SWOMP
SWOMP’s podcast is your unfiltered backstage pass to the music world. Rooted in Canada and raging worldwide, we bring raw artist interviews, behind-the-scenes chaos, and deep dives into the bands shaping the scene. From legends to rising stars, it’s all about the energy, passion, and stories that make music unforgettable. Plug in and enjoy.
Episodes

Saturday Apr 12, 2025
Saturday Apr 12, 2025
"Nothing brings you back to yourself like seeing an old friend” says British multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter Luke Marzec who has returned with his evocative new single, "Growing Up With You". The track is a deeply personal tribute to the relationships that shape us. Blending warm, vintage R&B textures with modern production, the soulful track is a stirring reflection on the power of shared history, the joys of reunion, and the enduring impact of lifelong connections.
The song is taken from Something Good Out Of Nothing (Side A), which was released on March 28, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with Marzec for an interview.
"Those formative teenage years shape who we become, and the friendships that were forged then influence the way we love, connect, and see the world," Marzec continues.
"I’m grateful to still have that group of friends who know me better than I sometimes know myself. This song is a toast to late nights, deep conversations, and the joy that carries us through life’s ups and downs."
Written over several months and inspired by the stark beauty of the windswept landscapes of Dartmoor in South West England, "Growing Up With You" combines a haunting saxophone drone—manipulated through the Morphagene sampler—with a lilting drumbeat, bass, and piano. The result is a hypnotic groove that evokes both the nostalgia of youthful adventures and the grounding comfort of old friendships.
The song, featuring live drums by David Beauchamp (Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit, Jeffrey Lewis & the Junkyard, Dr. Dog) and bass by Marzec, was recorded in his studio in Buckfastleigh, Devon UK, capturing an intimate, organic feel.
Citing the soulful rawness of Alabama Shakes’ “This Feeling” as an influence to the song, his ability to weave storytelling with intricate production results into the experimental warmth of his own unique sonic palette is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
As a continuation of the themes explored in his previous single, "I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind," Something Good Out Of Nothing is a reflection on memory, connection, and the paradoxes of modern life. Marzec, known for his genre-blending approach, fuses vintage soul, jazz, and electronic elements to craft a sound that is as timeless as it is contemporary.
Having studied classical and jazz styles at the Royal College of Music and Trinity Conservatoire, Marzec first broke onto the music scene with his debut EP Chances in 2017. His journey has since seen him collaborate with acclaimed artists, including Maverick Sabre, VC Pines, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, and Jazzanova, as well as Johannes Brecht on the widely appreciated Voicing Something—remixed by Adriatique.
Marzec continues to push his musical boundaries with Headroom, a London-based jam session that he hosts, featuring top jazz and electronic musicians from across the city. He is also part of Lazy H and the Loose Cables, an experimental synth-jazz group known for its avant-garde soundscapes.
Follow him at https://www.lukemarzec.com/.
Photo credit: Natalia-Bjerke

Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Tunisian-American artist, producer and activist Emel Mathlouthi, known as EMEL, is set to perform at the at TD Music Hall in Toronto on April 5, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with EMEL to discuss the show, her career, touring plans and her latest album MRA.
EMEL recently released a new remix of her track "Lose My Mind" featuring Nayomi. The remix, created by Parisian duo Acid Arab, transforms the song’s original Arabic reggaeton groove into a pulsing, club-ready anthem with a four-on-the-floor beat and bursts of rave-inspired mizmar.
Known for her striking stage presence, she has been praised by outlets such as The Guardian for her "Björk-like glamour" and for delivering some of the most powerful performances at festivals worldwide. A newly released live video of her performing "Massive Will" at Le Centquatre in Paris showcases her dynamic energy on stage.
Her latest album, MRA—which means "woman" in Arabic—pushes forward a female-driven creative vision. Every contributor to the project, from producers to featured artists and musicians, is a woman. The album blends African trap, batucada, hip hop and drum and bass with powerful melodies and multilingual lyrics. Tracks such as "Souty," "Nar" and "Massive Will" offer a sweeping, genre-spanning listening experience.
