Song of the Day: Greywind – ‘Swing and Sway’

It’s often said that the music industry can be a cruel business to be a part of. One moment you’re on a high, playing festivals, making new friends on the road, and living the dream, the next you’re getting chewed out and quickly forgotten. This is precisely the rollercoaster ride that Greywind has experienced.

The sibling duo of Steph and Paul O’Sullivan emerged out of their native Ireland seven years ago, thrust into the limelight with noteworthy festival and support slots, followed by a debut full-length. Although the reaction to ‘Afterthoughts’ was mixed, Greywind had the seeds of a promising alt/emo-rock band. Then, they disappeared.

Fast forward to the present day, Greywind have dusted themselves off and delivered a poignant and irresistible number in ‘Swing and Sway’. With its personal lyrical spine, the song exemplifies Steph and Paul’s storytelling capabilities. The end result is a cathartic and anthemic blast that sees Greywind fulfil their potential.

It’s no doubt that the aftermath of ‘Afterthoughts’ affected the siblings, yet they leaned on each other through their turbulent times, especially during their darkest moments. “‘Swing and Sway’ is about me watching Steph be suicidal and in a dark place, and how that affected me. Wondering how I can help her, while also acknowledging the toll it was taking on me to watch her go through that,” explains guitarist Paul.

‘Swing and Sway’ follows last November’s single, the equally catchy ‘Antidote’. Aided by some viral social media buzz, along with production from Sam Guaiana (Neck Deep, Silverstein, Like Pacific) and The Wonder Years’ guitarist Casey Cavaliere, Greywind are undoubtedly reinvigorated. If anything, ‘Swing and Sway’ and ‘Antidote’ are crystal clear evidence that Greywind are determined to prove the doubters wrong.

You can find Greywind touring the UK from tomorrow. They’ll be supporting As December Falls on select dates with headline shows bookending their visit to the UK.

January
26th The Louisiana, Bristol
28th Future Yard, Birkenhead
29th Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes*
30th The Forum, Tunbridge Wells*
31st Epic Studios, Norwich*
February
2nd The Key Club, Leeds*
3rd Hairy Dog, Derby*
6th Audio, Glasgow
8th The Grace, London
*supporting As December Falls