Tuesday 22 January 2013

Swiss Water Method Q&A


Your name:
Jon Townley.

Where are you from? 
I was born in Birmingham but grew up in Hartlebury, which is a small village in North Worcestershire.

Name of band:
Swiss Water Method.

How would you describe yourself? 
An acoustic guitar based singer-songwriter specialising in maudlin Sadcore musings with a smattering of Americana for good measure.

Who are your main influences musically? 
I listen to a lot of music so therefore I'm influenced by a great deal of artists spanning a variety of different genres. My main influences, and hopefully this comes out in my music (not too much obviously!) would be Red House Painters, Death Cab For Cutie and Jimmy Eat World. However, I'm also influenced by Joni Mitchell, Sufjan Stevens, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Ryan Adams...the usual suspects I would imagine in the kind of thing I'm doing. Lyrically, apart from the above I look up to Morrisey and Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout) a great deal - I think each of them injects a certain black humour into their work and also a stark honesty which can be cutting yet almost shows a fragile vunerability. Aside from these I'm also influenced by ambient artists such as Brian Eno or Stars Of The Lid and post-rock, mainly Mogwai and Low Level Owl-era Appleseed Cast. I think when you're writing songs but such a huge lover and collector of music, it's hard to pinpoint specific artists. I mean I'm really into jazz too but there's no way it comes out in my music, I'm not that musically gifted! 

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
The one thing I really want is people to relate to it. I don't want people to dance, or sing along or whatever, I mean, obviously if they want to that's great but I'm not writing these songs to be enjoyed if that makes sense. I want these songs to make people feel something, give catharsis or open old wounds. I don't want them just to be throwaway tunes for people to vaguely listen to. The best type of music evokes emotions in people and this for me would be the biggest achievement. Whether it be in the lyrics or a certain chord progression as long as it stirs the emotions, I'll be happy.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
I don't really have one yet!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
I think, back in the days of Myspace, I put a few recordings which are just terribly, terribly recorded :-D I was still learning home recording, and I still am, and listening to them now gives me a "what was I thinking?" moment. So I'd like to forget those bad recordings!

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why? 
Well, it's not my personal favourite but I guess All She Can Take as this seems to be the song that I get the most compliments about. However, Honiton for me has a special meaning to me as it was written about a good friend of mine and also lyrically it's possibly the song I'm most proud of

Where can we listen to it? 





Where can we find out more about your music?
Swiss Water Method on Facebook, @SwissWaterMeth on Twitter and the above Soundcloud address. Also I have videos on YouTube of me performing my own songs:

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask? 
Would I like a record deal? Yes. :-D


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