Prolific singer-songwriter Swimmers Jackson (aka Niall Jackson) has been a key player in the Irish music scene for over a decade. His blistering pop-grunge band, Bouts, formed in 2011 making a quick-fire impression on the Irish indie scene with their energetic, cathartic tracks, establishing them as one of Ireland’s most exciting new guitar bands. Together with his punk band, Sweat Threats, Niall’s bands have toured the UK, Europe, and North America, opening for the likes of Johnny Marr, Cloud Nothings, Yuck and Presidents of the United States of America.
Formerly a three-piece in Dublin, Swimmers, the band released two EPs before Jackson moved to London in 2015, striking out solo. His debut album Murmuration 2020, was crowned RTÉ Album of the Week in May 2020. Likened to Elliott Smith, Conor O’Brien and Michael Stipe. Jackson released his second album ‘Now is All’ on 7th April. Steve Lemacq on BBC 6 Music said that the lead single, ‘Stripped Away,‘ was “deft of touch,” while Lillian Smith on RTÉ Radio 1 said that it is “gorgeous.”
Today GIITTV are delighted to premiere Jackson’s latest video ‘Borrow Sorrow.’ Speaking of the track he said, ‘Don’t Borrow Sorrow’ is a phrase my mother used to use with us as teenagers while also informing us of every single person that died within a 300-mile radius of Dublin. I took that phrase to heart during the pandemic and found it useful when it was at its most difficult and a lot of us were perhaps drinking a lot to help cope. I did the sober October thing in 2020 and ended up quitting for most of the next year. It gave me the final lyrics needed for the song, it used to be a much slower waltz, that version will be one of the B-sides.”
Sing along to the lush, slanted upbeat track here, hiding darker themes within its crevices, the song soars with triumphant energy.
Director/ editor Dan Aho said,
“Overall I wanted to shadow the song , which to me has a really strong question/theme but with this wonderful fast beat. The First third of images is all fun, then it gets sweaty, messy and out of control. Last images are this sweaty guy only thinking of his next beer and it’s now him drinking in isolation. The final third of the song was the clearest to me and my favourite. The final image is a ‘fuck you’ to the commercialism behind it all. I think 90% of the imagery is from beer ads….I Wanted the video to be fun… but designed to watch more than once and then hopefully the complex themes that are in the song can come out as well.“
Jackson pairs the video with the release of the ‘Borrow Sorrow‘ EP, including alternative mixed and mastered versions, instrumentals and an early demo. Swimmers Jackson (bandcamp.com)
After supporting the Legendary Kila in London and David Kitt in Galway and Dundalk and Jinx Lennon in Limerick, Swimmers Jackson’s full band tour continues in Ireland from May 23rd to May 29th in Ireland. SwimmersJackson | Facebook | Linktree
Swimmers Jackson Tour
May
24th – Cork City – Maureen’s Bar (with support by Eternal Youth Eternal Beauty)
25th – Cork City – Music DV Record Store
26th – Kinsale – Prim’s Bookshop (with Caoilian Sherlock)
27th – Ballydehob – Levis Corner Bar (with Caoiian Sherlock)
28th- Dublin Album Launch – Workman’s Cellar (with support by Tony Volker )