We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Swelles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ian below.
Swelles, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I’d like to think I began drumming before I was born. I was very bored stuck in the womb from what I can remember. The only thing to do was hand drum on the walls. My mother thought I was kicking, but I was actually playing very complex conga patterns. Fast forward 21 years later. I’ve been playing drums all of my life. But then I found a new musical love: Singing. I wish I had started singing earlier. My whole singing/songwriter career has felt like playing catchup. It’s fun, rewarding, humbling, all the rest. But sometimes I wonder where I’d be if I started singing earlier in life.
Ian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m merely a music lover. I hope that my love of music translates through the work I make. I’ve taken years to learn all kinds of instruments, genres, cultures, and all the rest. I’d like to think any Beatles fan would enjoy my music. I’d like to think many Stevie Wonder fans would enjoy my newer music. I offer music to put on when you drive/cook/love/cry/other. The pinnacle of my music is my live performance. I love connecting with a crowd. I love collaborating on stage with other musicians. I’m not revolutionary in my approach, but my enthusiasm and consistency have helped me greatly.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Throughout my life, I’ve created an identity around myself as a creator/artist. This identity has included a specific vision of what my future might look like. I’ve consistently found my goals/interests/desires shift towards places I could never have predicted. Therefore, I’ve unlearned trying to predict my future and be more open to the unknown.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had access to AI technology earlier on. I would have made a lot more videos of cats snowboarding. I also would have leveraged the incredible powers of AI to edit audio and brainstorm. For me, AI can’t replace my creative process yet. It can help me flesh out ideas by offering dozens of options. Most of these options are usually garbage, but sometimes 1 or 2 stand out with some value.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/swelles
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swellesss/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Swelles
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3uRgUVvZ1p7oI1TLXwdKDl?si=Kk283yOMSEeZW_SWZDYSCA
Image Credits
Skyler Ehorn, Enric Manlulu, Lucas Messore