EMEL's career has been marked by collaborations with designers Alaïa and Jean-Paul Gaultier, as well as scoring work with artists such as Shirin Neshat and Robert Del Naja. She also contributed to the soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. Her song "Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free)," once banned, became an anthem of the Arab Spring and was later performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.
Beyond the stage, she has played a clandestine concert in Baghdad, Iraq, and an underground all-women performance in Iran, documented in No Land’s Song. Last summer, she performed in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, facing backlash for her track "Naci En Palestina (I Was Born in Palestine)."
"I don't create things to be consumed," EMEL says. "I hope it transcends time, transcends boundaries, transcends cultures. Music can change the world."
Follow her at https://emelmathlouthi.com/.
Photo Credit: Amber Grey

Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
While Post-punk legends The Chameleons are gearing up for a brand new full-length album due later this year (their first full-length in over 20 years!), they've released two new EPs Where Are You? and Tomorrow Remember Yesterday - the former consisting of new material and the latter of archival material recorded with the current lineup.
To celebrate this new chapter of The Chameleons, the band is coming to Toronto to celebrate at the Opera House on Monday, April 28, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with vocalist Vox for an interview.
Fans might already know The Chameleons from their massive 1986 hit "Swamp Thing" that still has people flocking to the dancefloor to this day.
Their latest five song EP Tomorrow Remember Yesterday is a collection of newly recorded songs whose origins harken back decades.
"These songs were amongst the very earliest songs we got together pre-Peel session in 1981, but were discarded at the time due to them feeling unfinished. We feel the band is better than ever and it’s nice to see so many people responding to it," Vox said, about the renaissance that the band is experiencing.
The last couple of years have been instrumental for the influential post-punk band whose originals began at the top of the 1980s.
Garnering some of the best reviews and chart positions in the four decades since their start (their 2024 EP Where Are You? landed the #1 position on iTunes Top Albums), the band has also seen their live audience grow as well, especially with young audiences adding an infusion of young blood into their fanbase.
Co-headlining this round of dates with Texas darkwave act Twin Tribes, Chameleons find themselves starting off in Minneapolis on April 25th and moving east, including shows in Chicago (April 26th), Montreal (April 29th), Brooklyn (May 3rd) before concluding in Silver Spring, MD on May 4th.
"It’s always nice to go to a city for the first time, so I’m kind of interested to do that," Vox added.
"The cities that I do know have all been enjoyable to play in the past, and I really relish getting back to them. The bottom line though is we love to play this music and we’re excited to do that no matter where we go."
Tour dates are:
Apr 25 Minneapolis MN Varsity TheaterApr 26 Chicago IL Vampire’s Ball - Epiphany CenterApr 28 Toronto ON Opera HouseApr 29 Montreal QC Society for Arts & TechnologyApr 30 Boston MA Big Night LiveMay 1 Ardmore PA Ardmore Music HallMay 2 Norwalk CT District Music HallMay 3 Brooklyn NY WarsawMay 4 Silver Spring MD The Fillmore
The Chameleons will also be be opening for The Psychedelic Furs on July 3, 2025 at Caesars Windsor, in place of The Mission.
Chameleons have been gearing up the release of their upcoming album Arctic Moon later 2025 which will be their first studio full-length since 2001’s Why Call It Anything.
"It's quite different from anything Chameleons has done before, and I know this will probably polarize the legacy audience, but we're quite excited about how it's developing," Vox said.
"I think the songwriting is much more mature in a lot of ways, which is to be expected, I suppose, given our age, but I, for one, really believe we're taking the band forward, and I'm quite excited about it."
Not planning on playing too much from the new album (“we don’t really want the songs spoiling on such platforms as YouTube until the record is actually out”), the new album will undoubtedly be embraced by old and new fans alike.
"Our approach to making the music hasn’t changed," Vox added.
