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Swerve Release “Ebbs and Flows” Video

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Los Angeles-based band Swerve have shared the official lyric video for “Ebbs And Flows” from the band’s critically-acclaimed debut full-length album Ruin Your Day out now (order). The new single edit of the song features backing vocals by Louie Schultz (Army Navy, Nightjacket) and was produced by Adam Lasus and mixed by Brandon Duncan. The lyric video can be shared now at YouTube.
 
On the song Swerve’s Gregory Mahdesian says:

“Ebbs and Flows” was the first song I wrote after moving from Hollywood to Laurel Canyon, right as the pandemic was beginning. I was still in the city but felt very far away from everything at the same time, and I was listening to a Laurel Canyon playlist with things like the Byrds, Neil Young, Carol King, and those melodies definitely creeped into Ebbs. The song is about communication breakdowns with people you love, whether because of physical or emotional distance. My sister and her fiance were separated by pandemic travel restrictions for seven months- he’s Scottish and lives in the UK and she’s here in LA- and that also heavily inspired the lyrics. It’s probably one of the most emotional songs I’ve ever written, but there’s no straightforward narrative because it didn’t seem like life had one either at the time.

Recording it was fun- we were all tracking live together at Adam’s studio in North Hollywood and coming up with the arrangement on the spot. It started on the acoustic guitar and then got built up into this multilayered moodscape. Our friend Louie Schultz swung by to add mellotron and keys- the mellotron used to belong to Brian Wilson and Adam’s studio neighbor was letting him hold onto it for a while. Mellotron is my favorite sound and it really brings the whole vision together. We’ll be releasing an alternate version of the song that was entirely inspired by Louie’s playing there.

 
The newly released single edit of “Ebbs and Flows” follows the Swerve’s singles “Ruin Your Day,” “Maybe I Didn’t Do That,” “Little Rich Kids,” “Escape” and “My Enemy Is Dead.” The singles have been well received by press, catching the ears of American Songwriter, PopMatters, Vanyaland, Glide Magazine, Loudwire and more. “Escape” reached #1 on the KROQ Locals Only Chart and stayed in rotation for seven weeks. All tracks are available on now on all streaming platforms.
 
Swerve is Gregory Mahdesian (vocals and guitar), a former Classicist and progressive political organizer, his college friend Ryan Berti (guitar and vocals) and Brandon Duncan (bass and vocals), an audio engineer and protégé of Bob Clearmountain (Bowie, Roxy Music, and Bruce Springsteen). Drummer Mark Gardner, joined in 2018, solidifying the lineup.

After self-producing their first two EPs, which achieved success on the radio and built them a dedicated following in their hometown of LA, the band decided to hire a producer to help them craft a full-length. Unfortunately, their first attempt didn’t go well: An indie-pop producer’s techniques and sonic pallets clashed with their songs’ intensity, and they decided to regroup and try again.

Luckily they were put in touch with producer Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Army Navy, Helium), who had crafted some of their favorite records from their teenage years, and they instantly bonded with him over a shared love of artists like Teenage Fanclub, the La’s and The Replacements. Adam helped the band lean into rather than shy away from their influences, pump up the volume, and tap into a raw live energy while tracking. His collection of nearly 100 vintage guitars helped get them in the spirit.

Writing most of the album between 2018 and 2020, Gregory found himself composing politically minded love songs. “Ruin Your Day,” “Escape,” “Bush v Gore” (the band contends we all live in the wreckage of that fateful Supreme Court decision) and “End of the World” each touch on themes of finding meaning in companionship while everything else is falling apart. Some songs are less optimistic in spirit, discussing fears of never achieving what you expected you would (“Disassociate”) and failing relationships (“Do You Want To Give In?”, “Maybe I Didn’t Do That”), but they’re all tied together by massive melodies, memorable guitars, and infectious rhythm. The band feeds off of live energy and always wants their music to be fun, even when the themes are weighty. 

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Vic

Editor / Writer / Producer For Drop the Spotlight