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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Swim School teach? The fin-tastic basics.

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Swim School
Swim School performing in London, 2024
Swim School performing in London, 2024
Background information
OriginEdinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active2018–present
LabelLAB Records
Members
  • Alice Johnson
  • Lewis Bunting
  • Billy McMahon
  • Lee Brown
Past members
  • Matt Mitchell
  • Nairn Milne

Swim School (stylised in lowercase as swim school) are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in 2018, comprising lead vocalist Alice Johnson, guitarist Lewis Bunting, drummer Billy McMahon and bassist Lee Brown.

The band have released three extended plays, a mixtape, and their self-titled debut album Swim School in October 2025. They have supported acts including Inhaler, Biffy Clyro and Suede, and frequently cite Wolf Alice and Slowdive as influences. Swim School's work is generally categorised as alternative rock and indie rock.

History

[edit]

Swim School were formed in late 2018 in Edinburgh.[1] Initially comprising Alice Johnson, Lewis Bunting, Matt Mitchell, and Nairn Milne,[2] they released their debut single, "Sway", in February 2019.[3] Their debut performance was in Galashiels,[4] which took place in 1 March 2019, which was a support slot for Indigo Velvet[5], another Edinburgh-based band.[1] In October 2020, Johnson stated that their set had been marred by a "40-something stranger" heckling sexist abuse at Johnson before and during the performance, prompting her to struggle to hold back tears while performing and to break down after leaving.[4] They released their second single, "Take You There", the following June.[2] Swim School spent around a year gigging until the COVID-19 lockdown, causing the band to break from gigs and instead concentrate on writing. Billy McMahon, former drummer of Indigo Velvet was invited to join the band in June 2020 after a period of him assisting with live streams.[6]

Swim School performing at the 2022 Great Escape Festival

The band released an EP, Volume 1, in 2021,[7] and then the single "Let Me Inside Your Head" that March.[8] By May, Milne had left the band. That month, they released the single "Outside", their first without Milne[a] and performed a cover version of Taylor Swift's "Love Story"[11] for a BBC live session.[6] "Outside" was written about cutting toxic people out of their lives,[9][12] while "Love Story" was added after the band decided to incorporate a cover into the set and rummaged through some Spotify playlists.[6] The following month, they released "Anyway" and announced their second EP, Making Sense of It All, which comprised tracks about Johnson's mental state over lockdown[13] and was released in August 2021.[14][12]

After releasing Making Sense of It All, Swim School spent a period gigging.[15] By June 2022, the band were signed to LAB Records;[16] by that November, the band comprised Johnson, Bunting, and McMahon.[17] That month, they released the single "Kill You",[18] which Johnson had written the previous February[15] about being comfortable enough in a relationship to show quirks.[18] In February 2023, they announced their second EP Duality[15] and released the single "Delirious".[19] Duality, which had been recorded at Narcissus Studios in London and produced by Iain Berryman, took its title from the fact that it comprised love songs and angry songs,[15] while Johnson wrote "Delirious" in a fit of rage after suffering from constant misogyny from sound engineers during festival season.[19] A further single, "Don't Leave Me Behind", was released in April 2023,[20] with Duality released in June 2023.[21]

Two weeks after Duality was released, the band re-released that album's track "Bored", a more positive derivative of "Delirious", in an attempt to surprise their fans.[22] "Bored" was featured on the soundtrack of EA Sports FC 24.[23] The band supported Inhaler on their Cuts & Bruises tour in November 2023[24] and were featured on Dork's "Hype List 2024"[25] the month after.[26] In January 2024, the band released "Give Me A Reason Why",[27] announced their "Seeing It Now" tour for April and May 2024,[28] and released their debut mixtape, Seeing It Now. The last of these featured a cover of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind" and a new version of their earlier track "See Red",[29] with physical copies also sporting a cover of their earlier track "Anyway".[30] Their October 2025 album Swim School reached No. 4 in the Scottish Official Charts.[31]

