"SCAR" World Premiere + Press Release
The first single from the upcoming SWOLL album, AVOID ATTACH is finally here!. “SCAR” premiered today on New Noise Magazine, along with the official video.
This track was one of the first songs recorded for the new album, and was built really around an improv live thing that morphed into something else. It came together during those sessions at Dan Angel’s studio in Philly, and really helped shape the sound of the rest of the record. I’m proud of how it turned out, both musically and later, visually, via the video (shot by my brother WLLY in Baltimore, and edited by my trusted video extraordinaire Drew Hagelin). “SCAR” itself really stands as a tribute to the now-defunct D.C. band Puff Pieces, but you can read more about what inspired the track from the press release below or stream it here.
New tour dates are also up! We are still adding more dates all throughout year, so be sure to keep an eye on our website or follow us on BandsInTown because we would love to see you at the next show!
Huge thanks to New Noise Magazine for their support, to everyone who helped bring this single and its premiere to life, and to you for listening! If you would, drop a comment on our Instagram post and let me know what you think of “SCAR.”
– Matt / SWOLL
READ ON FOR THE FULL, OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
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ON SEPTEMBER 26, SWOLL will release their new album AVOID ATTACH (pre-order). AVOID ATTACH was tracked by Dan Angel and Ben Schurr in Philadelphia, PA. The record was mixed by Alex Tebeleff in Los Angeles, CA and mastered by Sarah Register in Brooklyn, NY.
SWOLL is the genre-defying project of Baltimore musician Matt Dowling, who is best known for his work playing bass in critically acclaimed DMV bands like The Effects (Dischord Records), Deleted Scenes (Park the Van Records), and Paperhaus (Misra Records). SWOLL fuses the energy of live rock performance with the depth and pulse of electronic and trap beats. Their visual-heavy live show creates a hybrid sound-sculpture that's atmospherically dreamy, mysterious, and relentlessly groove-driven.
Today SWOLL is excited to share “SCAR,” the lead single from their upcoming full-length album AVOID ATTACH. The song debuted today at New Noise Magazine and is available now on all digital platforms for playlist shares.
SWOLL’s frontman/bassist Matt Dowling expands on the themes behind the new single:
“I directly take lyrics from Puff Pieces in this song. The two lyrics, which are also their song titles, are 'Pointless People' and 'Women and Men with Guns.' I think I went there simply because I felt like I was really echoing Puff Pieces sonically while writing the song. So I figured ‘why not take it all the way and use some Puff Pieces lyrics, provided I can get prior approval?’ (which I did, don't worry!). I wrote the song probably two years ago, and now that it's coming out, I'm like 'whoa, this is timely.' Puff Pieces were astoundingly accurate at predicting the future while writing songs from 2013-2016. The current time is simply a labored continuation of what they were concerned about while creating those songs. So 'Scar' is basically an homage to Puff Pieces' astute ability to cut right to the center of it all with simple, dancey punk rock music.”
Moody, layered, reflective, and deeply emotional, SWOLL has historically given open nods to music icons like Unwound, Kraftwerk, Antelope, and Shudder to Think while incorporating undercurrents of hip-hop, trap, post-punk, and new wave. The song “Scar” itself is an homage to the now-defunct Washington band, Puff Pieces (a descendant project of Antelope), and the social commentary delivered through their prescient 2016 LP, Bland in D.C.
Reflecting on the themes woven throughout the upcoming record, Dowling explains:
“I wanted to turn the psychological condition of avoidant attachment style into a verb that feels relevant right now. Avoidant attachment style is perhaps best described by Kevin Barnes’ Of Montreal lyric ‘I need you here, and not here too.’ It’s a particularly modern condition that’s simultaneously psychological and physical. It sort of sounds bad and unhealthy (it is on the clinical edge of a disorder), but things like social media and AI, which are simply wildly popular modern tools, are particularly good places to ‘avoid attach.’ I also think things sort of feel overall bad and unhealthy in the world right now, but that could just be a coincidence, or my own projection.”
Originally formed as a studio collaboration with producer and Blight Records founder Ben Schurr (Br’er, Luna Honey), SWOLL's debut self-titled LP caught the attention of critics with its brooding basslines, minimalist textures, and Dowling’s haunting falsetto. Since then, SWOLL has evolved into a full live experience, featuring multi-instrumentalist Erik Sleight on drums and Zak Forrest on lighting design. The band’s performances are immersive, combining atmospheric visuals with a thunderous, synth-laden sonic-story.
SWOLL continues to explore the human condition and vulnerability through both sound and spectacle, delivering live shows that are as visceral as they are cerebral. Having shared stages with artists such as Gang of Four, Moderat, and A Place to Bury Strangers, SWOLL continues to push the limits of genre, emotion, and performance art in modern music.
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