A day ahead of its release, we’re stoked to share the band’s new single—a bright and brief introduction to their new body of work

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It’s an ongoing debate—whether you really can, or really should, separate the art from the artist.

Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about that. Because the people I love happen to make really great art; and the artists who make the art that I love happen to be really great people.

One artist that sits firmly in the middle of this Venn diagram is Justin Buschardt of Brooklyn band Sharkswimmer—an artist I believe in so much that I’ve trusted him to tattoo me. Twice.

The most recent session was two weeks ago at Junk Mail Tattoo, where after a three-hour tat-and-chat fest, Justin offered me an advance listen of his band’s new single—the first release since Serenity, the band’s debut LP, which dropped last October, and what Justin describes as a “brief introduction” to the band’s new body of work. (At 2:35, brief is about right.)

And today, I’m stoked to pass on the sneak preview, to your ears only. A day ahead of its release, this is “Open Hand” from Sharkswimmer.

I don’t need to tell you that suffering is an inevitable part of earthly existence, and sadly inseparable from the human condition. None of us really know what the hell is happening down here, and at different times, and to different degrees, we will all, at some point, experience a period of darkness. Whether as a result of loss or just listlessness, we’ll find ourselves fumbling around, grasping for light in the form of answers, connection or some sort of meaning. It’s not about whether it will happen, or even when. It’s a truth that binds us all.The real question is what you do with, and as a result of, this experience. Will you be inspired by it? Act in spite of it? Or even, just maybe, create something that helps you, and others, survive it?

 A hole in our hands/ where the garden used to grow/ now shake the dirt locked, cracked roots that just don’t know where to go

With “Open Hand,” Sharkswimmer is opting for optimism, exploring how in the thick of the most hard and hopeless times, we can reach out an open hand and try to help each other through.

Ahead of the release (long after we left the tattoo shop), Justin offered some context, sharing a bit of the story behind the birth of the song’s birth, intention and approach.

“‘Open Hand’ is a song that fantasizes about the ability to grow out of the inevitable sense of dread brought on by the weights of the world and aimlessness. Things were feeling pretty bleak at the time I sat in the park to write this all down. Instead of leaning too hard into the darkness like I tend to, I tried to flip the script to a degree—speaking of playful and even hyperbolic resolutions. 

I wanted to express the ways in which we do our best to cope and be there for each other even if it’s the bare minimum—simply showing up, a quick check-in regardless of the fact that we may also be sharing a similar overwhelming experience ourselves. What else do you do when the world is literally falling apart all around you? We’re helpless yet try and be helpful in whatever ways we can be. Whether to loved ones or even strangers. At the end of the day there’s always going to be something worth celebrating even if you feel like you’re dying inside.”

We speak in apologies/ ask how you are then leave/ in spite of everything, we still try to sing

And this song isn’t just a product of this idea. The art itself is the act: an expression of life, a balm for loneliness and a vehicle for connected, collective catharsis.

“For me, singing has always been an act of celebration, whether it be happy or sad, angry or uplifting. To be able to transport ourselves out of our worlds in the process—to relate to someone else’s—to feel less alone. Oftentimes in a room with others. It’s euphoric. It’s cathartic. It’s harmony—and it’s kept so many of us alive.”

But Sharkswimmer isn’t a solo project; it’s a group effort. And it wasn’t until all four band members got their ears, hands and hearts into, onto and all around the concept that it was shaped into the song it is now. And, as is so often the case in life, by bringing in friends, everything got a little bit lighter.

“When I brought the idea to Kate, Jesse and Kenny in our practice space, the music we all built around the outline sounded far more optimistic and upbeat than the lyrics, which is maybe my favorite part about it. It’s also probably one of our most straightforward songs and it feels so good to bop our heads to. Now you can too. We eventually took it to our friend and amazing producer/engineer, Brian Dimeglio (Superbloom, Bartees Strange, Proper etc) at Brooklyn Recording Paradise back in July to capture it. Once the mixes were approved, we shipped it over to our captain and Serenity producer, Jon Markson (Drug Church, Gel, Dosser etc) to master and wrap it all up like a sweet gift. We couldn’t be happier with how it all came out.”

I can neither confirm nor deny that this track will be included as a bonus song on a physical collection of Sharkswimmer’s first three EPs. However, I can guarantee that Sharkswimmer will be celebrating the single release with a show THIS THURSDAY at Brooklyn Made, featuring what might just be the lineup of my dreams, all bands sittin’ pretty in the center of the aforementioned diagram: A Very Special Episode, Short Porch and Jelly Kelly.

You can grab those tickets here.

And if you needed another reason to attend…

“My dad will be at the show,” says Justin. “Be sure to give him a high five.”

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Follow Sharkswimmer at @sharkswimmer, buy music on Bandcamp and add songs your Spotify playlists now!

Feature image (provided by the band): Sydney Tate