Howdy friends! Today’s episode is the second installment of our New Friends Fest 2025 coverage, featuring an interview with Newfoundland-based band Swimming. From late-night basement hours to three-day marathons of writing and recording, Swimming’s music is built on both discipline and openness.

Earlier this year, Weajue sat down with Jacob Cherwick to talk about the process of shaping Old (their sophomore record released in February) from long jam sessions into songs that balance mathy intricacy with emotional weight. Tune in on Absent Sounds for our full NFF 2025 interview with Swimming, plus a playthrough of Old.

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From August 1–3, New Friends Fest took over Toronto's west end. The annual DIY punk, emo, and hardcore gathering brings bands from across the world together for three days of loud, unfiltered communion. Today's episode is the first of our 2025 NFF festival coverage. The "coolest internet emo band" logged off and touched grass (literally, on the lawn of the Lithuanian House), where we caught up with them after their set. We talked about the vulnerability in their lyrics, the massive 20-piece sound they conjure in the studio versus the rawness of their live shows, and what it feels like to be part of a festival built on care, catharsis, and shared love of the underground. As we play the interview, we also dive into their latest EP Apiary from top to bottom. If you haven't heard it yet, it’s 22 minutes of pure emo bliss in its sweetest, most emotionally potent form. Gingerbee is a band impossible to ignore. To close out the show, we run through Arm's Length's newest record, There’s a Whole World Out There. Listen today at 1pm EST

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On this episode, Weajue is joined by singer-songwriter Avery Friedman to walk through the tender terrain of her debut album, New Thing. What began as a private act of survival- writing songs alone in her room, quickly transformed into a full-bodied practice of vulnerability, expression, and queer joy.

We go track by track, unpacking the emotions and stories behind each song: from the aching stillness and reverb of “Biking Standing” to the flirty pop chaos of “Photo Booth.” Along the way, Avery opens up about what it means to try something new in adulthood, to face fear head-on, and to let your awkwardness guide you. Tune in to hear what this album has in store.

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In this episode, Weadee sits down with Tomato Flower to talk about the everchanging architecture of their songwriting — from the politics of form, to learning which walls to break down. We trace the emotional undercurrents of songs like Radical, and Destroyer, and reflect on the tensions between brevity and maximalism. Along the way: we play their 2024 record No from top to bottom.

Tomato Flower is a four-piece experimental rock band based in Baltimore, Maryland, whose music find a way to blend fractured rhythms and strong melodic instincts. No as an album sees Tomato Flower walking a tightrope of sound between chaos and clarity. Thank you to the band for joining us! Be sure to catch them live when you can :)

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Hola everyone! Looks who's back with another interview :) This time, I had the privilege of sitting down with the endlessly inventive, boundary-pushing band, Motherhood.

Over the years, their sonic world has been no secret to music lovers across the country—one filled with sharp turns, playful chaos, and a deep sense of purpose. Their latest record, Thunder Perfect Mind, is no exception, moving through themes of surrender, propulsion, and the forces beyond our control. I caught up with them before their set @tavernetour which was packedddd to the brim. If theyre ever touring within a 5hour radius of your city, GO SEE THEM LIVE!! I promise you wont wanna miss it.

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Huzzah! We've made it! What a year it's been. Thank you for being friends and keeping us company over the past 12 months. Here's to a better 2025.

Tracklist (Song - Artist)

little kid - Eggshell

IDLES - Gift Horse

Mannequin Pussy - Loud Bark

Starflyer 59 - 909

closetjudas - Simulacra + The Supermarine

The Famous Sandhogs - Wicked Game Karaoke

Lime Garden - Pop Star

Fountains DC - Here’s The Thing

And So I Watch You From Afar - North Coast Megafauna

Origami angel - Living Proof

White Campion

Foxing - Barking

Abby Sage - Milk

Horsegirl - 2468

Clairo - Add Up My Love

Christian Lee Hudson - Beauty School

Porches - Joker

Magdalena Bay - Death & Romance

Clothesline From Hell - Open Up!

Ombigazii - Ziibi

The OBGMs - LIAR

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