnny Aries - live keys and live percussion (2013)
Tom "Higgy Pop" Higgins - guitar, backing vocals (2010–2018)
Zachary "Zach" Robinson - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2011–2018)
Beach justice
Swim Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I will sell myself for something I wanted out to be
'Cause talking sucks I know you like it
It's just made up stuff beneath the ice cellar
We'll never know what love is
All we know is that love is
When you're really that happy to see me
When she gets up and I'm still awake
Please go easy on me, Sunday
When she gets up and I'm still awake
Please go easy on me, Sunday
Woah please go easy on me, Sunday
Yeah yeah yeah please go easy on me, Sunday
And I will sell myself for something I made out to be
And I will sell myself for something I wanted out to be
'Cause all this talk is kinda boring
you got too much fun for someone boring
We'll never know what love is
All we know is that love is
When you're really that happy to see me
When you're really that happy to see me smile
When she gets up and I'm still awake
Please go easy on me, Sunday
When she gets up and I'm still awake
Please go easy on me, Sunday
Woah please go easy on me, Sunday
Yeah yeah yeah please go easy on me, Sunday
The song "Beach Justice" by Swim Deep explores the idea of one’s self-worth and the lengths that people go to prove it to themselves or others. The repetition of the line "And I will sell myself for something I made out to be / And I will sell myself for something I wanted out to be" suggests a sense of desperation in trying to prove oneself. The line "talking sucks I know you like it / It's just made up stuff beneath the ice cellar" further reinforces this idea, as it implies that the subject is saying things just to please others, even though they do not truly mean it.
The chorus of the song shifts the focus to the idea of love and how it is perceived. The line "We'll never know what love is / All we know is that love is / When you're really that happy to see me / When you're really that happy to see me smile" suggests that love is a feeling that is hard to define, but it is recognizable in the way it makes people feel when they are with the person they love. The bridge of the song continues with this theme, as the subject begs for mercy when their partner gets up and they are still awake. The repetition of "Please go easy on me, Sunday" creates a sense of vulnerability and need for reassurance.
Overall, "Beach Justice" delves into the complexities of human emotions and self-worth, as well as the subjective nature of love.
Line by Line Meaning
And I will sell myself for something I made out to be
I am ready to compromise myself for something that is not fully true.
And I will sell myself for something I wanted out to be
I am willing to give up my authenticity for something that seems more desirable.
'Cause talking sucks I know you like it
I understand that talking can be tedious but you seem to enjoy it nonetheless.
It's just made up stuff beneath the ice cellar
The things we talk about are superficial and not reflective of what's truly going on beneath the surface.
We'll never know what love is
Our understanding of love will always be limited and elusive.
All we know is that love is
But we can recognize love based on the warm feelings it inspires.
When you're really that happy to see me
Whenever you are genuinely pleased to see me.
When you're really that happy to see me smile
Especially when you are happy to see me smile.
When she gets up and I'm still awake
When someone else gets up even though I am still awake.
Please go easy on me, Sunday
I am asking for kindness and understanding as I try to cope with the challenges of life.
Woah please go easy on me, Sunday
This is a plea that is anxious and heartfelt.
Yeah yeah yeah please go easy on me, Sunday
I really need you to be gentle and supportive today.
'Cause all this talk is kinda boring
The dialogue we have been engaging in lately might not be that riveting.
you got too much fun for someone boring
You have too much vitality to be weighed down by dullness.
Writer(s): Austin Williams
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.