Like Swimming formed in late 2012 with Claes Carlström on vocals and guitar, Ida Hedene on
vocals and keys and Petter Wesslander on drums. The three piece band from Sweden forms a
blend of whimsical joissance in rythm and melodies and heart breaking sincereness in lyrics and
frustration that gives the music an interesting contrast.
In the beginning of 2013 the band recorded their first songs in a cabin out in the woods north of
Stockholm. The songs immediately got them a record deal with the american label Digsin, which
released Like Swimmings first single, “God Knows”, in May the same year. The single premiered
on the american arts and culture magazine Blackbook and got attention amongst various indie
blogs in the US. The second single, “Go Buffalo”, was released in August 2013. It was recorded
and produced by Lennart Östlund (ABBA, Ramones, Led Zeppelin, Cardigans, etc) and mixed by
Brian Malouf (Michael Jackson, Brian Wilson, Queen, Pearl Jam, Madonna, etc).
“Go Buffalo” created a buzz around the band in media. MTV Buzzworthy described it as “our
latest obsession”, Rockmafia called it “probably the most upbeat, morbid song you’ll hear all
year” and USA Today wrote: “Swedish band Like Swimming crafts sweet and bouncy indie pop
tunes that pair well with sprinklers and sunscreen.” UK based music website Sound of
Confusion wrote: “So, if you’d be so kind, could you point people in the direction of ‘Go Buffalo’
and Like Swimming in general so they can hear how catchy, radioready,
irresistible and the commercial music can be made in a way that doesn’t rely on the same horrible tricks and the
same songwriters and producers for every bloody artist.”
Like Swimming followed up the single with a USA tour in October, playing at the Culture Collide
Festival in LA, the CMJ Music Week in NYC and a couple of other shows in Nashville and
Chicago. The band also recorded a session on music blog Daytrotter. Daytrotter later rated the
song “Let Go” one of the 50 best songs that year, 26 out of 4800 songs.
In late December 2013 Like Swimming entered the RMV Studio in Sweden, recording more
songs for 2014 together with the studio manager Linn Fijal, who has an extensive client list
including The Hives, Kate Ryan and swedish singer songwriter Lars Winnerbäck, swedish Jazz
guru Nils Landgren and swedish indie pop princess Frida Hyvönen. The collaboration with Brian
Malouf from “Go Buffalo” is planned to continue on these recordings as well.
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