Astral Swans - Astral Swans

Alberta: Top 10 of 2021

by Danielle Wensley

Songwriter Matt Swan has carved out an experimental and tripped-out niche for himself, performing as Astral Swans. His latest self-titled release features collaborations with artists like indie rock folk hero Julie Doiron and boasts a confidence and musical optimism unlike anything he has released before —  evidence that whatever subcultural kool-aid he’s drinking seems to be working.

Read our interview with Astral Swans here!

Bo Burnham’s transcendent comedy special isn’t the only great piece of COVID-adjacent art titled Inside released this year. The indie-rock quintet’s latest opens and closes with the sounds of the 7pm clanging pots and pans that once heralded the essential workers, and many of the tracks find them grappling with introspective thoughts while trapped in a room – being stuck inside one’s own head being an even worse fate than the physical boundaries.