Artistry

[edit]
Swim School on stage in Brighton, 2023

The band have frequently cited Wolf Alice and Slowdive as influences[b] and have described themselves as a "Tesco Value" version of the former. Johnson credits Wolf Alice lead singer Ellie Rowsell as her inspiration for being in a band[35] and idolised Taylor Swift and Beyoncé growing up.[34] Bunting has stated that he was a big Metallica fan in his youth and wanted to be Swim School's answer to James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett.[36] For their cover of Swift's "Love Story", Johnson was inspired by a grungy take on Bon Iver she had seen on Triple J;[6] Andy Von Pip of Under the Radar wrote that their rendition "turned a sweet, romantic optimistic pop song into a heavy dystopian doom rocker".[6]

Additionally, the band have cited Jaws, Pale Waves, Palace,[32] Foals, Ben Howard, Boards of Canada, Paolo Nutini,[33] My Bloody Valentine, the Cure and the Smashing Pumpkins as influences for their work.[34] Writing in July 2021, Sophie Williams of NME described the band's works as indie pop,[37] while Johnson's vocals were described by Skiddle in January 2024 as having a "Hayley Williams-esque delivery".[38] Finlay Holden of Dork described Making Sense of It All as a mix of indie rock, grunge, and dream pop,[39] while Mala Mortensa of Alternative Press described "Let Me Inside Your Head"'s vibe as "expect[able] from a Halsey-fronted version of Nirvana".[8]

Members

[edit]

Current[40]

  • Alice Johnson – lead vocals, guitar (2018–present)
  • Lewis Bunting – guitar (2018–present)
  • Billy McMahon – drums (2020–present)
  • Lee Brown – bass (2025–present)

Former[41]

  • Matt Mitchell – bass (2018–2025)
  • Nairn Milne – drums (2018–2021)

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details
Swim School

Mixtapes

[edit]
Title Details
Seeing It Now

Extended plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Volume 1
  • Released: 8 January 2021[44]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Making Sense Of It All
  • Released: 4 March 2022[44]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Duality
  • Released: 1 June 2023[44]
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: LAB Records

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Album Video director(s) Ref.
"Sway" 2019 Volume 1 — [2]
"Take You There" — [2]
"Let Me Inside Your Head" 2021 Making Sense Of It All — [8]
"Outside" — [9]
"Anyway" — [13]
"Kill You" 2022 Duality — [44]
"Delirious" 2023 — [44]
"Don't Leave Me Behind" — [44]
"Bored" Non-album single Rory Barnes [44][45]
"Give Me A Reason Why" 2024 Seeing It Now — [44]
"To Grow" Liam Beazley [44][46]
"Heaven" 2025 Swim School — [44]
"Alone With You" — [44]
"On & On" — [44]

Tours

[edit]

Headlining

[edit]
  • Swim School This Is The Headline Tour (2025)[47]
  • Seeing It Now Tour (2024)[28]

