“Swimming Around” - Late Night Lounge
Pōneke-based Late Night Lounge released “Swimming Around” last month, a 9-track album which tells James Battersby’s stories of growth and contemplation over wistful arrangements. It’s a thoroughly considered approach from Late Night Lounge, who have expanded to become a three-piece since Battersby moved to Pōneke from his hometown of Taupō.
Photo supplied by James Battersby
“I was in Taupō working casually in 2020 when it looked like we weren’t going to be able to travel for a while. I was keen to get some stuff out there, so I recorded the Lakeside Demos.”
“Lakeside Demos” is the 2020 EP recorded and released by Battersby at his Taupō home.
“There weren’t any gigs to go to or that many musicians in Taupō, so I ended up going on quite a big musical tangent by myself. That can be a good and a bad thing. I was keen to come to Wellington and when I moved here I was exposed to a whole new world. I started linking up with musicians again and listening to different music. It sort of changed my vibe a little bit. I ended up having a little break while I found my feet in Wellington.”
During his break James linked up with Aidan Search and Benji Lines, who now round out the trio.
“They came into it and have had their influence. I still wrote the bones of the songs. I brought them to Aidan and Benji so they could jam them and write parts. They built on those bones. I was really keen on the collaborative aspect. It still sounds a lot like the Lakeside Demos though. I guess I’ve got a sound that’s hard to get rid of, which is good. It feels like a natural progression.”
“Swimming Around” feels like organic growth for Late Night Lounge. James’ songwriting tells clear stories of change, being unsure, and desiring something that no longer is. Perhaps sometimes that desire is searching for something that never was. Often, through “Swimming Around”, Battersby seems to be looking for himself in a dynamic world. He also considers his relationships with others, which are often a crucial and often confusing part of navigating growth.
“I mean, it all pretty much comes down to figuring shit out. I feel like I’m at this mid-twenties age where it all hits you. You finish uni and you’re like “What do I do now?” because for a while there your life is sort of laid out in front of you, you know what you’re going to do next year. You do all the right things but you get to a point where you’re like “Oh, I just need to figure out what is going to fulfil me.” There’s no tangible answer to that.”
“Figuring shit out”, as James puts it, is the core theme of the album. It’s a conundrum everyone can relate to. 2020’s “Lakeside Demos” written while working casually in Taupō, was the work of someone in limbo. The songs told of someone waiting for the world to open up while they floated in their own bubble. This time, in “Swimming Around”, it’s clear Battersby is looking to take his own path.
