A Quick Chat With Jonny Swift About “I’m Losing Track Of My Friends”

Q: Hi! Your new single “I’m Losing Track Of My Friends” is about the drift that comes with adulthood. Was there a particular moment or memory that sparked the idea for this song?

A: Not particularly. These latest batch of songs I have been writing have a common theme of nostalgia and youth – maybe I am having a mid-life crisis! My previous album (The End Is Now) had a real dark and moody theme – so I maybe have made a conscious effort to do the polar opposite with my next set of songs. I think this is reflected in the poppyness of this latest single. 

Q: The track captures a bittersweet nostalgia but also feels bright and uplifting musically. How intentional was that balance between melancholy and hope?

A: Some of my favourite artists have managed to do the same – for example The Smiths and The Cure. Those influences are embedded in me for sure. The balance between hope and melancholy was not intentional, that’s just how it came out in the song writing and production. 

Q: You reference school days, pool games, and even Atari in the lyrics. Do those lines come directly from your own life?

A: Yes, I grew up in the 80s and 90s when console games were popular, before the age of the internet. I had a particular school friend in mind when writing the lyrics and these are the things we enjoyed doing as kids. 

Q: You’ve been compared to artists like R.E.M., The Smiths, and The Byrds. Were those influences always present in your songwriting, or did they surface more on this single?

A: Although I am a fan of REM and The Byrds, I’d say The Smiths are a bigger influence. I am influenced by a lot of music. In regards to this single, they are more reference points rather than direct influences – in particular the shimmering and jangly guitars and tambourines. 

Q: The recording was done with Matt Kassell at Digital Man Recording Studio in Barrow. What was the atmosphere like in the studio for this track?

A: I record everything with Matt and we have a very good working relationship. We have produced so much together over the last five years we can work very quick. But we also have lots of fun recording. I perform all instruments on my music also. 

Q: You’ve released five albums since 2020, which is incredibly prolific. How does writing a standalone single like this differ from approaching a full album?

A: Yes I just continue to write music, and I am lucky enough to be in a position to record and release my own music. I am working towards my next album, but I try not to think about albums too much and just focus on the latest song I am working on.

Q: Your music has been supported by BBC 6 Music, BBC London, and others. Do you feel that radio play has helped you connect with new listeners in a different way than live shows?

A: I think the BBC brand still pulls a certain level of prestige even in this day of age as the BBC is a British institution. Being on 6music is something I am proud of as they play such high quality music. I think playing live is important also in order to get your name and music established, but playing the right kind of gigs is important. 

Q: Speaking of live shows, you’ve got dates lined up in Manchester, Preston, Ulverston, and beyond. How does playing in Cumbria and the North feel compared to other places you’ve toured?

A: North West England is my home and always will be. I don’t like being too far away from home! Sometimes the audiences are more open minded in the city compared to more rural areas where I am based.

Q: Seahouse Records has been your home since the beginning. What does that partnership mean to you as an independent artist?

A: Yes – the label are very supportive and the fact it is independent means I can have full control over the music and artwork. I pretty much do everything myself, and 100% control is a nice thing, but sometimes a bit lonely at times. 

Q: After the release of “I’m Losing Track Of My Friends” and these autumn shows, what’s next for you for the rest of this year?

A: I am hopefully recording a Xmas song for a Seahouse Records Christmas compilation – and I will be releasing a new single in early 2026. 

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