"Although having found a regular producer in Christophe Bride at Oxygene has helped out development tremendously. His studio in Manchester, UK is a great environment to work in. We feel our sound is fresher and more contemporary which seems to resonate very strongly with our younger audience that are turning out to see us in such great numbers."
Long cited as a hugely influential act, having inspired the likes of Verve, Oasis, White Lies, The Slow Readers Club, Interpol, The Killers and Editors, among countless others and known for their transformative musical catalog and intense and emotionally charged live performances, Chameleons have created a legacy that extends beyond their four studio albums.
Following their debut single "In Shreds" in 1982, the band released three seminal albums: the widely acclaimed Script of the Bridge (1983), cited by many sources as a masterpiece way ahead of its time, its follow-up What Does Anything Mean? Basically!' (1984), Strange Times (1986), and Why Call It Anything? (2001).
Their unique sound quickly captivated the public through their mix of melancholic yet energetic and powerful tunes, hypnotic, ethereal riffs, and the potent, timeless lyrical style. Chameleons are considered one of the most influential guitar bands of the 80s and 90s, contributing substantially to the post-punk, shoegaze and indie scenes. They are often regarded as one of the most underrated bands ever to emerge from Manchester, England.
Chameleons are Reg Smithies (guitar), Vox (bass, vocals, lyrics), Stephen Rice (guitar), Danny Ashberry (keyboards), and Todd Demma (drums).
Follow the band at https://chameleonsband.com/.
Photo credit: Mick Peek

Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Northport, Long Island-based indie rock band Arcy Drive is currently on tour supporting flipturn, which includes two shows in Canada.
They're set to perform a show on March 29, 2025 at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto and the following night at the Théâtre Beanfield in Montreal. The Toronto show is sold-out, but get tickets to the Montreal performance, here.
SWOMP caught up with guitarist/vocalist Nick Mateyunas, guitarist Austin Jones, bassist Patrick Helrigel and drummer Brooke Tuozzo to discuss the tour and their forthcoming debut album, The Pit, due out April 18, 2025.
Mateyunas, Jones, Helrigel, and Tuozzo all grew up on Long Island.
As Mateyunas and Jones bounced musical ideas off each other, they realized they had something — especially as the pandemic hit, with its members home from college
When Helrigel came along, Arcy Drive was off to the races: they posted their original songs on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to a glowing response.
Around then, Arcy Drive’s innate work ethic clicked into gear: they bought a school bus and spent a summer converting it into a tour bus.
In 2022, Arcy Drive released their debut single, “Roll My Stone.”
2023 brought Arcy Drive’s debut, five-song EP, Beach Plum — their first in a proper studio.
That year, Arcy Drive also embarked on their first headline tour, where they performed at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and South by Southwest.
Follow the band at https://www.arcydrive.com/.

Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Thursday Mar 20, 2025
Legendary punk band the Dwarves are set to release a long-awaited collector’s gem for Record Store Day 2025 (April 12)—an exclusive, limited edition picture disc of Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows, a never-before-released live studio recording from 1989.
SWOMP caught up with Dwarves vocalist and founding member Blag Dahlia to discuss the special release.
Limited to just 2,500 copies, this release features newly mixed and mastered tracks, full color gatefold packaging, and an assortment of never-before-seen photographs from two of the most iconic photographers in punk rock history.
The album captures the raw energy and chaos of the Dwarves at the height of their career during their Blood, Guts and Pussy era.
Fans will enjoy dozens of never-before-seen images by Michael Lavine, the photographer responsible for the infamous Blood, Guts and Pussy album cover shoot, and live shots by Charles Peterson, who documented the band on stage during the same era.
In addition to the striking visuals, the Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows LP includes exclusive song descriptions and liner notes written by the original members of the band, offering fans a personal glimpse into the creative process behind this pivotal period of Dwarves’ history.
Available exclusively for Record Store Day on April 12, 2025, Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows is a must-have collector’s item for Dwarves fans, punk enthusiasts, and vinyl collectors alike.
