

OAKLAND, CA - September 8, 2015 - Bay Area quartet SWMRS today released their debut single "Miley". i-D Magazine premiered the song yesterday, praising it as "the most punk tribute to Miley Cyrus ever." Produced by FIDLAR frontman, Zac Carper, "Miley" and b-side "Uncool" are the first songs the band has shared from their forthcoming debut full-length record. "Miley" and "Uncool" are available now via the band's own Uncool Records HERE.
Commenting on the inspiration for the single, singer Cole Becker offered, "I was trying to explore my relationship to Miley Cyrus as this person who has been a presence in my life since I was really young. I feel like I grew up with her." Justifying Cyrus's position as "a punk rock queen," Becker elaborated, "I think it's just the fact that she does exactly what she wants. I think it's really rare to see somebody doing that. She's a business commodity, but seems to have maintained a lot of creative autonomy, which I think is super punk rock. And the fact that she's standing up for sexual freedom and gender fluidity - I think that's really important, and something that not a lot of pop stars are doing."
Earlier this Summer, SWMRS made waves in the fashion world after Saint Laurent Paris creative director, Hedi Slimane commissioned them to write the soundtrack for his Spring/Summer 2016 presentation. Armed with several 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor, SWMRS retreated to their rehearsal space to write the 17-minute epic "Like Harry Dean Stanton" in one sitting. Having discovered the band during their blistering performance at Burgerama IV, Slimane reached out to shoot portraits of the group before inviting them to Paris to walk the runway in his latest show.
SWMRS's US tour supporting Wavves and Twin Peaks kicks off tonight in Seattle, WA. See below for a complete list of tour dates.
SWMRS is Cole Becker (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Max Becker (lead vocals, lead guitar), Joey Armstrong (drums, backing vocals), and Sebastian Mueller (bass, backing vocals). The band emerged in early 2015 through the dissolution of previous project Emily's Army. In the grand tradition of punk rock, Cole Becker and friend Joey Armstrong formed the band before even learning to play their instruments, after watching the movie School of Rock at age eight. Drawing influence from seminal pop-punk acts like The Ramones and The Clash, the Beckers and Armstrong released two full-length records and a handful of EPs before graduating high school. The band toured the world, sharing stages with the likes of Pennywise, Rise Against, The Aquabats, Gerard Way, and Soundgarden, and appeared at Reading and Leeds festivals, Warped Tour, and Soundwave, before pursuing a new musical endeavor with a broader sonic palate. The new band solidified its lineup as Max Becker made the switch from bass to lead guitar and Armstrong taught friend Sebastian Mueller to play the bass. SWMRS attributes the emotional lyrical content and slicker production of their new material to diverse influences ranging from Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest to Pavement, Weezer, and Nirvana.
SWMRS US TOUR:
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September 8th, 2015 |
Seattle, WA |
The Neptune |
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September 9th, 2015 |
Portland, OR |
Wonderland Ballroom |
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September 10th, 2015 |
San Francisco, CA |
Bimbo's 365 Club |
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September 11th, 2015 |
Santa Ana, CA |
Constellation Room |
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September 12th, 2015 |
Los Angeles, CA |
Troubadour |
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September 14th, 2015 |
Los Angeles, CA |
Teragram Ballroom |
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September 15th, 2015 |
San Diego, CA |
Observatory North Park |
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September 16th, 2015 |
Phoenix, AZ |
The Crescent Ballroom |
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September 18th, 2015 |
Austin, TX |
The Mohawk |
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September 19th, 2015 |
Dallas, TX |
The Prophet Bar |
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September 20th, 2015 |
Lawrence, KS |
Granada Theatre |
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September 21st, 2015 |
Madison, WI |
Majestic Theatre |
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September 22nd, 2015 |
Minneapolis, MN |
Varsity Theater |
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September 24th, 2015 |
Milwaukee, WI |
The Rave |