Swamp Music Players – Hear It on CN2

Swamp Music Players are a collective out of Victoria, Canada, who have spent the past few years carving a niche in swamp rock and cosmic Americana. Their music often leans on collaboration, and the new EP Hear It on CN2 continues that approach with contributions from Virginia songwriter Joseph Gearheart and Hollywood vocalist Sugar Parks. The group tracked the release live on Vancouver Island, running vocals and drums through vintage plate reverb to lock in a sound that feels tied to an earlier era of folk rock and alt-country.

The EP’s centerpiece is Crowd Pleaser. Gearheart’s verses give it a distinctly Southern rock weight, while Parks’ backing vocals add a lighter, West Coast inflection. The song doubles as commentary and anthem, both celebrating and critiquing the United States in 2025. It was picked up for Commando Ninja 2: Invasion America, where its tongue-in-cheek swagger pairs with one of the film’s lead characters.

Warrior carries a harder edge in the mix. The snare and lead vocal were run through cold-rolled steel plates for a darker resonance, while the backing harmonies were lifted by stainless steel reverbs. The result is more rugged, less polished, and clearly aligned with the band’s transistorized roots.

Together, the tracks underline what Swamp Music Players are after: music with roots in classic rock and Americana that still fits into the present, whether through film placement or community radio airplay. Hear It on CN2 shows how retro recording choices and collaborative writing can make songs that feel lived-in but still ready for wider sync.