Swear Tapes is releasing Second Son, the debut full length, on April 20. We caught up with Jim Barrett to talk about starting Swear Tapes, working with Muscle Beach Records, and recording the album.
Barrett previously played in the indie rock outfit Young Buffalo. It was while on their way home after a tour that he decided to start work on Swear Tapes.
“I remember being in the van and driving some nine hours back to Oxford thinking I needed to do something new, I needed something different,” said Barrett. “It was holidays of 2016 when I started recording. I took a little time off [from performing] but I jumped in on recording. Our First show wasn’t until May opening for Whitney.”
The bulk of writing for the album was done in 2016 with a “late creative push finishing the album [March of] last year,” said Barrett.
“It’s where I’ve been musically for the last two or three years,” said Barrett. “There’s a song I’d written when I was still with Young Buffalo, ‘Money,’ it was never meant to be a Young Buffalo song but we’d play it just because we were tired of all the songs we’d been playing. . .and then “Teeth” was a demo I’d recorded when I was with Ills. I just decided if I’m going to do a solo record it might as well have all the songs I love.”
The album kicks off with “Pushover,” a catchy pop rock track lamenting the tale of being used by those around you.
“It’s definitely self-deprecating,” said Barrett. “It might be a little more intense than intended. There was a band that stayed at my house that stole some things and one of them wet the bed, my roommates bed. I felt like I was a bit taken advantage so I decided to just write the song as this character that’s a deadbeat and everybody pushes around.”
Second Son was recorded over the better part of 2016 and wrapped in early spring of 2017 at Will Eubanks’ cabin and home studio.
Along with the album release, Barrett is working with director Alex Thiel to produce a music video for “Right Now” off of Second Son.
“The concept was the do a fun, manic video with lots of twists and turns, much like the song,” said Thiel. “It’s basically a short film centered around a botched bank heist. It was a blast to make and our lead actors killed, they’re naturals.”
Barrett has plans to tour on Second Son, but just getting the album out to the public has been the most exciting part of preparing for the release.
“It’s been done for some long just sitting in the chamber,” said Barrett. “I’m excited to get this out and for people to hear it.”
Swear Tapes is playing the Record Store Day party at Proud Larrys’ on April 21 along with Young Valley, also celebrating a new album release, Dreamland Gateway, and PW Franci$. Pick up Second Son on the Swear Tapes Bandcamp. 
