News
27 October 2026 – Stephen Steinbrink Releases I'm a Swimming Pool and Turns Childhood Memories Into Animated Indie-Folk
By Editorial Team - October 27, 2026
Summary
Oakland songwriter and animator Stephen Steinbrink shares introspective indie-folk single I'm a Swimming Pool from upcoming LP In A Split Mirror.
Key Facts
- Stephen Steinbrink releases 'I'm a Swimming Pool' ahead of album 'In A Split Mirror' arriving October 30 via Sedimentary Archive.
- The single's theme explores childhood memories of Arizona summers and weightlessness.
- Features a handcrafted, self-directed collage animation video built from months of drawing and visual assembly.
- Entities: Stephen Steinbrink, In A Split Mirror, Sedimentary Archive, Mansions and Millions
- Tags: stephen-steinbrink, im-a-swimming-pool, in-a-split-mirror, sedimentary-archive, indie-folk, animated-music-video
Oakland singer-songwriter and visual artist Stephen Steinbrink has released "I'm a Swimming Pool", the final preview of his forthcoming album In A Split Mirror. The record arrives October 30 through Sedimentary Archive and Mansions and Millions. The new single follows the previously released "Magic Mirror" and continues Steinbrink's exploration of delicate melodies, introspective songwriting and atmospheric arrangements.
Its inspiration comes from childhood memories of swimming during the intense Arizona summers. Steinbrink recalls floating face down in a friend's swimming pool, attempting to remain completely motionless and experiencing an unusual sensation of weightlessness. The combination of warm water and physical stillness created a feeling of temporary separation from his own body. Rather than treating the memory as a dramatic narrative, the recording explores its quiet emotional significance.
The accompanying animated music video was created by Steinbrink himself using photographs and other visual material assembled into elaborate collages. He developed the animation over several months, repeatedly drawing and modifying images to create movement within the finished sequences. This combination of music and visual art reflects his broader creative identity, in which songwriting and image-making frequently inform one another.
In A Split Mirror arrives at a time when independent artists increasingly experiment with multidisciplinary presentations that extend beyond conventional promotional videos. Steinbrink's latest release demonstrates how personal memories can become the foundation for imaginative artistic work. Apparently the secret to producing an effective indie-folk single does not always involve heartbreak or existential crisis. Sometimes it involves remembering a particularly enjoyable afternoon spent floating in somebody else's swimming pool. Read more singer-songwriter features in our folk archive.