When, and why did you start writing music?
I started a little late with the songwriting and guitar playing. I learnt drums for four years before picking up a guitar on a school camp, the challenge of a new instrument really appealed to me so I made the change and it was only about nine months later that I played my first gig. Being the little emo teenager I was, writing was a great way for me to express myself.
How long have you been gigging and writing?
Longer than I care to admit. It’s been 12 years this Valentine’s Day just gone. I started out just playing covers in a little Italian restaurant, cliché but true. I was also told by schoolmates that they were starting a band and I was in it, so I played guitar with those guys for a good six or seven years touring on and off and a couple of EP releases before I decided to do some more writing of my own and explore my vocal ability.
Do you have a pre-gig ritual? If so, what is it?
There are a couple of things we do regularly before shows, one is the right to verbally abuse any band member that didn’t arrive at the venue in the band van. Nate often has a bag or full box of big boss cigars for us to devour and hit a sugar high before performing, but my ritual would be a spiced rum and coke with a slice of lime before we hit the stage.
What inspires or has influenced your music the most?
My songwriting is inspired by my life experiences, often by the small town I grew up in, the people in my family and my desire to explore the world and see new places. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t influenced by a range of musicians and bands, but what musician isn’t?
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise?
We have a full length album The Way We Were Raised which we recorded in El Paso with Jim Ward (At The Drive-In, Sparta, Sleepercar) and Gabe Gonzalez (Frank Turner, Sparta, The Lusitania) and our new five track EP Up With The Anchor which we recorded in four different studios with three different producers in two different countries.
If you could go on tour with any musician or band, who would it be?
I’d love to hit the road with The Gaslight Anthem, they’ve been a huge inspiration in the more recent years and they also come across as the kind of guys you could have a few drinks with after the show.
When’s the gig and with who?
This Saturday June 29 we will be launching our new EP at The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood with an amazing lineup joining us in Jonesez, Escapegoats and Donnie Dureau. Tickets are available now from andrewswift.bigcartel.com.
Anything else to add?
Just a big thanks to all the people who constantly support us, at gigs and behind the scenes, couldn’t keep kicking along without them.
