We sat down with Los Angeles-based folk-pop duo JOHNNYSWIM, who returned with their fifth studio album, When The War Is Over, released on 7 February under their own imprint, MR AND MRS SWIM LLC. Made up of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez – daughter of disco legend Donna Summer – the dynamic duo has amassed over 575 million streams and delivered mesmerizing performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and CBS Mornings, with an upcoming appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 10 February. Produced by Abner himself, the album explores vulnerability, reflection, and resilience, featuring standout track ‘Dopamine’ with American rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe. With sold-out shows on the horizon and praise from heavyweights like Rolling Stone and The New York Times, JOHNNYSWIM continues to solidify their place as a force in folk-pop music.
Read our interview with this powerful pair and stream When The War Is Over below.
Paint us a picture: what sparked your passion for the arts in the first place? Was there a single moment or experience that solidified your decision to pursue this path?
Music always thrilled us both as kids. We were surrounded by singers and songwriters and poets and storytellers. Of course as little kids we wanted to be everything from pro basketball players to an astronaut, but singing on stage was what both of us wanted for as long as we can remember. At some point when we met, we both were in the same place of loving songwriting and singing despite it not paying the bills. This actually gave us a great sense of freedom but also sustained us because we realized that if we loved it that much to do it for fun then we’d really love it if we ever actually could pay bills with it.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
What leads the way in any given song changes with each song. We have endless notes of possible song titles which sometimes sparks our creativity, but often it’s a line or a feeling that gets the ball rolling.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
We don’t need much! Voice notes, a piano or guitar, and each other. When we’re in the studio we keep an SM7 out on the coffee table so we can quickly record ideas and build the song out easier and in the flow of inspiration.
What’s your go-to ritual or trick for getting into the creative zone?
Quieting our minds! Listening is the first step to writing, and quieting the noise is the first step to listening. You have to be able to clear away the mess to see what you really think or feel, so some deep breaths, no overthinking, no editing at first, just feel the gentle tug of creativity and follow its lead. Sometimes it will feel like painting on a blank canvas and sometimes it will feel like excavating a work that’s already in the ground and it’s your job to just use the tools you have to bring it out.
How did you ultimately end up defining your sound?
We wrote the songs we wanted to write. We didn’t give much thought to genre and let our influences come out however felt right to us. There were definitely plenty of people who wanted us to choose a lane, but we were having too much fun to do that.
How has your creative process or perspective shifted since you started your journey?
The hope is that you learn to trust your instincts more as you grow…That your point of view continues to develop as you experience more of life and you are able to translate that into creations that allow other people to feel known in their experiences too. Our process hasn’t practically changed at all, but the realization that you can write things that become part of the soundtrack to other peoples lives breathes life into your process.
Walk us through a recording session: what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had in the studio?
This album was really special because it was all recorded in one room together almost entirely so there were infinite tiny moments of excitement and connection as we recorded. We would play the song a few times together and everyone would try different things until we found the right feel and then we would record until we got what we wanted. It was such a special experience coming after a few albums of working remotely or with different players over the course of various sessions.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
None were unexpected but definitely the entire album is one big dream collaboration. Tobe Nwigwe is a great friend and brilliant artist and every album we’ve made since we met him, we’ve more or less begged him to be on. Britten Newbill is an amazing songwriter who we’ve been lucky enough to know and call friends for over a decade, and he wrote ‘Monte Carlo’, which is the first original song we’ve recorded that someone else wrote. Every musician that played on the album was a top choice, dream collab as well.
Any side projects you’re working on?
We are currently working on a musical. We can’t say much about it yet, but it’s a dream to create music that helps bring a story to life.
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
Ben Abraham. His voice is magic and his songs hit straight to the heart. Yasmin Haas is a great artist we had the pleasure of seeing live recently and loved her show. Also Maimuna Memon. Her voice gives me constant chills.
What’s the strangest or most surprising song currently on your playlist?
Nothing super strange at the moment. There’s a lot of jazz, girly pop, folk, soundtracks, it’s definitely an eclectic mix. The only surprise would be that we love the Zelda and Chill album which is songs from the video game but in great lo-fi beats renditions.
Which song, album or playlist do you never get sick of no matter how many times you listen to it?
Olivia Dean’s ‘Messy’. Our whole family loves it and it gets played nonstop. Also the Minari soundtrack by Emile Mosseri.
Are there any unexpected hobbies or projects you’re exploring outside of your main work?
We love to cook! We even have a few seasons of a cooking show out in the world. We aren’t in any way chefs, but we love to do it together and most of all we love an excuse to get people together whether it’s over music or food.
If your life and career were an album, what would its title be, and what’s the hidden track only your fans would know?
Lucky Bastards, hidden track would be called ‘What’s for Dinner’.
Give us a glimpse into the future – what surprises or milestones are coming up for you this year?
This year is looking busy, which is amazing. Between tours and writing and raising three kids, I don’t know that we’ll have much of a routine, but we’re excited about it. The glory of no routine and lots of different experiences is it forces you to take one day at a time and live in the moment.
Famous last words?
This is too much pressure so just goodbye 
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