Swim Into The Sound is an independent music publication focused on DIY, emo, punk, indie, and various forms of alternative music. I started Swim Into The Sound ten years ago in the summer of 2015, just myself and a Tumblr template against the world. Over the last few years, it’s grown to include a sizeable team of 50+ writers and a regular slate of reviews, interviews, premieres, roundups, and more.
While the site began with lots of overly earnest writing about Sufjan Stevens and pop-punk, I grew to find satisfaction in discography rankings, monthly new music roundups, and guides to bands or genres that I loved. By 2020, I had figured out the site's voice a bit more, which included a regular beat covering the insular-but-rewarding DIY music scene and criticizing the streaming powers that be.
Earnest as I am about Swim Into The Sound and my love for music, it’s also worth noting that I’ve published lots of silly things, like a review of Jack White’s guacamole recipe and a countdown of the most pettable dogs in music. I have made stickers, shirts, guitar picks, and mugs for the site, acting as a sort of one-man merch operation and then donating the proceeds to whatever local org makes the most sense at the time. Last year, I joined a band on the road and made a whole documentary about them.
I could probably talk endlessly about Swim, the articles within it, and the incredible music I’ve been able to espouse over the last ten years, not to mention the innumerable writers, artists, bands, and other fans that it has connected me with. If you’re looking for a good place to start, the Favorites page (pictured above) collects some of the work I’m most proud of. Alternatively, hop over to our home page to check out a recent review or just scroll until you find something new to love because that’s been the mission from day one.