8 Nicolle Swims (they/them)

Nicolle Swims is a Black, Queer and Nonbinary musician who is the guitarist and vocalist of local Seattle gunk-pop band Black Ends. Swims grew up in Federal Way, Washington, and their initial pull towards music was through their father, who was a DJ. They were raised listening to artists such as Dr. Dre, Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, and various R&B. Swims grew up playing the saxophone, then shifted to the guitar and studied classical music in college. They have been writing songs since they were about 18 years old. They found their distinct sound through experimenting with their classical techniques on the electric guitar.

Swims attended the University of Idaho and moved to Atlanta for six years with their family before returning to Seattle in 2018. That year, Black Ends came together and formed officially as a band, now consisting of Nicolle Swims, bassist Ben Swanson and drummer Billie Paine. Swims draws inspiration from artists who perform alternative and rock music including Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, and Elliott Smith. Their genre is defined as gunk-pop, with a signature sound of mysterious sounding chords, use of vibrato and powerful lyrics reflecting life experiences. The drums outline the unique guitar sound and the bass adds a fullness, tying all the components together to create their iconic genre.

Along with being an incredibly talented musician, Nicolle Swims speaks on systemic racism faced by Black Americans. In 2020, Black Ends came out with their EP titled Stay Evil, a release dedicated to George Floyd and about the experience of being Black in the United States. Swims discusses their struggles while growing up surrounded by a majority of white people, and how the only way they felt like they had a voice was when it was whitewashed. Their experiences have led them to advocate for prison and police abolition, and against the institutions which oppress Black people. They stress the importance of self-love and Black Joy in a society where Black people are systemically oppressed, and their music is a form of how they express love for themselves. The Seattle music scene is overwhelmingly white, and to be a Black musician performing music about experiencing racism is powerful and inspiring.

Black Ends’ most recent release is an album on Bandcamp titled Out of Tune in Outer Space (Live in Arcata, CA) released in 2024. They have toured Europe and the United States, and can often be found playing local shows in Seattle. Nicolle Swims has played solo sets before, including in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, an occupation protest formed in June 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd. They also play guitar in hardcore punk band Rainbow Coalition Death Cult. Swims’ stands out in the Seattle scene due to their immense talent and commitment to shedding light on issues faced by marginalized communities.