South Swell Syndicate bring the very essence of Southern California to their debut album *Go Where I Please* which is a masterclass in the fusion of surf rock, reggae and a whole host of other musical styles into a relaxed and purposeful piece of work. The band was formed in 2024 by Mick Attardo, Lewis Richards and the team at 17th Street Recording Studio. The group is made up of musicians who have all been involved with Tribal Seeds, Long Beach Dub Allstars and Rebelution. The album is very much about the California coast and the spirit of the place. The core concept is Attardo’s desire to take you “away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life to a secluded island paradise where time just seems to stand still”**. That’s the whole raison d’etre of the record really. It’s an invitation to escape from the pressures of daily life and just be. It’s about being in the moment and enjoying the simple pleasures of that. It’s not a record that is going to be defined by one genre. It’s a record that draws on a wide variety of musical influences to create a sound that is open, laid back and very much in tune with the freedom of the Californian coast.
Right at the core of the album is the balance between a relaxed vibe and songwriting with a message. The surf rock provides the coastal feel and the reggae the natural bed for the group’s general positive disposition. They’ve drawn on a wide variety of influences over the years and across genres, bringing a range of melodic ideas, original chord progressions and poetic lyrics to their songwriting. It’s not just an album to put on in the summer to get into a certain mood. There’s a definite intention to deliver a message as well as a good time. The title of the album *Go Where I Please* is all about that freedom, that desire to go wherever you want, to follow your own instincts and to get away from the everyday. It’s an invitation to just breathe. Whether you’re on a road trip, just hanging out by the sea or simply looking for a moment of peace, that’s the essence of the album. That’s the South Swell Syndicate approach really. They believe in making music that’s both fun and has substance. The music is there to be enjoyed and to be meaningful. Melody, atmosphere and lyrics all work in unison.
With their debut album out, South Swell Syndicate is laying the groundwork for a collective that is very much about shared musical experience and a shared love of the California coast. The group has the benefit of having musicians in the fold who have been associated with Tribal Seeds, the Long Beach Dub Allstars and Rebelution, all of whom are firmly rooted in the Southern California reggae scene. That gives them a very strong link to that scene. The wider influences of the group mean that their sound isn’t going to be confined to one particular thing though. It’s a sound that’s designed for people who like a relaxed groove, a lot of melody and music that just makes you feel good without necessarily doing anything to you. “Sometimes the best thing to do is just to get away from the noise and let the music take you somewhere else” is the guiding principle behind *Go Where I Please* and it’s a record that is all about the freedom of the music, the freedom of the spirit and the very real soul of the California coast.
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