Barry Can't Swim (real name Joshua Mainnie) is a Scottish electronic music producer and DJ from Edinburgh. His debut album When Will We Land? was released on 20 October 2023, being shortlisted for the 2024 Mercury Prize and featuring in numerous critics end of year lists. He was nominated for Best Dance Act at the 2024 Brit Awards.[1]
Barry Can't Swim | |
|---|---|
_(53836759932)_(cropped).jpg) Barry Can't Swim in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2020–present |
Career
editBarry Can't Swim released his debut EP, Amor Fati, through Shall Not Fade in July 2021,[2][3] and followed this up in 2022 with More Content [4] via Technicolour Records, a Ninja Tune imprint.[5][6]
He released his debut full-length album, When Will We Land?[7][8][9] on 20 October 2023 via Ninja Tune.[10] The album charted at #12 in the UK Albums Charts, winning BBC Radio 1's award for "Best Dance Album", and receiving acclaim from critics.[11] Clash Magazine rated the album 9 out of 10, describing it as "varied, zeitgeisty and just plain fun", highlighting its "astonishing" attention to detail. PopMatters ranked it as the best electronic album of 2023, calling it a "tour-de-force of 11 tracks that are so perfectly edited and composed that not a single note is wasted". The album was cited as one of the best albums of 2023 by Billboard (magazine), Clash Magazine, Mixmag, DJ Mag and PopMatters.
In December 2023, he won the DJ Mag 'Breakthrough Producer' award.[12]
In January 2024, it was announced[13] that he would be performing at Coachella 2024. He also closed the weekend off in a surprise back to back DJ set with Bonobo at the Do Lab stage.[14]
In February 2024, he won the BBC Radio 1 Dance Award for 'Best Album' [15] for When Will We Land?
In July 2024, his debut album When Will We Land? was one of 12 shortlisted for the Mercury Prize[16]
He identifies as more of a musician than a producer, emphasising a preference for crafting music using instruments.[9]
Personal life
editMainnie attended St Thomas of Aquin's High School in Edinburgh, and went on to study music at Edinburgh Napier University.[11]
Mainnie began music through piano at the age of nine, after his grandfather found a 'free to a good home' advert in the local paper.[17]
He is a supporter of Everton F.C.[18]
Discography
editAlbums and EPs
edit- Amor Fati (EP, 2021)
- More Content (EP, 2022)
- When Will We Land? (Album, 2023)
References
edit- ^ Grein, Paul (30 January 2024). "RAYE, Dua Lipa to Perform on 2024 Brit Awards (Full Nominations List)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Quann, George. "The Skinny On... Barry Can't Swim". The Skinny. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Barry Can't Swim - Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Cleal, Heather (8 July 2022). "10 Questions With Barry Can't Swim, Following The Release Of His New EP 'More Content'". 10 Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ Lejarde, Arielle. "Embracing emotional vulnerability is powering Barry Can't Swim's success". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Cleal, Heather. "10 Questions With Barry Can't Swim, Following The Release Of His New EP 'More Content'". 10 Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin. "Barry Can't Swim Announces Debut Album 'When Will We Land?'". Clash. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Cattermole, Liam. "Barry Can't Swim Is Ready For A Stratospheric Summer". Notion. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ a b Ross, Gemma. "Barry Can't Swim announces anticipated debut album 'When Will We Land?'". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Lejarde, Arielle. "Song You Need: Barry Can't Swim believes God is a woman". The Fader. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ a b Simpson, Dave (19 November 2023). "Barry Can't Swim review – nascent dance icon rides waves of feelgood euphoria". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Coachella 2024 Full Lineup Announced". Pitchfork. 17 January 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Coachella 2024: Do Lab Weekend One Highlights + Photos". Mixmag Caribbean. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "BBC". BBC.
- ^ "Mercury Prize 2024". Mercury Prize.
- ^ Barry Can't Swim (18 August 2022). Lose Yourself with... Barry Can't Swim (Edinburgh) BBC Radio 6. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sutton, Chris (25 November 2023). "Premier League predictions: Chris Sutton v DJ & Everton fan Barry Can't Swim". BBC. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.