Ballymena folk artist Good Swim navigates seven stages of grief in debut album

Ballymena born folk artist Good Swim (AKA Dave McConnell) has announced his debut album, The Mountains Sure Don’t Give A Damn About The Sea, releasing October 30th - an emotional journey through the seven stages of grief.

The album follows the release of stunning singles 'A Mark On You', ‘Chasing Shadows’ and ‘Sink Like A Stone’, which have earned support from RTÉ Radio 1, Today FM (Pick of the Week), BBC Radio Ulster, Hot Press, Sunday Life, Belfast Telegraph and more.

After a twelve-year hiatus from recording, the Belfast native returned to the studio last year with no grand plans - just a desire to create. What began as a single session with producer Michael Bell at Start Together Studios quickly expanded into a project that needed to grow, and Good Swim (a metaphor for being lost in your thoughts) was born - rippling across Northern Ireland’s folk scene and quietly amassing over 60,000 streams.

The Mountains Sure Don’t Give A Damn About The Sea is an uncensored snapshot of perseverance and courage, tackling anger, frustration, confusion, acceptance and healing after an unprecedented health-journey.

Having lived with a chronic health issue since his youth, a medication error in 2018 contributed to the failure of McConnell’s kidneys, resulting in the need for a transplant. The album navigates this experience - from countless hospital appointments to the shock and resolution of finally figuring out what was wrong, to realising how a simple mistake can be life changing.

The album draws on feelings of hate, fear, detachment and frustration, questioning life, higher powers and personal strength as McConnell came to terms with the reality of his situation.

The message that runs through the album is simple, however: “Do not let things overtake you”, McConnell declares, encouraging listeners to use the album as a lens to view their own life and process their emotions.

McConnell shares: “The songs visit small towns, friends that you don't talk to any more, terrible things done in the name of tradition and god, broken relationships, gaslighting, a witch and two 18th century giants as part of my journey through the seven stages of grief over the last five years.”

Produced and mixed by Michael Bell and mastered by Rocky O’Reilly, the album’s truly cinematic arrangements were beautifully crafted by a cast of talented collaborators: Zara Byrne-Mccullough (Joshua Burnside) and Laura McFadden on cello, Aga Olek on violin, Calvin Wells on bass, Chris McCorry on guitar, Joel Harkin on pedal steel and Jamie Hewitt on drums.

An utterly candid and incredibly vulnerable window into the introspective, confessional ethos of Good Swim (AKA Dave McConnell), The Mountains Sure Don’t Give A Damn About The Sea stands as a debut album moulded with visceral precision.