![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tourist-Company.jpg\")
<\/a>Swindells says that the new album draws inspiration from history and explores complex ideas through a unique perspective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of an expression of modern-day volatility, but through the lens of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, so every song is set in that world\u2014being in some kind of radius of that event\u2014and uses that as an image for the uncertainty that we face often nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n Swindells says that visiting Mount St. Helens heavily influenced the new record.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife and I took a road trip to the states to stop by there, and that was a huge inspiration,\u201d he says, \u201clike an image to take through for the rest of the record, and it\u2019s one that\u2019s been in my head for a long time. Since I was a kid it\u2019s always been in my consciousness, and so this record is kind of centred around that.\u201d<\/p>\n Travelling plays a large part in Swindells\u2019 creative process, and he uses his experiences to shape his music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI love history, which is part of why I find Europe so interesting, because there\u2019s so much of it there, and it\u2019s very complex,\u201d he says. \u201cThe architecture in that, as well, and in the format of cultures… There\u2019s something about seeing things in other perspectives and cultures and other ways of doing life and structuring everything that\u2019s fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n Travelling can be taxing for the band, though; Swindells has struggled to maintain a balance between his work and personal life.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like the balance goes out the window as soon as we start touring, but I\u2019ve definitely learned to put some guidelines in place,\u201d he says. \u201cBoth Brenon and myself are married, so we\u2019ve both developed ways to keep in touch with our partners, and figured out how to communicate in ways that work for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Swindells enjoys the experience and accepts the challenges that come with touring.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the thing that makes touring is the people in each city and each place, and the chance to share music in person to people who connect with it\u2014that\u2019s what makes it,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s hard being away from friends and family back home, but we both really enjoy touring. It\u2019s one of our favourite parts to do, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Swindells is excited to be playing on the island again, with upcoming shows in Nanaimo and here in Victoria (where they\u2019ll be opening for Rich Aucoin) as well as a hometown show; the dates mark a big turning point for the band.<\/p>\n \u201cThese three shows will be the first time that we\u2019re trying out some shows as a duo with just Brenon and myself,\u201d he says. \u201cSo, yeah, we\u2019re looking forward to interpreting our songs to the setup. Hoping to see some familiar faces. We really enjoy playing in Victoria. We\u2019ve never had a bad show there; it\u2019s always been good. We love the people out there, and [we\u2019re] looking forward to being back.\u201d<\/p>\n