Andrew Swift Sound The Alarm Interview

Andrew Swift Sound The Alarm Interview

Melbourne tunesmith, Andrew Swift has announced the release of his new single, Sound The Alarm alongside a host of shows across Melbourne and Adelaide throughout February and March.

A timeless, heartfelt ballad, Sound The Alarm is as stripped back and raw as Swift gets. 'My songs have always been of a personal storytelling nature, but -Sound The Alarm' is about as honest and personal as it's been so far," explains Swift. 'It was written during the hardest break up I've had to go through, but rather than write a heartbroken, -woe is me' type of break up song, what came out was a reflection of the night that that we met."

Filmed by Tom Crotty alongside Umesh & Szabo Productions, the clip for Sound The Alarm showcases Swift's adept ballroom dancing skills in an abstract memoir.

Swift has hit the ground running in 2015 already having performed at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival and now releasing his new single and tour. 2014 saw Swift embark on an east coast tour with Brisbane's Marcus Blacke, a Sunday residency at Footscray's -Reverence Hotel' and performances at the -House of Blues' in San Diego, Anaheim and Hollywood, before hitting the home studio of Antiskeptic's Andrew Kitchen to produce the stripped back follow up single to his 2013 EP, Up With The Anchor.

View the video clip for Sound The Alarm
Purchase Sound The Alarm

Tour Dates

Sun 8 Feb | Reverence Hotel, Footscray Vic
Sat 21 Feb | Berwick Show (Aa), Berwick, Vic
Sat 21 Feb | Reverence Hotel, Footscray, Vic
Sun 22 Feb | Bonnie Doon Music Festival, Bonnie Doon, Vic
Thu 26 Feb | The Retreat, Brunswick Vic
Thu 19 Mar | The Retreat, Brunswick Vic
Fri 20 Mar | Crown + Anchor, Adelaide, Sa

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Interview with Andrew Swift

Question: How would you describe Sound The Alarm?

Andrew Swift: I would describe it as a vivid story of one of those moments where you feel an instant connection with someone. This song has a delicateness to it and I wanted to express that through the recording, hence the minimal instruments and letting the vocals tell the story.


Question: What was the main motivation behind Sound The Alarm?

Andrew Swift: This song is a true story, everything from the second-hand dress to the description of the dance movements. As we were breaking up though, I wanted to hold on to one of my favourite moments of being in each others lives... the night that we met.


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Andrew Swift: I do indeed. My songs have always been based on or around my life experiences and feelings. I often go through phases of writing nostalgic songs, reminiscent of my childhood.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Andrew Swift: I listen to a bit of a range, but the artists I always go back to are Chuck Ragan, Jim Ward, The Gaslight Anthem. More often than not though I listen to music of friends I've made along the way, lately it's Gretta Ziller, Jen Mize, Megan Cooper, Josh Damigo, Josh Rennie-Hynes and Paddy McHugh.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Andrew Swift: Next is a bit of a tour and some much needed writing. I'm trying out this whole co-writing thing at the moment. Hoping that helps cure the writers block thing. I'm trying to get around the country for more shows at the moment though, hopefully with a few more in the US a little later in the year.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Andrew Swift: Yeah for sure. It's such a brutal industry, you put so much into it because you love it and get a minimal return. Things were going alright until I got glandular fever and spent 8 weeks in bed. Once recovered it felt like I was starting over again. I'd lost a lot of motivation and toyed with giving it up. Then an opportunity came up to spend a day in the studio with Jim Ward over in El Paso, Texas. That experience alone had me excited about what I was doing again, I went back and recorded an album there and haven't looked back since.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Andrew Swift: I like both for different reasons, I love having the opportunity to play with some ideas in the studio and create something more than just the acoustic song I've put together at home, but I love belting out a song to an audience and being able to connect with them. I especially love the banter!


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Andrew Swift: I don't know that I was inspired to, it just kind of happened. Some guys in high school came up to me, told me they were starting a band and I was playing guitar in it. We played a bunch of punk rock covers, started writing our own, stuck it out for 5 years before I started doing some solo stuff and went from there. Now I don't think I really know how to do anything else.

Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Andrew Swift: It sucks that the first thing that pops to mind is funding, but being an independent solo artist, it all comes from one pocket, so that's definitely a challenge.

I've also found that my music doesn't quite fit nicely into a particular genre. I've had people in the industry say, "we really like it, but don't know what to do with it".


Question: What's a typical day like?

Andrew Swift: Well I do work a day job, otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford to do things properly. So usually work at 8:30, often write melodies and lyrics in my head as I go, then breaks are often spent sending emails, updating the social media front, returning calls etc. Once I'm home it's walk the dog, and either rehearsals, more emails or a game of mixed netball.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Andrew Swift: I thinks it's been the places it's taken me and the people I've met along the way. I've been pretty lucky that not only has it taken me to various parts of Australia, but also to various parts of the states and Europe, and the thought that my music pops up in different parts of the world is a pretty nice feeling to have.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Andrew Swift: I'd love to collaborate with Neil Finn or Brian Fallon, two amazing song writers that I admire greatly. Those are just two guys that really know what they're doing and true masters of their craft.

60 Second Quiz

Full Name: Andrew Swift
Nickname(s):Swifty
Favourite Food: Chocolate
Favourite Film: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Favourite Actor: Brian Cranston
Pet: My dog, Cello.
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Cat Stevens
Hobbies/Interests: Building and cooking with woodfire ovens, mixed netball.
First Job: Washing aeroplanes
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Pub or Bar, something with live music is ideal.
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: Guitar pick
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: Stay quiet... Don't let the animals realise you're up yet.

Interview by Brooke Hunter