Swim Deep

Swim Deep is a Birmingham-based British indie rock band that forms in 2011 and remains active. The group works within dream pop and indie pop, and it is also associated with indie rock and surf rock. It is often linked with the Digbeth-based B-Town scene, and its music is described as “beach grunge”.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms in Birmingham, England in 2011 around Austin Williams, Tom “Higgy” Higgins and Wolfgang J Harte. Williams handles vocals and also plays guitar, keys and percussion. Harte leaves in late 2012 and is replaced by Cavan McCarthy on bass and backing vocals. McCarthy had previously sold merchandise for fellow Birmingham band Peace. The band also goes through several drummers before Zachary Robinson joins on drums and percussion. James Balmont first appears as a live extra member and then becomes a full member in 2014. Robbie Wood later joins on guitar and backing vocals.

Recordings and releases

Swim Deep signs to Chess Club in 2012 and releases its debut single, “King City”, in May that year. It follows with “Honey”, which receives strong critical attention and becomes one of the songs most closely associated with the band. The group records its debut album in Brussels with producer Charlie Hugall after a UK tour with Spector in late 2012. The album, Where the Heaven Are We, is released in 2013.

Before the album, the band also releases “The Sea” and “She Changes the Weather”, the latter accompanied by an EP of the same name. A Japan-only EP, Sun on My Back, appears in 2013 and consists of early demos, B-sides and “King City”.

Second album and later activity

Swim Deep begins recording its second album in London in 2014 and later returns to Brussels to continue work. The first single from the album, “To My Brother”, arrives in 2015 and marks a shift towards acid house influence. Another single, “One Great Song and I Could Change the World”, follows. The album, Mothers, is heavily influenced by acid house and techno and receives generally positive reviews. The band tours North America with The 1975 in 2015.

In 2018, the band confirms that Zachary Robinson and Tom Higgins have left ahead of recording its third album. Robbie Wood is then introduced as a new member. Swim Deep remains active with Austin Williams, Cavan McCarthy, James Balmont and Robbie Wood in the line-up.

Members

Current members include Austin Williams, Cavan McCarthy, James Balmont and Robbie Wood. Former members include Wolfgang J Harte, Tom Higgins, Zachary Robinson and live member Johnny Aries.