Supporting

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑
    • For "Outside" being released in May 2021, see [9].
    • For Milne leaving, see [10].
  2. ↑
    • Wolf Alice in May 2020[32] and May 2021,[33] and Slowdive in May 2020[32] and January 2024.[34]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "Under the Radar: swim school". The Scotsman. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Swim School". Sneaky Pete's. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Edinburgh-native Swim School debut the joyous single 'Sway'". The Student. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Swim School's Alice Johnson will continue to battle sexism in the music industry". Alloa Advertiser. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "INDIGO VELVET". YouTube. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Von Pip, Andy (25 June 2021). "Swim School on Expanding Their Sound During Lockdown and Their Upcoming Debut EP". Under The Radar. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Swim School play 'Independent Venue Week' gig at unusual location". Brighton and Hove News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Mortensa, Mala (29 March 2021). "10 emerging Scottish bands who are innovating alternative music". Alternative Press. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Edinburgh's swim school release heavyweight angst-anthem "Outside"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ↑ "Band Of The Week // SWIM SCHOOL". GIG GOER. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "BBC Introducing in Scotland, Swim School in Session". BBC Radio Scotland. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. 1 2 Sefton, Max (16 December 2021). "Swim School @ The Mash House: live review - The Skinny". The Skinny. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. 1 2 "swim school thrash out their vulnerable side on "Anyway" | Best Fit". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "Swim School establish themselves as bold, brash, and bright on Making Sense Of It All". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Taylor, Sam (1 February 2023). "Swim School GET ANGRY TO KICK AGAINST THE SEXIST PRICKS WITH THEIR NEW RIGHTEOUS RAGER 'DELIRIOUS': "I'D HAD ENOUGH"". Dork. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  16. ↑ Farr, Jacob (10 July 2022). "Edinburgh music map launched to showcase the best venues and hotspots in the capital". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  17. ↑ Corrine, Brianna (28 November 2023). "A Conversation with Swim School: "At the end of the day, you're inspired by people."". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. 1 2 Holden, Finlay (16 November 2022). "Edinburgh indie-rock trio swim school have returned with their vulnerable new single, 'kill you'". Dork. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. 1 2 Forstneger, Steve (1 February 2023). "Swim School's "Delirious" teaches how to bat lashes and give the finger". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ↑ Taylor, Sam (5 April 2023). "swim school have released a new single, and confirmed a London headline show". Dork. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "Swim School - Duality EP". Dork. June 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Swim School | English | Metal Magazine". metalmagazine.eu. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  23. ↑ EA Romania, EA Vancouver (29 September 2023). EA Sports FC 24 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, Nintendo Switch). EA Sports.
  24. ↑ tessbowen (20 November 2023). "Live Review: Inhaler rock Barras". Brig Newspaper. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Swim School certainly 'Making Sense Of It All'". Brighton and Hove News. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "INTRODUCING THE BUMPER END-OF-YEAR DOUBLE ISSUE OF DORK, FEATURING OUR ANNUAL NEW MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA, THE HYPE LIST". Dork. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  27. ↑ Murray, Robin (10 January 2024). "swim school's 'Give Me A Reason Why' Is An Illuminating Return | News". Clash. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Swim School HAVE ANNOUNCED A HEADLINE UK TOUR". Dork. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  29. ↑ Reeve, Adam (17 April 2024). "swim school talk all things Seeing It Now / Peeled Back". Dead Good Music. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  30. ↑ "Swim School Have Released a New Mixtape EP, 'Seeing It Now'". Dork. 17 April 2024. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  31. ↑ "SWIM SCHOOL". Official Charts. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 Keirl, Sam (15 May 2020). "Interview: swim school". The Bodega. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  33. 1 2 "Who TF are swim school?". Clout. 10 May 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  34. 1 2 3 "The Skinny On... Swim School Q&A". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  35. ↑ Holden, Finlay (23 August 2021). "Swim School: "BASICALLY, WE'RE TESCO VALUE WOLF ALICE"". Dork.
  36. ↑ "Swim School on their debut EP, their love of Strymon pedals and opening up about mental health". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  37. ↑ Williams, Sophie (22 July 2021). "10 unmissable new acts to catch at festivals this summer". NME. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  38. ↑ "Women Rock! Day 2024: Female fronted bands to watch out for in 2024". Skiddle. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  39. ↑ Holden, Finlay (11 August 2021). "swim school - making sense of it all EP". Dork. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  40. ↑ N/A, Martha (30 October 2025). "INDIE-ROCK FRONTRUNNERS SWIM SCHOOL STUN WITH THEIR HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM". Northern Exposure. London, England. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  41. ↑ "Swim School". Sneaky Pete's. Edinburgh, Scotland. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  42. ↑ "Swim School, by Swim School". LAB Records. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  43. ↑ "Seeing It Now, by swim school". LAB Records. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "swim school Singles and EPs Discography". Spotify.
  45. ↑ "swim school - BORED (Official Video)". YouTube. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  46. ↑ "swim school - To Grow (Official Video)". YouTube. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  47. ↑ Martha (30 October 2025). "INDIE-ROCK FRONTRUNNERS SWIM SCHOOL STUN WITH THEIR HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM | NORTHERN EXPOSURE". Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  48. ↑ @livejoy (16 February 2023). "ALL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED for Lovejoy Inselaffe Tour '23!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  49. ↑ "Grandson - Electric Ballroom". Electric Ballroom. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  50. ↑ @InhalerDublin (12 September 2023). "Very happy to announce our supports for our upcoming European and UK tour dates! Remaining tickets here: https://inhaler.band/tour/" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  51. ↑ @TheAmazons (7 November 2023). "Delighted to welcome Fiona Lee aboard this December, alongside the wonderful @weareswimschool ❤️‍🔥" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  52. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  53. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  54. ↑ Edinburgh, What's On. "Edinburgh Summer Sessions: Biffy Clyro at Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh West". What's On Edinburgh. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  55. ↑ "Plymouth - Discovery Festival". Retrieved 4 April 2026.
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