Who, What, and Why Swim Effect?

I thought I’d start this blog out with who the heck started Swim Effect, why, and what?! 

Right now Swim Effect is just me – Anne – hi! If you read the About ‘Us’ page, you know I’m a sober musician, and I created Swim Effect because I feel there is a need for sober spaces and support in the music industry. Let’s get into a bit of the nitty gritty…

Addiction: Most times you hear an addict who got sober call themselves a recovering addict. I am someone who says that. But I like to also say I’m in transformation. I was an active addict – mostly to alcohol – and now I’m in a sober transformation on a daily basis. The struggle or temptation to use or drink doesn’t just disappear overnight, or in a year, or in five years. Some days are easy, some days feel like an electric current of overwhelming hopelessness on a constant spin cycle. I learn from each day, each experience, each struggle, and each joy. All of that is transformative in my life as a sober and lucid person. 

So that’s a piece of me; I’m an addict in transformation.

And so it’s on the record in case anyone was wondering where I’m at with my sobriety..  I have been sober for just over five and a half years. I do not use any mind altering substances whatsoever. In my personal walk, I seek God and I believe in the Bible. With Swim Effect, I am in no way asking anyone to do, say, or believe in one thing or another except to be encouraging, joyful, compassionate, respectful and FULL of music everything. My walk is mine, yours is yours. I’m here to share my story with the hope that it helps others. It’s that simple.

Music: We won’t get too detailed *right now.* Here’s a little background of music me.

I’m currently a full time musician as of 3 months ago. I was a side hustle musician for a while. Meaning I had a day job and played shows on the side. I got sick of doing what I loved less often so I quit the day job life. I gig in various capacities, I’m in a band called Anne Eliza (ambient piano pop), I get hired for studio work and live shows (usually backgrounds), etc. I do a lot of music stuff now. It’s great.

I have just calculated that I’ve been a pianist and singer for 27 years. I started studying both at age 5. I’m 4 days from turning 32. Math is hard? I grew up in the classical and musical theater worlds. I graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2013. I dabble in a lot of genres now and I love Radiohead. 

In 2017 I got sober and joined a touring band singing backing vocals. I was barely a month sober when I did this. My therapist very accurately advised me at the time by saying “I don’t recommend this.” I met my best friend in this band. We toured all over and I learned a lot of things and made lifelong friends. It was so fun and also hard. I left the band in 2018 but remain close and love them all. I’ll circle back in a future post on my transformation learnings.

In 2021 I started thinking it’s time in my substance free journey that I create something that combines sobriety and music that helps people. It has been tugging on my heart for a long time. 

And now Swim Effect exists. 

My vision with Swim Effect is to create a wide-spread supportive sober community for musicians and music lovers alike. 

In the handful of years I’ve been a sober musician, I’ve noticed a few things. There is almost always no escape from alcohol at the very least. If you want to see or play a show, you have to just accept the fact that substances are around. It’s a relapse risk – some more so than others. So what do you do? 

I’ve also noticed the vulnerability and pressure that can plague artists and creatives. And substances are a coping mechanism, a habit, a dependency. A stereotype was created and therefore a lack of shock occurs when you hear about artists using or drinking during shows to calm the nerves or in the studio to get creative juices flowing. I hate that. It’s too common. It’s too accepted. The musician and the addiction are too friendly. How can I challenge this stereotype?

Support onsite is lacking. I’ve been luckier than anyone I know to have a sober husband and a best friend who stays sober around me. I never feel alone or outcast attending or playing shows. There are some gigs when they aren’t there. I have to be realistic about the fact that I gig professionally and bringing a sober buddy to work isn’t really realistic (ha!). But in all seriousness, support is so immensely important. Isolation is a dangerous headspace to be in. Is there a way to integrate more relationship based support?

Below are a few of my goals that will address the questions I’ve been asking. I like to hope Swim Effect will create a ripple as these goals get accomplished:

• Sober Stories on the Blog 
• Sober Buddy System 
• Sponsored Tours and Shows for Sober Musicians
• Sober Events/Spaces and Event Partnerships 

I have so many ideas I want to do with Swim Effect. If you’re interested in partnering, please fill out the form on the site as I’d LOVE to talk with you. 

For now, I hope you have a better idea of who I am and what I’m aiming to do. If you feel a tug on your heart after reading this, shoot me a message or sign up for email notifications so you don’t miss what’s happenin’!

When you feel you’re at the bottom of the ocean in the dark, you’re overwhelmed, melancholic, or tempted to relapse.. You aren’t alone and you never will be. You can reach the surface. 

-Anne, Swim Effect Founder