Americana singer-songwriter Mariel Buckley shares her new single, “Swim Practice,” taking a deep dive into themes of adolescent shame, secrecy, and queer longing.
With swirling textures and a push-pull dynamic that mirrors the emotional turbulence of youth, Buckley delivers a intimate listening experience that feels like floating in uncertainty.
Sonically, “Swim Practice” is moody, expressive, and fluid. Chorus-soaked guitars, rippling percussion, and reverb-heavy layers create an atmosphere of both tension and release.
“When I wrote it, I knew it felt more pop/rock adjacent than anything else,” Buckley explains. “I wanted the verses to feel like holding your breath underwater and the choruses to crash like raging waves.”
The result is confessional, seductive, and cinematic, like sneaking out for a midnight swim.
The new single is from Buckley’s upcoming album, Strange Trip Ahead (set for release October 17), which explores the vulnerability of existing in the uncertain – within one’s life, relationships, and career.
“Ultimately, this album is one about choices, and accepting the snack that falls when we push the button, I hope you find yourself somewhere in it,” Buckley shares about the new collection. “Hang on, buddy, the best is yet to come.”
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