Things are a little crazy for you guys right now—your new album, Good For Me, just came out and you have tours all over the world. How are you managing?
It’s funny, for a few months there we had nothing booked, then all of a sudden we got all these tours happening which was insane. I mean touring here with Fake Problems, Hong Kong with Paramore and Soundwave there ... it’s crazy but we love it, you know. We are so happy with the record, we spent a lot of time writing and recording, and we're off to tour it.
This album is your fifth as a band and your second on your new label. Did you guys take a good amount of time out to work on the record?
It’s interesting the way we write. The majority is done by me and my brother Nick, and we spent so much time together on this, writing and demoing songs. Good For Me wasn't made time for; once our last record, Ups and Downsizes, was done, Nick and I kept going and we had at least six or seven fully written demos once we came to focusing on this album. I think this was a little different to previous records, we had a few songs each which were completely ours and we put these all together to form the record. We're really happy with the record we came out with—we feel it’s the best record we've done and has a great sound for us.
So you guys tend to write together, is that the usual for a Swellers record?
Yeah, Nick and I work together and then bring in the other guys. It’s really cool the sound the four of us can put out when we play. We've come up with a mix of hard radio rock but still keeping our punk roots at heart.
Speaking of the sound, the music on the record is so diverse. One minute you could mosh out, then dance it up and then chill to the acoustic sounds ... was that your intention?
Our aim musically on this record was to have one central theme through the record, and we felt we made that happen. I mean we cut out songs we had, four to be exact, simply because they didn't fit the vibe of the record. I think we had one song, reminded me so much of a Propagandhi song and there was this other real progressive song we had ... both great but didn't make it. I think this record says a lot about how far we've come and is just so much fun, too. Also I think we've changed a little, such as on our last record we had a purely acoustic song and on this record we have like a darker mellow song which is part acoustic but still fits the sound of the record.
You recorded at the Blasting Room with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore as producers. Do you think these guys helped contribute to the sound of the record?
This was the best part of the record, working with these guys who are not only great producers but their punk backgrounds just makes them the best for a band like ours to work with. We were demoing songs in the studio and it just sounded right, like the drums sounded like real drums as if it was a show. Oh, and the coolest part was the space we recorded in was the same that Bill and The Descendents demoed some of their best records ... he even showed us the gear. It wasn't an amp it was this weird box connector thing they used. It was amazing! I think my best memory was waking up and hearing Bill and Karl rehearsing Descendants music for their tours. I mean watching these guys work was special and made me think about the way I play.
Your first single, The Best I’ve Ever Had, was this a song written looking back on your own lives?
Yeah, it’s a real nostalgic-based song about all the times when we were growing up, and how different things are now ... which a lot of people can relate with. I think experiences like buying my first records, to growing up, to moving out which our parents were so helpful and supportive with ... was really good. Just things like that which are memories you always remember.
Have you had the chance to play the new songs live and if so how did they go?
We haven't been on tour just yet, but we did a record release show recently which went really well. We did the whole album straight and it felt really good, which was funny because we followed it with six older ones and we felt dead after them. It was nervous as we hadn't done vocals live on the new songs, we had only played instrumentally, but it went fine and we are really looking forward to touring the record and playing the new songs to the fans.
You have had a lot of touring experiences in your band, shows with bands like Less Than Jake, The Suicide Machines and Paramore. How have these shows been for you guys?
We have been really lucky, I mean even back in the early years. One start we got was a tour with a local band called The Mutter Rugs who were doing good things. I think they had one good song out at the time ... they don't get the credit they deserve. We've been working hard, touring as much as we can, learning from the older musicians along the way. Doing shows with bands like The Suicide Machines and Less Than Jake lets you know that you have made it and these guys respect you as a band, which is amazing coming from a band like Less Than Jake who are heroes of mine.
You are coming out for Counter Revolution in September. Is this the band’s first time to Australia?
Yes, this will be our first time to Australia. We have been trying to get there for years, on the Soundwave Festivals especially. We are all excited and can't wait to head over and show everyone what we're made of.
Are there a few bands you are excited to be touring with on Revolution?
I think there are like ten bands on the line up who are friends of ours. Bands like This This Providence, Four Year Strong, Terrible Things, Young Guns and We Are The Ocean are some I can think of right now.
What else have you got planned for the near future?
We have a tour of the US and UK late fall and through winter ... we're taking over the world!
