SWOLL

SWOLL is the genre-defying project of Baltimore musician Matt Dowling, who is best known for his work playing bass in critically acclaimed DMV bands like The Effects (Dischord Records), Deleted Scenes (Park the Van Records), and Paperhaus (Misra Records). SWOLL fuses the energy of live rock performance with the depth and pulse of electronic and trap beats. Their not-to-be-missed, visual-heavy live show creates a hybrid sound-sculpture that's atmospherically dreamy, mysterious, and relentlessly groove-driven.

In May 2025, SWOLL will publicly release “SCAR,” the lead single from their upcoming full-length album AVOID ATTACH, due out this fall. Moody, layered, reflective, and deeply emotional, SWOLL has historically given open nods to music icons like Unwound, Kraftwerk, Antelope and Shudder to Think while incorporating undercurrents of hip-hop, trap, post-punk, and new wave. The song “Scar” itself is an homage to the now-defunct Washington band, Puff Pieces (a descendent project of Antelope), and the social commentary delivered through their prescient 2016 LP, Bland in D.C. 

Reflecting on the themes woven throughout the upcoming record, frontman/bassist Dowling explains, “I wanted to turn the psychological condition of avoidant attachment style into a verb that feels relevant right now. Avoidant attachment style is perhaps best described by Kevin Barnes’ Of Montreal lyric ‘I need you here, and not here too.’ It’s a particularly modern condition that’s simultaneously psychological and physical. It sort of sounds bad and unhealthy (it is on the clinical edge of a disorder), but things like social media and AI, which are simply wildly popular modern tools, are particularly good places to ‘avoid attach.’ I also think things sort of feel overall bad and unhealthy in the world right now, but that could just be a coincidence, or my own projection.”

Originally formed as a studio collaboration with producer and Blight Records founder Ben Schurr (Br’er, Luna Honey), SWOLL's debut self-titled LP caught the attention of critics with its brooding basslines, minimalist textures, and Dowling’s haunting falsetto. Since then, SWOLL has evolved into a full live experience, featuring multi-instrumentalist Erik Sleight on drums and Zak Forrest on lighting design. The band’s performances are immersive, combining atmospheric visuals with a thunderous, synth-laden sonic-story.

SWOLL continues to explore the human condition and vulnerability through both sound and spectacle, delivering live shows that are as visceral as they are cerebral. Having shared stages with artists such as Gang of Four, Moderat, and A Place to Bury Strangers, SWOLL continues to push the limits of genre, emotion, and performance art in modern music.

AVOID ATTACH was tracked by Dan Angel and Ben Schurr in Philadelphia, PA. The record was mixed by Alex Tebeleff in Los Angeles, CA and mastered by Sarah Register in Brooklyn, NY.