Swoone - A Powerful Creative Process

AÑO: 5 | NÚMERO 47

THE 13th UN A R E V IS TA IM A GINA RIA

SWOONE A POWERFUL CREATIVE PROCESS

A POWERFUL CREATIVE PROCESS [ Interview with Siobhan De Mare and Gary Bruce from Swoone by Diego Centuriรณn. ]

Some time ago this project by Siobhan De Mare (former Mono, Violet Indiana) and Gary Bruce have released the first single, back in July 2016, "This Bullet Never Kills" and two years later they bring us their debut album called "Handcuffed Heart", where the languid sound and the mix of trip-hop and dream pop is so exquisite that it reminds us of the paths planted by Violet Indiana, a project with which Siobhan joined Robin Guthrie. But we cannot forget that Gary Bruce was accompanying the great Daniel Land.

Hi Gary and Siobhan, it's a pleasure for me to be able to interview you. Siobhan we know about your work in Mono and Violet Indiana. Gary I love your work "Maps" (2011) and I know you've been in the band of the great Daniel Land. Do you find differences between your previous projects and Swoone?

Siobhan: Yes I see differences with Swoone and other projects. Swoone is more experimental, and mixes elements of vocal styles I haven’t been able to get across before. I think it is more soulful in places, and a lot more free, both musically and lyrically.

Gary: The music I produced before was intended as music for television, more as background music with less clearly defined song structures. When we first got together, we produced a few songs in different styles using this music but nothing seemed quite right stylistically. I knew we could do better and I worked hard to create a distinctive Swoone sound and identity in the music.

Most of my music is quite poignant sounding and atmospheric, so that was a good starting point for Swoone.

You have released the single advance in 2016. What has happened in these two years that we did not have any more breakthroughs?

Gary: Yes, it has been a long wait! After the album was finished I knew I had to give it to someone with fresh ears to do the final mix

and polish. Daniel Land very kindly offered to do this and he has done a fantastic job, but it took him a year to do it. Then we were waiting for Saint Marie Records to put the album out and that has taken another year, but we are now very excited it is finally coming out!

If there is something that you handle to perfection are the warm and languid environments, with a lot of reverberation and a lot of sustain, making the climate sweet and bright, although somber or melancholic. A little dreampop, a little trip-hop ... And while we could talk about influences, my question will go directly to what they consume. What music have you heard lately that has to do with the Swoone product?

Gary: Thank you, you describe it perfectly!

Nearly all the music I produce is a little melancholicwhichcomesfromlifeexperiences which are channeled subconsciously into the music. There is no contemporary music that has influenced the Swoone sound, as I still listen to all my old records much of the time.

These records have been absorbed into my psyche. I am not good enough to emulate any record, so I guess we have to go back and talk about influences which may be acting in ways we are not fully conscious of. For me it would be the environments of Pink Floyd, the beats of Portishead, the strings of Motown and the reverb of Slowdive.

Siobhan: I don’t really associate any new

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music with the Swoone sound. It’s quite unique in its style and sound, but taking influences from the past, rather than the present. With Swoone I was able be inspired by the great female soul singers of the past. That's why our music would lend itself perfectly to a Bond Film. That would be my greatest wish of all!

would record the vocal. Siobhan's lyrics and melody were nearly complete but there were always some tweaks and editing to be done. It was very relaxed and we laughed a lot while working on the songs, often with Siobhan doing various impressions as she is an excellent mimic! I won't tell you who she did impressions of!

Tell me how was the writing period of the As we both have work commitments, the album and how long did it take to record album took about 18 months to record. it?

Gary: We wrote and recorded each song, Siobhan: The project didn’t start as an one at a time. I would write and record the album, or even planned that way. We just music, moulding it into song form and then began as a writing team and recorded send the finished piece to Siobhan. When our ideas. Two artists collaborating in an Siobhan was ready she would come over explosion of experimental ideas that seemed to my little home studio in my attic and we to work almost immediately. Once we knew

5 we had an amazing musical connection we than the last, and make some incredible new developed it to create an album of great songs that take on a life of their own. We want richness and depth. to show people that Swoone are here to stay.

What can you tell us about the songs?

Siobhan: The songs did not follow any rules, they just had to be right. That was the only rule! They had to be full of honest emotion. Lyrically, they are the most open and autobiographical songs I have ever written. It was a cathartic experience and I look back on the time as one of great heartache, but also of powerful creative process.

Gary: Musically, for me, the songs are about expressing a darker more sophisticated sound than I had previously produced. Each song for me is like a mini film and I had to make each one individual, unique and different in its own right. Keeping a restricted musical palette, helped to form a clear musical identity, while allowing me to experiment with some different musical styles.

Gary: I am looking forward to recording the new album and to promoting Handcuffed Heart. I am very proud of it and hope that people enjoy it.

Can we expect another Swoone album in the future?

Siobhan and Gary: Yes, there will be another Swoone album!

Do you consider that there is something you have not asked that you want to tell us?

Siobhan: Well there are a lot of really talented new artists coming up and it’s quite interesting to hear how much influence they have taken from other music. Even work I have been a part of. It’s all about crossing boundaries and hopefully getting ones message across in the most expressive way Are you planning to take it to live? possible that people can relate to and find Siobhan: Live is something we often talk comfort. about. It’s not an immediate plan, but possibly I think certain music needs to be a bit more in the future. Especially if the we get an offer to responsible with the message they deliver perform somewhere special. i.e A castle in the in the lyrics, as we are living in hard times mountains in Italy , overlooking the bay! Lol. where negative influence and messages can Or a film score premiere party in Hollywood. become glamorised, yet dangerous if taken That would be very appealing! out of context, therefore affecting peoples choices in life.

Gary: I think the songs would sound fantastic As musicians we have to take on that live and it would be a real shame if we never responsibility when delivering a message in performed them that way as we do have a live a song. band that would be ready to go at short notice.

It's just a case of finding the right environment Gary: I would like to say thank you to all and audience. Personally, I would play almost the people who take the time to listen to our anywhere to the right crowd, but the castle album, “Handcuffed Heart” does sound good!

I greatly appreciate the willingness to What are the plans for this year? answer these questions.

Siobhan: The plans for this year, are to start recording a new album that’s even better

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The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA