While Marcos Leal recently exited Ill Niño after a five-year stint singing for the nu-metal veterans, the vocalist still has plenty of skin in the game. Specifically, he’s still hitting the mic for rockers Swim the Current, who are celebrating the release of their most recent single, “STAY,” with a newly-delivered music video.
Though Swim the Current have generally explored the worlds of rock and metal — delivering songs inspired by their love of Deftones, Sevendust, POD and more — “STAY” is pushing the band towards more of a modern-country crossover style.
In it, Leal’s drawl covers a complicated, should-I-stay-or-should-I-go relationship scenario, while a Nashville-ready boom comes out of guitarists Joe Gareri and Greg Antine, bassist George Pond (Disciples of Verity) and drummer Chris Moore (George Lynch, Ultraphonix, Rock of Ages).
“When I wrote ‘Stay’ with George and Sahaj Ticotin, we were talking about the crazy punch-drunk love we have all experienced throughout our lives,” Leal explained of the song. “Sometimes the love you have for that person of your dreams will make you do some crazy things. Sometimes no choice is your choice, and the weight of moving on is too much to carry. In the end, letting go was the choice you should have made, but instead, you stayed.”
As for the video, it mixes booze-bleary, dramatized scenes with shots of Swim the Current jamming “STAY” near some heavy machinery. You can see for yourself up above.
“Stay” is streaming now via TLG ZOID/Virgin Music Group.