TOUR DATES
The Dwarves will also be hitting the road in April for a West Coast tour in support of their new release, including stops in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Get tickets, here.
April 11, 2025 – Oceanside, CA @ Pourhouse (w/ Das Klown)
April 12, 2025 – Chandler, AZ @ Punk in the Park Fest (w/ BadReligion, Pennywise)
April 13, 2025 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Tiki Bar (w/ Cigar, MadTab)
April 23, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA @ Whiskey a Go-Go (w/ Eye HateGod)
April 24, 2025 – Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s (w/ Eye Hate God)
April 25, 2025 – Oxnard, CA @ Mrs. Olsen’s (w/ Luicidal, Dusted Angel)
April 26, 2025 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst (w/ Eye Hate God, Bl’ast, LuicidalL and Dusted Angel)
April 27, 2025 – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge (w/ Eye HateGod)
April 28, 2025 - Reno, NV @ Cypress (w/ Eye HateGod)
April 29, 2025 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s (w/ Eye Hate God)
April 30, 2025 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon (w/ Eye Hate God)
May 1, 2025 – Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s (w/ Eye Hate God)
Formed in Chicago in the 1980’s then relocating to San Francisco at the dawn of the grunge era, The Dwarves are an enduring force in punk rock, known for their raw, high-octane sound and their no-holds-barred approach to both music and live performances.
The Dwarves notorious live shows saw them banned, censored and canceled throughout the 1990’s as they built a rabid fan base and alienated the music industry.
But just when the Dwarves seemed commercially dead, their music began to appear in mainstream films, television shows, and multimedia, showcasing their musicianship and unique production style.
Combining elements of punk, garage rock, and heavy metal, the band’s groundbreaking releases, including Blood, Guts and Pussy (1990), and The Dwarves Are Young & Good Looking (1997) have cemented them as one of the most influential and provocative bands in punk history.
Over the years, the Dwarves have continued to push the boundaries of punk music and culture, constantly evolving their sound while maintaining their status as one of the genre’s most exciting live acts.
For more information on Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows or tour dates, visit https://thedwarves.com or follow them on social media.
Photo credit: Julia Lofstrand

Saturday Mar 15, 2025
Saturday Mar 15, 2025
Award-winning and platinum-selling band Bedouin Soundclash is set to embark on a Canadian tour.
The tour, originally scheduled for late last year, was postponed due to an injury sustained by bassist Eon Sinclair that temporarily prevented him from performing.
The tour begins March 20 at Edmonton's Starlite Room and includes stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Victoria, Ottawa and Hamilton.
SWOMP caught up with Jay Malinowski, the band's front man, to discuss the tour and the 20th anniversary of their album Sounding A Mosaic.
Alongside the announcement, Bedouin Soundclash has released a limited edition seven-inch vinyl, "When The Night Feels My Song (Reimagined)," in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its platinum-selling album Sounding a Mosaic.
The release features two new versions of the band's hit song, with collaborations from Frank Turner, The Interrupters and Jesse Royal.
"I am so honoured to have been asked to be part of this anniversary celebration," Turner said. "'When The Night' is such a perfect song. It soundtracked many years of my youth, always the last song of the night in the indie clubs I used to haunt, a sweet and sad celebration of life’s journey. To be singing it 20 years later is a joy and an honour."
The Interrupters also shared their appreciation for the song. "'When The Night Feels My Song' is one of our favourite songs of all time. The melody is tattooed on our hearts. What an honour to reimagine this immortal classic with Jesse Royal and Jay."
Bedouin Soundclash's latest album, We Will Meet in a Hurricane, was released in 2022 via Dine Alone Records. Co-produced by Jay Malinowski and Colin Stewart, the album explores the band's signature border-bending sound. The duo recently completed a North American tour supporting Frank Turner, including a performance at his festival, Lost Evenings VII, in Toronto.
