You want a comeback story? You want a band that’s been through the grinder, walked away, and came back swinging? Then get your ears around The Sway and their new single, “Twice In A Lifetime”.
First, a little history lesson. The Sway ain’t some fresh-faced kids borrowing dad’s guitar. These guys are North London royalty. They formed way back in 1989, cooked up by lifelong mates Paul Hogan on bass and David Casson on vocals and guitars. They brought in teenagers Jim Kook on guitars and Sean Kelly on drums, and by the early 90s, they were staples of the UK indie scene. They had a minor hit with “Going Blind,” played the BBC, the whole deal. Then they split in May 1995 after a show in Birmingham. Came back in 2011 with an LP, vanished again, and then roared back in 2024 with the killer EP Songs For Then and Now. Now? They drop “Twice In A Lifetime”. And it’s the best thing they’ve ever done.
So what’s the track? This is a ghost from the past. The band wrote and played this live in 1994, but never laid it down in a studio until now. And thank whatever rock god is listening that they did. It’s a reimagining, polished up for the 21st century without losing any of that 90s grit. The core question of the song hits you right in the chest: Can anyone love as deeply the second time around? That’s the theme—heartbreak, loss, but wrapped up in this weird, beautiful hope.
Production-wise, they went to Sickroom Studios in Norfolk, their new spiritual home, with producer Owen Turner. That guy is an understated genius. They mixed old-school techniques with modern studio wizardry, and the band and producer were totally in sync. The result is a track that sounds timeless.
The Sway deserve your attention. “Twice In A Lifetime” is not only special. It’s proof that some bands only get better with age.