Guitar, Bass, Drums
Amelia Swain
I started playing guitar in sixth grade and became obsessed with music. I dreamt of becoming a rock star, playing shows, and crowd-surfing. I joined a couple of bands in high school and played my first gigs. I continued studying music and performing through college. I knew in my heart I would pursue music for the rest of my life.
I moved to Philly in 2018 and was blown away by the local music scene. I loved how there were a million bands, and it seemed like all anybody wanted to do was write and play music. I started going to as many shows as possible and playing with new people. During this time, I discovered my love of emo and wrote a lot of music with my personal songwriting project, Amelia Cry Til I Die.
I started drumming in Sadurn in 2019, and since then, we’ve been lucky enough to ‘make it’ in the indie music world. I’ve toured around the country and played shows with some of my greatest musical heroes. I love being on the road, rocking out with my best friends every night.
Music is my life’s passion. I love helping others on their musical journey, supporting their personal interests with proper theory and technique.
When did you begin playing Guitar, and why?
I started playing guitar in sixth grade. My parents bought me an electric guitar for Christmas, and I started taking lessons. I wanted to play Green Day songs, my favorite band. As I grew older, my skills progressed, and I discovered other genres like folk, jazz, post-rock, and shoegaze. I love playing the guitar, and I play it every day; it’s my main instrument. Besides my own project, I also play guitar in a mathrock band called ‘Hinton.’
What other instruments do you play, and what is your experience with them?
I picked up drums and bass in high school. I always had a fascination with multiple instruments, and it was a great way to jam with my friends. I joined my first band in 9th grade because I could play “Life in the Fast Lane’ by the Eagles on the bass guitar. I got an electric drum kit in 11th grade and obsessively jammed along to ‘Let’s Get It On’ by Marvin Gaye. After moving to Philly, I became more serious and played bass and drums in a few different bands. I’ve gained a lot more experience performing and writing arrangements. I’ve done a couple of albums, including “Radiator” by Sadurn and “Godzilla” by Ther.
What are your personal goals as a musician?
I love performing, and I want to play shows for the rest of my life. I love the feeling of being on stage with my friends, entering a state of flow, and letting the music take control. Currently, I play in 6 bands, but I’d like to play in one more! To anyone who has ever wanted to form a band, I would absolutely say go for it! Just like learning an instrument, it takes heart and soul, but it’s one of the most fun things you can do.
Do you have a memory of a time when a musical concept or technique really clicked? Something you’ll remember forever?
The first time I played guitar while singing was ‘Hey There Delilah’ by the Plain White Tees. I practiced and practiced – it was so challenging for my brain to do two things at once! Fumble fumble, mistake mistake, but then I got it! I remember the rush, the thrill, the newfound realization that I was conjuring a complete song out of thin air. What a feeling. I was twelve years old, freshly hatched into the world of music. I could utterly relate to the lyrics’ pangs, and I poured my little heart out. I felt everything. I was doing the impossible. Stars swam in my eyes. Dreams coalesced in my mind. I saw my life span out before me as a glittering highway… I was going to write my own music and be in a band. I was going to be a rock and roll star too.
What is your favorite piece of advice from one of your past (or current) teachers?
Start by learning what interests you! My teacher always geared everything towards my passions and inclinations. At the time, I was really into Green Day, so the first riff I ever learned was “Brain Stew.” I always looked forward to my lessons because I was emotionally relating to what I was doing. Go with your gut. Exploring and deepening your personal musical taste is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
What was your most challenging moment learning an instrument?
The hardest part of learning guitar for me was right at the beginning, when I was just getting started. It felt extremely challenging! My hands got sore, and there were blisters on my fingers. I felt discouraged, like there was no way I could improve. Luckily, my teacher took things slowly, I practiced a lot, and before long, I was a lot better. I was able to build confidence in myself and my ability to grow.
What is your biggest musical achievement?
One of my proudest moments was playing at Merriweather Post Pavilion. My family flew all the way from Minnesota, and I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing them in the audience. They’ve always been supportive of me, and I felt so thankful to share my biggest concert with them.
Favorite thing about teaching?
I love when teaching can be fun and goofy, when it feels ok to make mistakes. Mistakes are just part of the process. I want students to feel encouraged, confident, and relaxed.
What is a piece of advice you would like to share with anyone learning music?
Never put your instrument away in its case. Always leave it out where you will see it. You will naturally start playing your instrument a lot more often! (This is especially helpful for people with ADHD.) It helps you build a habit, which is important for developing a relationship with your instrument. But if you can’t leave your guitar on the couch or drum set in the living room, that’s ok too! There are many ways to connect with your practice.
Surround yourself with music. Listen to things on repeat. Go to shows, watch hours of youtube videos, read interviews with bands. Let yourself nerd out. There’s nothing too ‘basic’ or ‘normie.’ I have never been a hater; I can find enjoyment in basically anything. And if you truly let yourself love what you love, you’ll gain a deeper relationship with yourself, and there’s nothing cooler. I love learning about rock history, discovering and obsessing over bands, learning covers, watching documentaries, and reading autobiographies.
Personal music projects:
Amelia Cry Til I Die (Solo project), Sadurn (Drums) , Cowpokes (Drums), Ther (bass), Soup Dreams (bass and guitar), Hinton (guitar)