Swapmeet

five members of Swapmeet assembled around a 20th century style table tea party setting. There is a cat walking across the table and it is being pet by one of the members. There is a fireplace and large bookshelves in the background.

Although relatively new to the scene, Swapmeet have already experienced something which only few bands would have gone through: the woes and turmoil of a band name change. Formerly known as Soursob, the four piece band from Adelaide is made up of Venus, Josh, Maxwell and Jack.

Characterised by hushed vocals, seamlessly introduced textures and layers, Swapmeet are a wash of colours, textures, glossy and brushed at the same time. They are in one word nostalgic: album covers with hues of blue and shades of grey, found animal photos and obscure shapes that resemble stains. They are eternal daydreamers of intimacy. Whispers, floating, sinking, burning and healing – all words that lead back to Swapmeet. And the nostalgia that follows bands like them are what makes them feel so timeless, untired and euphoric with every twang, twinkle and turn of a chorus.

Fresh off the release of their debut EP Oxalis, Swapmeet continue to ride the high that comes with realising their sound, and the relief that follows closely after putting together a piece of work and unleashing it into the wide world.

“We were all just super excited together that it was coming out and then like to have the show the day after it was just like all this like flurry of like dopamine. It was like Christmas.”

Swapmeet are this week’s Independent Artist of the Week – listen back to their interview with Ify and Benny above to hear them chat about formation, process and latest EP.

Words by Rhea Thomas