swim good now is the recording project of Toronto-based artist Jon Jasper-Lawless. sgn just released the song “Maximum Tilt” earlier this week, and to celebrate the fact that it’s his first instrumental single, Jon compiled this list of his favorite instrumental tracks. Check it out below, and check out “Maximum Tilt,” which is out now on Bandcamp!
— Annie Fell, Editor-in-chief, Talkhouse Music
Gia Margaret — “Cicadas”
I helped out a bit with this record but my favorite track by far is this one, which I believe was the first she wrote for the album. It’s absolutely perfect and will outlive us all. “Comforting” I think can be overused when describing instrumental music, but this piece I really do find comforting. It makes me tear up big time.
Rosy Glow — “The First Day of Spring”
I met my friend Aaron, aka Rosy Glow, at the public library in our hometown. He was covering one of the classic Weezer songs, which is kind of funny in retrospect, since his music now sounds nothing like Weezer. Since his early days though, he has always been super passionate about music and, despite being much younger than me, one of my main inspirations in finally sharing some instrumental music.
Geotic — “Handholding”
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had this song on loop. It’d be in my Top 25 tracks of all time for sure. I grew up loving Baths, Will Wiesenfeld’s alt-pop project (still do), but since my late 20s, his Geotic project has been it for me.
Jóhann Jóhannsson — “Flight From The City”
I’m so sad when I think of Johannson’s music because I still can’t believe he’s gone. As a new parent the fact that he leaves behind a daughter hits extra hard. I remember being in high school ordering his music on CD from Iceland because I loved it so much. To this date, that was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done. My friend Ryan Hemsworth is also super into him so we’ve bonded over that.
Valgeir Sigurdsson — “Low Tatras”
If I was a rapper I would try to find a way to rap over this. Andre 3000 or Earl Sweatshirt on this would be incredible. Valgeir Sigurdsson has worked with some of the artists I respect the most (Bjork, Sam Amidon etc.) but is an amazing artist and producer in his own right.
Four Tet — “Two Thousand And Seventeen”
It’s been amazing to see Four Tet become “headlining Coachella huge.” I know his sister a bit through my old band and it’s been so cool to watch his progression from young Thom Yorke collaborator to indie darling to expert remixer to epic Spotify playlist-maker, not to mention many detours in between. This is one of his best songs in my opinion; it’s fairly recent too, actually.
Mary Lattimore — “Hello From the Edge of the Earth”
It’s a cliche that music can whisk you away and take you elsewhere, but this song really does it for me. For three-and-a-half-minutes, I’m somewhere else entirely. If I could I would make a whole movie based solely on this song. Mary Lattimore is a legend.
Jon Hopkins — “The River”
This is from a film soundtrack called How I Live Now. I’ve never seen the film and I’m not sure if I want to, to be completely honest. This song is enough. One time on a road trip I was playing this for my wife and she said, “Wow — I want a whole album like this.” I couldn’t agree more.
n levine — “97”
This song is so beautiful it makes me just happy to be alive at the same time as this music. Also, “beautiful world bedroom” is just about as good as they come for album titles.
(Photo Credit: Liam Sanagan)
