Since forming when the members were still learning long division in grade school, the Oakland based surf punk quartet SWMRS are young, but experienced beyond their years. With two Billie Joe Armstrong (vocalist for Green Day) produced full lengths already under their belt as “Emily’s Army”, and a new one courtesy of Zac Carper (vocalist for FIDLAR), the boys from the Bay Area will soon have more to celebrate than being able to legally purchase an alcoholic drink in the states. “Drive North” is out now on itunes.

Photography by Mike Greene
Interview by Mike Greene & Andy Gorel
Transcription by Montana Dzurella

Mike: So you guys have been playing music together since early grade school years, how did you all get involved with music at such a young age, and what made you want to play music together?

SWMRS: We saw school of rock when it came out and it was really inspirational to see young kids our age playing music, and we were like this is what we want to do… Jack Black absolutely…he kind of bridged the gap and made it fun and light and it was just a really cool movie to see for us, it’s a really good introduction to music and the soundtrack is amazing, and even the original songs are so good. They also teach you about people who write their own songs and that is something that often gets lost, it’s important for us to see people writing their own songs.

Mike: Was there anything before that movie that kind of helped?

SWMRS: That was the origin, that was like I want to play electric guitar, joey was like I want to play drums, Max was like I want to play electric guitar except we made him play bass at first….

Mike: What about growing up in the Bay area did that influence anything at all?

SWMRS: Yeah absolutely, I think that it was a really big exposure to punk music. There were lots of venues for us to play right off the bat because we were underage and it was awesome!

Mike: Is there anyone else in your guy’s life that you kind of relate to with music?

SWMRS: There’s this old old Greek man that lives with my family, and he taught Cole and I how to play music when we were 5. I learned how to play music on this old Greek instrument called the baglamas and that’s kind of how the ear of music got introduced to me.

Mike: How did an old Greek man end up living…

SWMRS: Long story short, he sang at my parents wedding in Santorini and he’s been staying with us ever since. Here’s the story so my parents eloped, they were in Santorini, Greece and it was their last day there and they were trying to get married and the mayor wasn’t there so they had the ceremony and everything planned and my dad wanted a Greek guy to play songs for them on their porch. My dad would go to all of these taverna’s and they would say you need to find Mihalis and this is how you find him. Everyone said you go to the end of this cliff and shout out his name. So my dad went to the end of the cliff and shouted his name and sure enough he pops out of the cliff house and he’s like what’s up. He sang Beatles songs and Greek traditional songs at their wedding, and he hardly knew any English. Now he owns his own restaurant in Santorini and stays with us every year for 3 months.

“It’s hard to keep up with people while touring, but if they are good friends they understand, and if you make time for them then they’ll make time for you and that’s all that matters.”

Mike: Do you guys think that your parents free spirit and attitude for eloping influenced you to have a free spirit with music?

SWMRS: I think their younger selves absolutely influenced me. Our dad makes these ridiculous decisions on the spot and I think that helped up become free spirited.

Mike: So you think that added to the fact that “hey mom and dad I’m gonna be in a rock band”?

SWMRS: Well like I said they are older now, it was harder at first but now they support us more and they pulled me aside the other day and told us we were doing the right thing. We actually left school, and that was harder at first for them but this is a good opportunity for us.

Mike:  What was it like to be a signed touring band, while all your other friends were graduating high school, and going to a university?

SWMRS: It was interesting, we all went to college for a certain amount of time. In the beginning it was pretty normal, but now it’s more different. All our friends are out partying, and we are just traveling a lot so I think it’s pretty interesting and I wouldn’t change lives with them for one bit.

Mike: I was going to ask do you guys ever feel like you’re missing out…

SWMRS: No… we’ve done everything at the right time so far. We each have gone through some aspect of college. I went through college for 2 and a half years so I got the exposure and know what it’s like at this point. Now it’s more of a matter of me graduating at some point and honestly I‘m not in any hurry. Cole kind of went for a year but we are all having a great time.

Mike: What are all your friends attitudes towards your touring?

SWMRS: I mean it’s hard to keep up with people, but if they are good friends they understand, and if you make time for them then they’ll make time for you and that’s all that matters. Friendship is give and take and if you’re home you got to hit people up and stay in touch, although it’s hard. A lot of times they kind of just assume you are always on tour. Then there are people from high school that pop up and come to your shows and text you out of nowhere. A lot of times they assume you’re on tour when you’re really not, like i’ll see them 3 months after and they’re asking how it was… like yeah, it was cool last year (laughs).

“We are in control, we are in control of everything, merchandise, and the creative aspects. This is a big extension of ourselves, it’s the visuals. It’s not just the music, it’s the soul behind it.”

Mike:  So you guys were known as Emily’s Army for a few years and put out EP’s and full albums under that name, what sparked the name change to SWMR’S?

SWMRS: We just started writing different music, and decided we weren’t going to work with Billie Joe Armstrong anymore. It was partially one of those things where we kept getting labeled as Green Day Jr.. It’s cool, but we wanted our own image

Mike:  Do you think with the name change you separated yourself from the name Green Day Jr.?

SWMRS: I’d say yes, because we have a lot more control with representation in the media and the production of it all. Our songs are way different and are more hip hop influenced.

Mike: Since changing your name, you guys have also switched producers from Joey’s dad to Zach Carper and released the songs on your own record label, has the creative approach changed at all with the change of circumstances, and do you feel as you grow older you see song writing in a different light?

SWMRS: I think we’ve just been trying really hard to have everything come from one unit. We are in control, we are in control of everything, merchandise, and the creative aspects. This is a big extension of ourselves, it’s the visuals. It’s not just the music, it’s the soul behind it. We just have been trying a lot harder with the creative control.

Mike: You each have your strengths, you each have your weaknesses, how do you guys collaborate together?

SWMRS: We end up writing songs on guitar and recording demos, then we collaborate with Joey and show them what we’re thinking. It becomes this total group project and it’s awesome. It’s really hard to find a group of people to collaborate with.

Mike: What’s something you’ve learned from one another if you’ve might not been so collaborative this entire time?

SWMRS: Keep our shit in order. I learned there is a reason for having a mixer, producer, and engineer. You’re not all of those things, and if anything you’re one of those. You can be all those separately but not all at once. Also knowing your job for each process helps. Certain amount of responsibilities you do not to overstep your boundaries. Let things fall into place.

Mike: “Drive North” is due out February 13th, is their anything in particular you want newcomers to know about SWMRS before they listen and go out on a show?

SWMRS: We want our music to make people feel comfortable in their own skin no matter where they come from or who they are. We just want it to be a safe space for people to let out their emotions and be themselves.

swmrs.com
www.facebook.com/SWMRS