Canadian act Swamp Music Players recently teamed up with Hilary Beckett to release a new single called Run With Us. It’s actually pretty unique, as the track is a cover of the theme song from the Canadian TV show The Raccoons. I was naturally intrigued by this, so decided to find out a little more about the band and their new single choice! Read on to learn more about Swamp Music Players with my chat with Evert Pater from the band…

By Jane Howkins

I believe this is our first time talking to you, which is very exciting! How are you doing at the moment?

Hi Jane! WE are doing great! Thank you for reaching out to us! I’m Evert Pater, a member of the Swamp Music Players music collective that was on point for our newest song.

You have a brand new single out called Run With Us. What can you tell us about the track?

This track has been a bucket list item for us. I was really excited when we got to work on it. I began putting a demo together this past Christmas to see if it was viable. When we all saw that it would work, I handed the synthesizer duties to Steve Greene of The Battle Chamber music studio in Detroit. Steve Greene is a long time Swamp Music Players collaborator and mixer extraordinaire. Steve’s banks of classic synths and his surplus of extreme talent helped assemble a fantastic track and knock it into the stratosphere!

I recorded Hilary singing in her very own living room in a heritage home over tea and crumpets while actual raccoon kits were spotted froliking in the garden. The casual relaxed setting really brought out an incredible performance from her. We also enlisted (with difficulty) the elusive border Swamp Wizard for guitar. Swamp Wizard’s solo fully cemented the ‘80s vibe we were going for.

Am I right in thinking Run With Us is a cover of a piece of music used for a popular animated TV show? What is the show and why did you decide to cover such a song? Are there any other songs you’d like to cover?

The show was an animated series called The Raccoons that ran in Canada in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. It followed a group of raccoons and their woodland friends and their continued efforts to save the forest from a greedy industrialist. The show focused on family, friendship and community, and had strong environmental themes for its day. The song was the show’s closing theme. It was bright and peppy, and always left you feeling really good about the episode you just watched, perfectly wrapping up the show.

We have a number of covers in the works, including the closing theme for another TV show. This time, an American classic from a popular ‘80s American crime show. I don’t want to spoil which one, but it’s another one that will hopefully inspire feelings of nostalgia from many of our listeners. We love doing covers as we get to pay homage to all the fantastic artists who’ve inspired us in our musical adventure.

How has the reception to Run With Us been so far? I imagine it must evoke quite a lot of nostalgia for people who grew up watching the animated show.

The reception so far has been fantastic. We have heard from SO many people about how the song has reconnected them with their youth. We are really excited to see if it reaches beyond the folks who have this song already in their hearts, and will hear it for the first time, and maybe then go and seek out the original version – and perhaps also become fans of the show.

Do you plan to release any other singles in the near future?

Yes, we have a number of singles in the works. We’re always thinking about the next project. Whether it be a cover someone brings in, a jam that mutates into a song, or a melody that one of us just needs to get out of our head, the next track is always just around the corner.

Your last album, Urban Crime, was released back in 2017. What can you tell us about that record, and how come you’ve not released more albums since then?

Since 2017, we’ve focused more on singles and EPs. The way music gets consumed these days is largely through streaming, so it makes sense to release songs one at a time, as they get recorded. It keeps people engaged. We haven’t abandoned the idea of albums though. There is still interest, a growing interest at that, in music ownership. We still produce CDs, and believe it or not, we’ve begun to offer cassettes as well. It’s not a format I had expected would make a comeback, but the interest is out there!

Are there any plans to release an EP or a full-length album anytime soon?

Funny you ask. We are releasing our first full length album since Urban Crime by summer’s end. Titled A Growing Concern, it will feature Run With Us as the lead track. Our previous singles Wave of Peace and A Gross Canard, which are original songs, will be featured on it as well. We haven’t gotten all the details ironed out yet, but we’ve recorded another cover from a video game that I’m really excited about. We haven’t cleared licensing yet, but if we do, it will be the album’s closing track. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!

What/who would you say are your main musical influences at the moment?

Our influences range from the early swamp pop of the early ‘50s and southern blues artists like R.L. Burnside and North Mississippi Allstars, to dark synth industrial artists like Skinny Puppy and EBM pioneers Front 242. I’ve also really been grooving on a number of modern day artists who are doing wonderful things, like indie rockers Father of Peace, synthpop duo Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, and the UK’s own Tom A. Smith. We always have to tip our hat to ‘90s groove sensation Mogwai though. Always a guiding beacon in all we do!

Are there any plans for a UK tour anytime soon?

We wish!!! We would LOVE to come to the UK. A little difficult being from the far west side of Canada. Even just venturing to Toronto or Montreal becomes an epic journey! One day though! We hear it’s very green over there, something which we love about Vancouver Island living out here.

Any last words for the fans?

Yes. All of us here at Swamp Music Players invite you all to run with us. Join us as we explore this musical rabbit hole. And if any of your readers have an idea or a song that we just must hear, and perhaps cover, please send it to us!!! It wouldn’ t be the first time we’ve taken a fan suggestion for a song to cover!

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