Contrasting Emotions Swirl in Debut LP ‘Into The Blue Night’ from Indie Rock Outfit SWiiMS

Aiden Faire
By Aiden Faire
1 Min Read
- Advertisement -

Drawing influence from a diverse spectrum of artists, Toronto-based SWiiMS blends elements of ‘80s new wave, ‘90s shoegaze, indie rock, brit pop and dream pop together to arrive at a sound that is all their own. 

Singer Mai Diaz Langou and guitarist Colin Thompson started writing songs together in late 2018, uniting her elegant poetry, textured melodies and languid voice with his fuzzy, jangly, swirling guitar tones. Bassist Cian O’Ruanaidh joined shortly after, bringing a fresh voice, unique influences and hooky bass lines to the group.

Love, loss, loneliness, self-isolation, beauty, joy, nostalgia and remembrance: Into The Blue Night, was inspired by bits of all of these emotions and how they intersected during the pandemic. Produced by Josh Korody, this is their first full-length LP.

“In Puzzles” is the first track, serving as an uplifting introduction, encapsulating the sense of freedom, lightness and excitement in a blossoming romance. “In Puzzles” is optimistic, with the euphoric guitar riff hitting you right in the heart, the verses wrapping you in a cozy blanket and the chorus feeling like levitation. Stefan Loebus was enlisted as the drummer, offering a blast of energy.

Share This Article
Music Reviewer
Follow:
I fell in love with music when I first picked up a guitar at age 8. When I played, my friends and family would smile and spill with joy over the music I played, even though it was never Grammy quality. While my music career never made it past high school, my love for music never waivered. I loved the feeling of bringing a smile to someone's face through music and wanted to keep that passion going. So, I took it upon myself to continue to support and promote artists by writing about their music. This way, I can support my personal passion for music and bring entertain and joy to others through music.  Outside my love for music, I do enjoy a good hike and being in the outdoors. My favorite place that I've hiked is in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. I love to travel too. I've been to Costa Rica, Vancouver, BC, and England, but the best place by far is Germany on Oktoberfest. I liken that experience to being in New Orleans on Mardi Gras. I like a good book now and then, but I'm more of a streaming fiend. I live for crime docuseries on Netflix, veterinary shows on National Geographic, and re-watching Scrubs on Hulu.