Scott Swain is a Leeds-based, noir-influenced singer-songwriter whose music draws heavily on cult cinema and moody, atmospheric storytelling. In 2018, he released his debut EP Goodbye Home, Goodbye Country via a successful crowdfunding campaign, followed by his second EP Isolation in 2021, both on Resonating Wood Recordings. His work often explores themes of urban isolation, tension, and introspection, blending cinematic textures with a haunting ambience. 2025 will see multiple new releases, continuing his exploration of brooding, evocative soundscapes. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
SCOTT SWAIN: Thought Iโd give an early memory here, as itโs probably one of the most significant. I started playing guitar when I was at school โ I thought it seemed fun, but didnโt really listen to much guitar music back then. I only listened to Drum and Bass and House music. I found guitar/rock music too self-indulgent and melodramatic. However, one day, a lad at school berated me about it saying โhow do you ever expect to be able to play properly if you never listen to proper music?!โ He meant rock music. This hit me โ he had a point. Still, at the time, I couldnโt stand bands that were popular at the time, but I could tolerate certain songs from the 60s (I didnโt know the names of who the songs belonged to, so I found out). Turns out, I quite liked The Doors and Jimi Hendrix. They became my gateway artists, and 100% influenced/impacted on my path into music.ย
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
SCOTT SWAIN: I did eventually get lessons at school, but I couldnโt get on with the โlearn this note-for-noteโ approach. I wanted to understand why songs worked โ what made someone choose certain chords or progressions โ rather than just copying something. It felt soulless otherwise.
Around the same time I was getting heavily into Hendrix, and there was no way I was learning his stuff any time soon. So I ended up learning by experimenting, making mistakes, and slowly figuring out the craft through trial and error. I think because I never trained strictly in one style, I naturally developed my own sound by cherry-picking ideas from different artists over a long period of time.
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life?
SCOTT SWAIN: Noone in my immediate family is musical, but I had an (American) cousin who I saw a few times when I was younger and he was a Hendrix/blues aficionado. This had quite a large influence on my in my early musical life. I went to see some of his shows, and I really liked the way he was expressing himself on stage. I also loved the vibe and the buzz of life music and being around over talented musicians who loved nothing more than talking about music.
4. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
SCOTT SWAIN: Iโm all for people interpreting music in whatever way speaks to them. Itโs such a personal thing. We all connect with songs differently, so I find it strange when artists insist their work must be understood in a certain way. I have my own reasons and emotions behind what I create, but thereโs no point sharing music if Iโm not inviting others to find whateverโs meaningful for them. Thatโs the beauty of music โ it can speak to us in deeply personal ways.
5. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
SCOTT SWAIN: Iโd say my music sits somewhere between indie and alt-rock, with a bit of a cinematic edge. I write in a very mood-driven, story-focused way โ almost like each song is a scene or a moment from a film. What probably sets it apart is that it leans heavily on atmosphere and emotion. A lot of music now feels overly sanitised or designed for playlists, and Iโm more interested in creating something that feels immersive and honest. If listeners come away feeling like the song gave them space to think or feel something real, then Iโve done what I set out to do.
6. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
SCOTT SWAIN: I absolutely love working in the studio. Itโs sacred to me โ one of the very few places where I feel completely present. Anxiety seems to stay outside the door, which is rare.
I do enjoy playing live and meeting new people, but it can be overwhelming. The crowds, the noise, the adrenaline, and then the post-gig crash โ I often canโt sleep after shows because Iโm buzzing too much, and the crash can wipe me out for days. The studio is calmer, more focused, and feels like home.
7. Music often transcends entertainment. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
SCOTT SWAIN: I think music can absolutely be a vehicle for political, cultural, or spiritual ideas โ but it doesnโt have to be. Sometimes it gets messy, especially when people demand artists take specific stances.
Look at the backlash Radiohead got for playing in Israel without commenting on the situation.
In my own music, I touch on culture, spirituality, and cinema, but at the end of the day itโs also a form of self-expression and storytelling. It can be entertainment, catharsis, commentary โ or none of those things. Thatโs the gift of music: it can be whatever the artist and the listener need it to be.
8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, whatโs the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?
SCOTT SWAIN: It really varies from song to song. Sometimes an idea appears out of nowhere; other times it comes from hearing a certain chord or progression. And then there are times when I spend months struggling on one idea, only for a completely new one to suddenly appear and almost write itself. Maybe the act of pushing through gets something moving internally.
Lyrics always come after the music. My lyric writing is heavily inspired by cinema. I let the mood of the music guide me, think about what films match that feeling, then explore words and imagery that fit that world. Often Iโll write from the perspective of a character. Itโs surprisingly cathartic and lets me access emotions I might not otherwise reach.
9. Whatโs been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
SCOTT SWAIN: Balancing music with a full-time job is brutal at times. Music doesnโt pay enough to cover even basic bills, so I have to work โ and then work also has to fund the thing I actually love. But the stress from work often drains the energy I need for music.
It limits how often I can release, how often I can gig, and how much headspace I have for everything that being an artist requires. Itโs a constant uphill battle, and easily the biggest hurdle I face.
10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And letโs talk about your latest release and future plans.
SCOTT SWAIN: Honestly, itโs the people. I feel really lucky that over the years Iโve played with some great musicians who have become close friends. Those adventures โ those shared experiences โ mean a lot to me. And then there are the people Iโve met at shows who connect with the music. It really does feel like a chosen family.
As for my latest release and whatโs next: Thereโs Something in the Wind dives deeper into the cinematic, mood-driven world Iโve been building. In 2026 Iโll be releasing a series of singles that move from intimate indie textures into a much heavier, more visceral rock sound. It feels like a new chapter creatively, and Iโm really excited to share it.
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