Eric Swanson embraces musical journey with the release of Horizons EP
Photo courtesy of Eric Swanson.
Dailyreggae.com caught up with Eric Swanson to learn about the inspiration behind his new EP, Horizons, Eric’s songwriting process, and what he’s learned working as tour manager for major bands including Slightly Stoopid and SOJA.
Eric, tell us about the inspiration behind your new EP, Horizons!
The inspiration for the Horizons EP really came from the urgent need to make something positive during the pandemic when the music industry was closed down. No one knew when this thing would let up, so I guess it made sense to start recording. There are six tracks on the ep and a few of them are songs I wrote years ago but were never tracked. I felt the message behind these songs needed to be heard and may be helpful to some recovering from a year of uncertainty.
There is a lot of sorting out that we are all going to have to do. The album art shows a plant growing through concrete. Felt so fitting. That idea just stuck with me as musicians tried like hell to get their music out there during the pandemic in any way they could find. When we needed music the most, it was taken away. The single "Horizons" talks about good things coming and it's ok if you're breaking down. I hope people vibe on it.
What was your songwriting process like? Do you start with lyrics or chords?
Like most, my songwriting process is all over the map. Sometimes I start with a riff or a hook, and other times it's an idea for lyrics. In fact, sometimes my songs stem from one or two words that represent an idea or mood. Those subtle things can be enough to fuel the fire of creativity for me.
I have been writing songs since I was about 12 or 13, so the process has been different throughout the years. I go through phases where all I do is write lyrics in notebooks or in my phone notes. Then sometimes I practice riffs and chord structures and I might even try different instrumentation to get to a certain vibe. I never really know if the song will end up acoustic, rock, reggae, or Americana… who knows?
I always accept the song for what it is and try not to force it into a box. Somehow, sometimes it comes together enough to get the rough outline of the song idea. Then comes the fine-tuning of the song and working on lyrics and routing. For this ep, after I wrote the tunes and recorded the foundations of the songs I worked with my good friend Ted Bowne (of Passafire) on the instrumentation part. He is an amazing producer and very easy to work with as well. Ted has some great ideas and skills in the studio, and his vibes are really felt on all these tunes.
It's important that a writer can find and mesh with a producer and other musicians or else it can really stifle the process. For me, working with other musicians always provides a different perspective when writing, recording, or performing a song. It's like saying, "Hey bud, I'm driving to North Dakota, do you want to ride along?" We all know where we are headed, but what happens along the way is the unknown, beautiful part. You really have to embrace the journey and be flexible when writing.
As Slighty Stoopid's Tour Manager, has the band influenced your musical ear and the approach to making music?
Yeah, I've known the guys for 20 years so it would be impossible to not be influenced by them and their sound. I wasn't always their Tour Manager. I was a fan first. The business stuff came much later. I was also SOJA's Tour Manager for years prior and I can say I learned a ton from them as well.
I'd like to think I take a little bit from every musician I meet and apply it to my approach. I think that's how you personally grow in this business. Music is a business no matter how you spin it, so applying some structure to creativity can help. At least in my case. I've learned you are your brand, and while you can be influenced by lots of sounds, you have to find yourself somewhere in there and stay true to that. Otherwise, you end up some carbon copy of someone else. That's never jived with me, and while it took some time, I'd like to believe I found my own style along the way.
When I first met Stoopid they were still playing bars, but there was something special about them. You could just feel it. They have stayed true to themselves and never waivered. That's probably the most important lesson I could have learned from the guys. Just be you and see how that goes! These days they are playing monster shows with thousands and thousands of fans.
While the reggae-rock genre is huge now, back then it wasn't. They were blazing a trail that many would follow. I don't think they knew they were special or that they were helping to create an entire genre. They were just being themselves, having fun, and following their own compass. I think we can all vibe on that and learn from it.
Horizons is the Daily Reggae Song of the Day.