Bedouin Soundclash - 20 Years of Sounding a Mosaic Tour 2025March 20 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite RoomMarch 21 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Night Club w/ ClerelMarch 22 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom w/ ClerelMarch 23 - Victoria, BC - Capital BallroomMarch 26 - Montreal, QC - Le Studio TDMarch 27 - Ottawa, ON - Overflow Brewing CompanyMarch 28 - Hamilton, ON - BridgeworksMarch 29 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
Formed in 2001 and named after Israeli dub artist and producer Badawi’s 1996 release, Bedouin Soundclash gained early acclaim with its debut album Root Fire. The band's sophomore album, Sounding a Mosaic, propelled them to international success with the hit single "When The Night Feels My Song," produced by Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains. The group won a Juno Award for Best New Group in 2006 and received numerous accolades across Europe.
Their follow-up album, Street Gospels, earned a Juno nomination for Pop Album of the Year and a Video of the Year nomination for "Walls Fall Down" in 2008. The band also received three MuchMusic Video Award nominations for "Until We Burnin the Sun" in 2009.
In 2010, Bedouin Soundclash released Light the Horizon, produced by King Britt, featuring singles "Mountain Top," "Elongo" and "Brutal Hearts," which included French-Canadian singer-songwriter Coeur de pirate.
The band's 2019 album MASS was co-produced by King Britt with musical direction from Ben Jaffe of Preservation Hall. Recorded in New Orleans with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and in Vancouver with the St. James Music Academy, the album incorporates elements of New Orleans jazz, afro-pop, electronic and gospel.
Bedouin Soundclash has toured internationally and shared the stage with No Doubt, Ben Harper, Damian Marley, The Roots, The Interrupters, Gogol Bordello, Bad Brains and Thievery Corporation.
Follow the band at https://www.bedouinsoundclash.com/.
Photo credit: Mike Neal

Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Thursday Mar 13, 2025
Two-time Juno Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee is currently in the middle on his first Canadian headlining tour, Now and Then.
SWOMP caught up with Aysanabee to discuss the tour, which is coming back through Ontario this month, including:
- Wednesday, Mar 19 - Guelph, ON - Sonic Hall (ALL AGES)
- Thursday, Mar 20 - London, ON - Rum Runners (ALL AGES - w/ special guests Brothers Wilde and Thea May)
- Friday, Mar 21 - Toronto, ON - Axis Club (w/ special guests Sebastian Gaskin & Natasha Fisher)
After supporting Allison Russell and Dan Mangan on tour and performing at festivals worldwide, Aysanabee is stepping into the spotlight to share his music and storytelling.
Fans can expect performances of his hit singles "Nomads," "We Were Here" and "Somebody Else."
An alternative indie artist from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in northwestern Ontario, Aysanabee now calls Toronto home. He began making music under his mother’s maiden name, finding his artistic voice in moments of stillness. His sound has been compared to Hozier and Kings of Leon.
In March 2024, he became the first Indigenous artist to win the Juno Awards for alternative album of the year and songwriter of the year for his EP Here and Now.
His debut album, Watin, released in November 2022 and named after his grandfather, combined music and journalism and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.
Since 2021, he has played more than 300 shows across Canada and internationally, including appearances at Reeperbahn in Germany, The Great Escape in the United Kingdom, SXSW Sydney in Australia, Tallinn Music Week in Estonia and AmericanaFest UK.
Follow him at https://www.aysanabee.com/.
Photo credit: Lindsay Duncan

Saturday Mar 08, 2025
Saturday Mar 08, 2025
When stepping into the role of producer and bandleader for her third full-length album, New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Sarah Quintana drew from her wildly varied musical experiences to create a “Louisiana” record her way.
Having worked previously with Cajun legends, French musicians, New Orleans roots-rock bands, and storytelling folk artists, Quintana thought long and hard about what it means to make music in New Orleans but settled on the idea that it never has to fit into any one box.
“I really set out to be myself on this record. And to make Louisiana music my own,” she says.
“What happened was an exercise in trusting my own voice.”
