Interviews: Swamp Witch

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Doom Metal band Swamp Witch from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE. 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

I liked the idea of including the word "swamp" in the band name since it definitely describes our sound, and we were listening to a lot of Burning Witch at the time so it made sense. This was back in 2008, too, before the whole "internet witch" fad. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

Doom is probably one of the more open-ended styles of metal which is what drew me to it in the first place. Being able to play extreme music but not be so restricted by very specific genre limitations was, and still is, very appealing to me on a creative level. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Back in 2008 I was playing in a Psychedelic Hardcore/Punk band called Vile, Jimmy set up a show for us and from there he and I talked a lot about starting Swamp Witch. 

4. Each band member favorite band? 

This is always changing for me. Lately, I've been listening to Iron Butterfly, Black Widow, Goblin, Thergothon, and Corrupted. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

A lot of Bay Area bands past and present; filmmakers and directors like Jodorowsky, Laloux, and Bakshi; 70's artists like Druillet, Corben, Moebius, and Dean; Ancient History and primitive cultures; Hermetic Occult writings. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

In Oakland, California, with a Funeral Doom band called Abyssal from Mexico alongside a bay area sludge band called Demonsmoke, & a killer raw punk band called Bruja from San Francisco. 

7. Where would you like to play?

Where ever we can have a good time. We would really like to play all over the United States and Internationally. We haven't had the chance to play the East Coast or the South just yet but having the opportunity to play with bands that we respect like Come to Grief, Crud, Fistula and No Funeral seems like something that should definitely happen. There are a few festivals in the Netherlands that we are fans of in Roadburn and Killtown Death Fest, it would be amazing to have the opportunity to crush at both of those someday. Doing a run thru Japan with Coffins, Anatomia, or Nepenthes would be great, hitting Brazil with Jupiterian would rule, playing Australia with Inverloch, Vile Apparition and Contaminated would kick ass and link up with Exhumation and Oath in Indonesia is something we have talked about. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

I really want to link up with Krypts from Finland, maybe try to do a split. 

9. What bands have inspired you the most? 

I think the best circle of musicians in heavy music (they've all played in each other's bands) include Noothgrush, Brainoil, Laudanum, Graves at Sea, and Asunder. Period. One of my goals with Swamp Witch has been to carry on the tradition of heavy music that those bands laid down. 

10. What do you think of your fans? 

I like Doom fans, I tend to agree with them about most things. Plus, everyone is stoned at Doom shows so that rules. We seem to have some strong support amongst a lot of them which is inspiring. 

11. What do you think of our site?

I think that any publication or person that takes the time to passionately dedicate time and energy to positively write about, feature, and promote music and art on any sort of level is worth recognition. You are actively making a positive difference and shedding light and helping expose folks to new things and wider audiences, that sort of selflessness is deeply appreciated. Thanks for sharing your platform with us.