SWANSUN’S NEW SINGLE “LOVING VINCENT” AND FUTURE PROJECTS

BY ADDISON MCNEILL

Swansun’s new single, Loving Vincent, is characterized well by its mismatched, yet playfully artistic cover. Multicolored newspaper cutouts make up the title on a background of acrylic violets, combining creative spirit with a grander effect.

The band has developed a youthful surf rock sound with a maturity conveyed through multi-layered composition. Drawing influence from artists like R.E.M, Swansun combines the garage rock style grunge guitar and drums with digital additions and an upbeat tune. 

The band is composed of Alan DeCecco & Dave Mercoli on a psychedelic guitar, Evan Ayrer grounding the sound on bass, and Evan Pensabene, Nick Besales, & Sidney Riley keeping the beachy tempo on drums. A solid indie rock hit only needs an acoustic guitar and a distinct voice, but Swansun understands how to use all of their unique members to create a fuller sound that fits the film’s cinematic influence.

The title is an ode to the 2017 hand-animated film of the same name, although the song is not directly tied to the story of the film. Its similarities come from the encroaching absence of a loved figure. Just as the film follows the events leading up to famous painter Van Gogh’s death, the song describes a knowledge that the cherished love the writer possesses will inevitably fade away and chronicles the feeling of wanting to hold on tightly to something good when it finally comes around. The song released just in time for Valentine’s Day, a holiday where even the most contently single or happily coupled people wonder if there is a correct way to comment on love, share love, express love.

This song expresses a fear that we all experience at some point—the fear of what is too good to be true. We can’t wait to see what’s next from this New Jersey-based collective.