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)
Orange county
Swim Deep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd hate to see you down on your knees
Listen here, you pretty girl
I swear there's something else to feel
You'll never be a part of what I want
You'll never be a part of what I need
Whatever you want is whatever you see
Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
You're sippin' on a dream all around here
You never seem to hear what I hear
You're always so, unpredictable
It's like I have to guess what I hear
Listen here, pretty girl
I'd love to see you down on your knees
Listen here, you pretty girl
I swear there's nothing else to feel
You'll never be a part of what I want
You'll never be a part of what I need
Whatever you want is whatever you see
Whatever you feel is whatever you tease
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
You're sippin' on a dream all around here
You never seem to hear with your ears
You're always so, unpredictable
It's like I have to guess what I hear
guess what I hear
I took off
I took off yeah
She came screaming,
she didn't wanna seem misleading
you'll never see what I see
you'll never be what I dream
you'll never see what I see yeah
you'll never be what I dream
The lyrics of Swim Deep's "Orange County" depict a one-sided relationship, where the singer is trying to make the other person understand that they will never be a part of what he wants or needs. The phrase "Listen here, pretty girl" is repeated throughout the song, and the singer reassures her that there is something else to feel besides what she might be seeking through their relationship. The girl seems to be lost in a dream-like state, "sipping on a dream," and is unpredictable, making it hard for the singer to understand or hear what she really wants.
The chorus emphasizes that the singer's desires and needs are not in line with what the girl wants or feels. The final lines hint at a breakthrough, where the singer takes off, and the girl comes screaming, not wanting to seem misleading. However, the singer still emphasizes that the girl will never see what he sees or be what he dreams.
Overall, "Orange County" speaks to the challenges of finding a meaningful connection in a relationship when two people's desires and needs do not align.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen here, pretty girl
The singer is addressing a girl.
I'd hate to see you down on your knees
The singer expresses concern for the girl's well-being.
Listen here, you pretty girl
The singer continues to address the girl and repeats the previous line.
I swear there's something else to feel
The artist believes there are other emotions the girl can experience.
You'll never be a part of what I want
The artist does not desire the girl's involvement.
You'll never be a part of what I need
The singer does not require the girl's help.
Whatever you want is whatever you see
The girl's desires are limited by her perspective.
Whatever you feel is whatever you lose
The girl is unable to hold onto her emotions.
You're sippin' on a dream all around here
The girl is indulging in unrealistic fantasies.
You never seem to hear what I hear
The girl is not receptive to the artist's perspective.
You're always so, unpredictable
The girl's behavior is difficult to anticipate.
It's like I have to guess what I hear
The artist must make assumptions about what the girl is thinking or feeling.
I'd love to see you down on your knees
The singer contradicts his previous statement and makes a suggestive remark.
I swear there's nothing else to feel
The singer now claims there are no other emotions for the girl to experience.
Whatever you feel is whatever you tease
The girl uses her emotions to manipulate or toy with others.
I took off
The artist left.
She came screaming,
The girl reacted negatively to the artist's departure.
she didn't wanna seem misleading
The girl did not intend to give the wrong impression.
you'll never see what I see
The singer believes the girl cannot understand his perspective.
you'll never be what I dream
The girl does not meet the artist's expectations.
you'll never see what I see yeah
The artist repeats his previous statement.
you'll never be what I dream
The artist repeats his previous statement.
Writer(s): Austin Williams, Tom Higgins
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
cellzz
I wish songs like these would play on the radio..
Athene
What monsters would dislike this ?! This is amazing
ProbablyNotAPanda
I love the vibe in the beginning where it shows Zach. God bless.
EartJK Lenon
Me to
Juan Ma
The best days of my adolescence with this song, it gives me a little nostalgia. love u guys
Not Him
this song has been blessing my young summers for so long
Suo Wel
can't stop replay , love it
Mitch Black
you guys are the goods, love your work
Alannah Williams
can't stop listening to this!!
Reverse Key Productions
The lyrics;)♥ the music. Everything! Repeat X10!