Swimming With Dolphins | Words, Sounds and Colors
Written By: Joanna Lugo

Every artist requires a blank canvas so as to create and beget ideas, images, and alternate realities through the use of proverbial paintbrushes ranging from words, to sounds, to colors. However, Swimming With Dolphins entangles each of these elements, synthesizing words and sounds to generate an array of colors. The result? A full-length debut album entitled Water Colours complete with personal anecdotes and emotional highs. But let’s leave this artist’s story open to interpretation…

I can’t seem to sit still every time I hear one of your songs. In fact, it’s close to impossible! What gives your music that stimulating dance feel and rock out vibe?

Austin Tofte: Well thanks! I guess that’s sort of the goal! I guess I just like a lot movement in a song. Classic dance rhythm and beats mixed with disco and Motown soul kind of stuff and all the while maintaining the pop song writing approach.

Congratulations on your first full-length album Water Colours! What has the experience of creating and producing a new wave, pop album been like and what can we be expecting from this highly anticipated album?

AT: Thank you! It’s been a fun journey. I really had fun with this record. I tried a lot of new sounds and elements to broaden the SWD horizon. I think you can expect an album with a great variety of moods and feelings; a little something for everyone!

With the rapid popularity you are gaining, how are you learning to adapt to new audiences, fan-bases, and musical interactions/encounters?

AT: In all honesty, I think the key is NOT adapting to whatever else is around you. While it’s great to have fans from all different genres and interests, I think people in general appreciate and want to listen to something honest. For me personally I make what I like based on things that influence me and from there, hopefully to an outside viewer, everything about this project is pleasing or at least congruent.

Do you tend to implement your personal faith and relationship with God into your music? If so, in what ways do you attempt to encounter Christ in your music?

AT: Yes, I suppose, but not consciously. I know what I believe and if I feel led to write a song that expresses that, I will. At the same time, I’m a human with emotions just like anyone, so I write about a lot of things that have very little reference to spirituality as well.

There seems to be a consistent mastery of creating layers of electronic symphonies, with several of your songs acting as evidentiary support to them. To whom or what do you atone this ability to and how do you go about creating such orchestrated tropes?

AT: I like the way you asked that question, I also like the word “tropes” a lot! I guess I start with a root melody and a hook, whether it is an instrument or vocal. From there I just build. I hate empty space, but I think the biggest challenge with having such a huge palate of samples and sounds at your finger tips when composing in a DAW is to not over layer things. That is also the best part about creating tropes.

What are some of the themes and topics you address in Water Colours? How do you go about writing such lyrics and music, especially with the challenges that you face as a predominantly solo artist?

AT: It’s a wide range of things really. I think this record lyrically is a lot more honest than the Ambient Blue EP. The instrumental side of things has a much wider range. I think I just decided I didn’t want to remain in the SWD box that was there before. I didn’t want to abandon that, I just wanted to feel comfortable stepping out and around it. Water Colours in my eyes shows that. As far as challenges as a solo artist, I guess I would have to argue that if anything I faced less challenges creatively speaking with this album. The only challenge that presented itself after awhile was when I began feeling creatively drained leading up to our last block of studio time in Atlanta. However, once I got there and started bouncing ideas around with Z&K it was refreshing.

Talk to me about the relationship between your band name and album name. Are they intrinsically related to one another and what do they mean to you personally?

AT: Yeah I would say they are in the obvious sense that “Water” is something that dolphins swim in. However, there are a few more meanings to it than that, which is why they are listed as two separate words but quite honestly I like to leave that open ended for those to interpret as they will.

So what can we expect from Swimming With Dolphins in the months and years ahead? What are you working towards and how are you going about obtaining those goals?

AT: Just hoping to keep busy I guess. When we’re not touring, it’s always good to be writing while you have the creative inspiration.  In terms of actual goals, it would be nice to hit Europe and Asia with this album, maybe do a tour on a yacht in the Mediterranean… Just have to take it one day at a time though. We’ll see how the album is received.