The fruit of her labor is a brand new album, Baby Don't, due on March 28, 2025.
SWOMP caught up with Quintana for an interview to discuss the album.
Her forthcoming album was recorded at the iconic Dockside Studios in Lafayette, Marigny Studios in New Orleans, and shotgun-house living rooms across town.
It features an all-star lineup that includes some of Quintana’s longtime friends and collaborators—Rex Gregory on saxophone, Louis Michot of the Grammy-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers, multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla (Carolina Chocolate Drops), and Grammy-nominated Corey Ledet.
Forging her own sound while paying homage to classic Louisiana artists like Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Shirley & Lee, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Bobby Charles and anything recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s studio in the 50’s, the result is soulful and timeless -–- a swamp-pop version of Shirley and Lee’s “Let the Good Times Roll,” old-timey tunes like “Be My Love,” complete with a traditional jazz tailgate, a cajun two-step (“Bump in the Road”), French blues (“Tout Mon Coeur and Rolling and Tumbling”) and several, highly-addictive, upbeat originals (“Just Because” and “Baby, Don’t”).
Throughout a notable career as a New Orleans singer, songwriter, and performer, Sarah Quintana has been firmly rooted in her hometown’s rich music tradition—but eager to playfully explore its boundaries and possibilities.
Her two self-released full-length studio albums, live concert release, and EPs brim with a blend of jazz, folk, and rhythm & blues, and her new LP Baby Don't brings together an all-star lineup for an album inspired by Louisiana’s music and culture of the 50s and 60s. Sarah has partnered along the way with acclaimed Louisiana-based musicians, including Grammy winners Michael Doucet, Kevin Clark (The Nightcrawlers), and Leyla McCalla. She has received recognition from the Grammy Foundation Recording Academy, The Voice Foundation, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation, and Big Easy Awards among others.
When she’s not writing, performing, or touring internationally, Sarah works as a music educator and a vocal coach specializing in gender-affirming care, to help others find power in their own voice.
Quintana is also a fellowship-trained voice pathologist and a faculty member and singing-voice specialist at LSU Health Sciences Center, where her research highlights the importance of creating vocal-health care pathways for Louisiana’s culture bearers and oral traditions.
Follow Sarah at https://www.sarahquintana.com/.
Photo credit: Adrienne Battistella

Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
The OLP30 tour is rolling across Canada this year and it will be stopping at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario on Saturday, March 8.
Grab your tickets at ourladypeace.com.
SWOMP is excited to once again have the opportunity to cover the Canadian rockers.
One of our talented photographers Christina Marchioni, from Marchioni Photography, has been approved for photo credentials for the London show. Keep an eye on swomp.ca and our socials, Instagram, Facebook, X and BlueSky.
We’re also grateful to have interviewed OLP bassist Duncan Coutts a couple of times in the past two years, the most recent was right after sound check before OLP’s headlining performance at Bluewater Borderfest in Sarnia, Ontario on Saturday, June 22, 2024
And fresh off of SWOMP’s relaunch in 2023, SWOMP chatted with Duncan in January 2023 in promotion of a show at Caesars Windsor.
SWOMP re-visits both interviews in celebration of their 30-year anniversary!

Friday Mar 07, 2025
Friday Mar 07, 2025
Joining Our Lady Peace across Canada this year are Georgia-born rock band Collective Soul.
They’ll be opening up the show at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario on March 8, 2025.
SWOMP has been approved for credentials for the concert and we’re pumped to see the work by photographer Christina Marchioni.
Similar to OLP, Collective Soul are also celebrating three decades of making music together.
They’re also set to perform at the Bourbon and Beyond Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky and the Oceans Calling Music Festival in Ocean City, Maryland in September.
Check out https://collectivesoul.com/ for all of the details.
SWOMP had the opportunity to speak with Collective Soul bassist Will Turpin last year to discuss their 30th anniversary, their new double album, & much more.
Here is our re-visited interview from May 2024.
Photo credit: Lee Clower