Inside BigSwan’s Swan Kingdom: Mantras, Mosh Pits, and Money Magnets
Punk Head: ”It is what it is" is usually a phrase people use when they've given up fighting something. Why pair that idea with Money Magnet, which feels much more proactive?
BigSwan: That phrase, "It is what it is" is definitely about acceptance, but with an edge to it. There's a certain level of self regulation and healthy esteem that comes from massive amounts of suffering. I think that there's layers to the phrase. It's relatable. Two people can reach a goal with different motivations. One can be corrupt af, and the other can be very self aware. The phrase builds a bridge. The entire track is about building a bridge and lowkey being easy enough to remember when shithammered.
Punk Head: The chorus feels almost mantra-like. Were you aiming to create something listeners could carry with them beyond the song itself?
BigSwan: If I can be frank? or Bob? There is 100% a rooted rolodex of spirituality in the mantra. I think there has to be something that speaks to everyone universally. Art is awesome because it is attached to the nervous system. Manifesting doesn't come without its trials, but having a mantra helps to ground oneself. A gentle reminder that I'm on the same playing field as everyone else. It's also easy to remember and I think that helps a lot.
Punk Head: Is "Money Magnet" representative of where you're headed creatively, or is it one chapter in a much larger story?
BigSwan: Oh my goodness. Great question. It's a biography of sorts, connected to the tenderheartness of those who think and feel outside the box. It's a flavor, and more will be revealed when the music video comes out.
Punk Head: The Swan Kingdom universe suggests that your music exists within a broader creative framework. How do you balance world-building with making sure each song still connects on a personal, human level?
BigSwan: Okay, so WOW to your questions. the only answer I have is the somatic narrative. The nervous system KNOWS. It's not about glamorizing suffering, or "how awesome I am", or, "I'm a gangta and bitches best recognize". It's about the heart. I am learning to be a steward of time affluence. Schlinders List comes to mind. I wept when buckwheat was saying, "I could have 'helped' THREE more people with this ring". That has stuck with me. I don't want any regrets. I pray for wisdom, and serve. Anything else is, "Less civilized" - Charles Barkley deodarant quote.
Punk Head: Transformation is a recurring theme in your work. What aspects of yourself are you still trying to transform, understand, or reconcile through music?
BigSwan: Wow. "Reconcile through music". That hit. I would say that kindness exists, and this is where I HIGHLY esteem the punk culture. There is this edge, an acceptance, a backbone. I don't think people realize how chaotic the seas of the punk culture can be, and that's why I'm pleasantly surprised that you reached out (and I'm reaching back). Hard facts? I have OCD scrup. For some gutdamn reason my tender little heart as a child, saw the massive amounts of violence, hypocrisy, the need to dissociate, "where do I belong", but embraced the fire, kinda like a mosh pit. We can talk later about that. Best time of my life. I'm trying to understand who I am in a system that continually tries to oppress, and to find my people. I figured, "If shit ain't gonna roll out the way my nervous system says, then I'm gonna build a bridge to others and listen, because I need the real ones."
