NYC’s Jasno Swarez is back with his newest single, ‘The Internet Doesn’t Forget’.

“in my mind I’m screaming out into infinity / I have white teeth set in a blackness that is quivering.”

We are alive at a strange time. In these unrestful days, we are looking around for art that reminds us of our humanity. And if you’re looking for the shape of grunge to come, I’d look no further than NYC’s Jasno Swarez. His newest single, ‘The Internet Doesn’t Forget,’ is a blistering, fuzzy reflection on life in the internet age.

Swarez, best described as “cosplaying as Nirvana fronted by Courtney Barnett,” was a founding member of The Vandelles, a band that toured with artists like The Jesus & Mary Chain, Sleigh Bells, and The Warlocks. Since then Swarez moved to NYC and operates La Fam Recordings in Bushwick. Engineering bands like Native Sun, Swarez now has a home base to record his fuzzed-out grunge-pop anthems.

After a phased-out drum fill, ‘The Internet Doesn’t Forget’ slams into a snotty, hypnotic groove. Swarez’ angular guitar playing bounces around this locked-in drumbeat. While the song maintains it’s steady groove, Swarez is a master of building dynamics and intensity. Words fly from Swarez’s lips faster at lightning speed, a testament to his singular stream-of-consciousness delivery. The song serves as a reminder that the internet can help us navigate tough experiences in our lives. There’s a universal consciousness alive on the web, despite the relentless advertising and influencer white-noise. Wherever humans go, we find ways to connect and to share our truths. And that’s a beautiful thing.

In an era of humanist movements, Jasno Swarez’s music is always right there in the center of the action. Tackling themes of homophobia, religious trauma, and human consciousness, Swarez doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities facing humanity today. ‘The Internet Doesn’t Forget’ is a masterclass of grunge-pop songwriting about searching for connection in the digital landscape. There’s so much in store for Swarez – strap in for the ride of your life!

“I’m on the Warhol train of thought”

Has operating La Fam Recordings impacted your songwriting?

Jasno Swarez: For sure! After years of asking friends to play shows I realized I wanted to start offering something instead of asking so much, and during the pandemic I heard about a studio space that was available, that’s how we got into La Fam. I immediately started spending nights in the space recording, there’s no comparison to recording drums in a quiet room that was designed for exactly that. I recorded my first set of singles (that I’m currently releasing) all by myself in the studio; it was like I was fifteen again making music in my bedroom. Quickly though I started asking friends to come hang and make stuff. You can see a few cover collabs I did with Tea Eater/Mamajoe Vramajoe on my TikTok, we remade 90s songs as if they’d been recorded by The Beatles in the 60s, that was super fun! I recently started a collab series called Wheel of Friends, I definitely don’t think that could be happening without the studio. Check out my collab with APTBS called ‘Universe of You’ on my IG and Spotify…

What excites you about making music in this digital age? What does the internet have to offer independent musicians?

For one thing I was able to include one of my closest friends Rafting on the APTBS collab, she lives in Paris and the internet allowed us to get that done over the course of a few days which was sick. Like a lot of people I was a child of AIM messaging and AOL chat rooms, some of the first music I found, outside of what my parents listened to, was on mp3.com and then limewire. When Facebook became a thing I found Dave and Sue and started The Vandelles. All my first touring was set up through friends I met on the internet. Today I’m making a bunch of fun videos as internet marketing, it’s been super fun getting to produce creative visual work meant for different platforms.

Your music has always seemed to me to be about human connection – how we collectively cope with the pain of being alive. What do you hope listeners take away from ‘The Internet Doesn’t Forget?’

I want to believe that the internet isn’t inherently good or bad but it’s been taken over by troll culture. At the same time I’m on the Warhol train of thought that whatever a person takes away from my work is for them, I’ve done my part by making the song and putting it up.

Do you plan to release any more singles this year? What can we expect to hear next?

Hell yes! I’m currently releasing a solo song every month on my Spotify that will add up to a full length at the end of the year. I’m also doing the collabs series, so expect one of those every few months through next year. And lastly I’ve been producing several truly sick artists who are releasing as we speak like Domina, Amanda Tori Meating, and Autodrone just to name a few. Go check out what I do when I’m not cracking a guitar feeding back over my head!

Headline photo: Adam Ninyo

Jasno Swarez Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Tik Tok / YouTube