Kuala Lumpur’s UK82-punks worshipper! The Malaysian punk band SWINDLE was formed in 2022 and it has been said that they emerged as a part of the UK82 style, fast and aggressive hardcore punk. The quartet released an excellent debut album “Loud, Gross & Misbehave” which got overwhelming responses! Let’s hear a collective voice from the band members for the questions asked.
- Interview by Atandistorted [June 16, 2023]
1: Hey dudes! What’s up? Fuck! Swindle is truly fucking punk as fuck!! Let us know a bit about the band history and lineup?
Hello mates! Thank you for the compliments brother really appreciate it! Before this our first line up was Merah (vocalist), Arol Chaos (drummer), Boy Thunder (bassist) and Rony Rebel (guitarist). But then Boy were too busy with his work and don’t have so much time for the band, so we decide to bring Iwan Uchida on bass.
2: You guys mixed well doses of ‘77 melodic punk with the UK82 style! How was this idea developed, and why did Swindle choose to go for it?
It depends on how the punks describe what kind of style music that we play. It’s a basic for Hardcore Punk Roots. It make us remember who we are and where we were belong. So the genre UK82 is to make us remember our starting point, so it’s up to you and all people to describe our hardcore punk style in their own ears! Plus when people heard about UK82 their will imagine the band…the music of early 77/82 UK style and the most important is the attitude! We get annoying when some bands that mention on that thing but didn’t exactly fit to the genre! Some punks think attitude (outfit) are not important only the music but not for us. We take that thing seriously! Plus we didn’t see lot of punk band nowadays with the real punk outfit! We don’t have any problem against that so why not Swindle came out with kind of that spirit again?
3: Do you reject or even hate other music genres? What is punk to be exact?
Why should we hate other genres? Do anything you like as long as you enjoying your life. For me punk is just being yourself.
4: Explain more please about your debut album “Loud, Gross & Misbehave” in terms of songwriting, lyrics, recording quality, production, etc?
Our first release “Loud, Gross and Misbehave” album were mostly written by Merah (vocalist) but few songs are contribute by our friends. Most of our lyrics based on real life issue and circle behavior. We recorded at ISeek Studio, Shout out to Mr.Mokhtar helping us in so many ways, the best! We do self release album by our own without any label.
5: I heard it got an overwhelming response, congratulations. How far has it been distributed?
We didn’t expect that it got some good response out there! The tape was release on 200 copies and surprise it got sold out very fast! We actually not so sure how far it has been distributed but what we believe is it’s been already distribute in the whole Malaysia! …and we got some good response outside Malaysia as well!
6: Any plans for the next recordings and future releases?
For sure we got that future plan! Right now we been focusing writing new song for our new material…we doing a self released on our first tape and surely in future we will release it again! And touring plan also maybe? Time will tell.
7: Damn! you guys are active in live shows and touring everywhere by now. Tell us some of the best, and how do you see the gigs and punks scene over here in Malaysia?
We were based on Kuala Lumpur right now and of course we were playing in our town and it was a good response and wild! Pogo everywhere there is like no tomorrow or you named it haha! Plus we just playing a show outside the town last month in Malacca, Penang and Perak. It was a good experience for a new band like us and it was a fun!
8: Any other Swindle merchandise for sale?
Our tape already sold out but you can check our bandcamp to listening…and we will be releasing our new t-shirt coming very soon.
9: Cheers and more beers! Add your last words please.
Keep pogo punks!!!!
