Photos by Liam Annis

Interview by Zach Moeller

Where’d the name Young Sway come from?

My name is Josue, but it’s way easier for people to just call me Sway. I’ve been getting called that for like ten years.

Where exactly did you grow up?

I was originally born in Dorchester, Massachusetts , but then I moved around a lot. I stayed in Boston until I was seven or eight. I lived in East Bridgewater for two years, lived in a motel for a year, and now I’m in Fall River.

And how did you get into skating?

I started skating in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the first time I ever watched a skateboarder. I liked skateboarding, but what made me try it was my boy’s older brother. He had gas hardflips and had a box in front of the crib. I’d watch him skate and think “Yo, that’s it.”

You just got back to the East Coast after being out west for a while. Tell me about your time in California.

I was out there for five months. I was all up and down. I was in LA, then I went to Oakland and SF, then I went to Sac for a little. I did the triangle out there.

When did you start going out there?

The first time I went out there was two years ago. When I first went it was for three or four months and I did this commercial for this weed company. They flew me out and they got me an apartment for a few months.

How does West Coast living compare to life on the East Coast?

The West Coast is really expensive. The East Coast is way more affordable and living is also more real. People will tell you you’re fucking up but will help you. On the West Coast they can be kinda fake-nice.

Is it true you almost got pepper sprayed at JKwon?

Some tweaker looked at me wrong and pulled out pepper spray. She was yelling but she never came too close. She pulled it out like “you wanna get pepper sprayed motherfucker?”

Damn, it was completely random?

Yeah, we were all walking, me, Liam, and my boy Tony, and this lady looked at me and said “Don’t look at my dog like that.” JKwon has some fucking characters bro.

Do you have any other stories from that spot?

There’s actually another story with a dog. TJ Roger’s homie had his dog there and this lady was screaming. TJ said something and the lady yelled out “Who said that?” Someone made a joke and said the dog, and the lady came over and tried to square up. That’s crazy, how are you gonna yell at the dog?

How did you first get linked up with DGK?

I was about to get on this other shit, but I hit up my shop because I wasn’t sure if that was really what I wanted to do. But they said “We’ve been talking to the DGK people and can get you on shop flow.” They hit those guys up and I started getting shop flow.

When was that?

That might have been 2017. I was shop flow for three years or some shit.

Anyone else hooking you up?

I’m on éS flow. I get it through Kelly. And Technical Skateshop.

Your footage in Zeitgeist was sick. How did it feel to film for a project like that?

That was surreal, going on big trips with a company like that, and hanging out with people like Chaz Ortiz. He became the big homie, which is mad weird when you used to be 13 and would watch him on Street League and shit like that. It’s crazy that you get to go film with these people. I grew up watching Gold Goons and shit, and Brad Rasado is the shit. I love how he edits videos. It was a blessing, honestly.

Any memorable moments that stick out from filming for it?

I have a story from LA. We were out filming, and right when I’m filming this trick a car slides out running from the cops and swerves. My homie was filming the second angle out in the street and this car comes within five to ten feet of hitting the homie before crashing into two polls and a fence. Then five or six cops pull up on him. There was a helicopter… that shit was like GTA. I was just trying to film a trick and all of a sudden there’s just complete mayhem everywhere. The guy tried to run away. That shit was like watching Cops. It was mad spooky bro. Shit was right in my face. We had to stop skating.

Did you have a favorite trick you filmed from the video?

I feel like every trick feels good once you get it. That shit can be hard. The most memorable trick though is the first one that I filmed for the video, that tre flip nosegrind pop out at Eggs. It feels memorable for me because that’s where I’m from, so I have a clip in my city.

Do you have any stories from hanging with Stevie? What’s it like to kick it with him?

We went to a sick event he threw, some warehouse shit with his homies. This was a couple months ago before the video dropped. It was so sick chilling and taking shots with Stevie. The energy was so real. He’s truly a man who came from the struggle and made it. He cares for everybody, all of his homies around him, he helps everyone out. He’s fun as hell. A good ass time. He knows how to get down for sure.

How does contest skating compare to being out in the streets?

I don’t know. Contests are cool for like, I don’t know, an hour. But filming and skating out in the streets, that shit is like your artwork. It’s your masterpiece. What people will look at. It represents you.

You mentioned you’ve gotten tight with Chaz on trips. Is it true you’ve had to put him in time out? What’s he doing that’s time out worthy?

That’s my twin. We have so much fun. And oh yeah, facts. I’ve had to put him in time out a few times. Chaz is a little dog with a big dog bark. Sometimes you just have to put your twin in time out.
But has he ever had to put you in time out? That’s the real question.
Hell no haha.

Have you ever seen a UFO?

Nah, but I was with Liam and he says he saw one. Take that one up with Liam.

That was out near Vegas?

We were near Area 51 though. So it’s like when you’re in the cemetery and you think it’s haunted, you feel me? Of course out near Area 51 you’re thinking about UFOs.

What were you doing in Vegas?

Came up on some clips. Vegas is mad fun. It’s got some sick low key spots, it’s not ran through.

What do you think is the best spot in the world?

I haven’t skated all the spots in the world so I don’t know. I have to throw that shit up to Eggs.

What are you doing when you’re not skating?

Hanging out with the homies. We go bowling, we’ll do whatever is fun. Pretty much down for any activity. Go play ball, go to the gym.

What are you doing to survive the winter this year?

I’m going back to SF in a few weeks. I’m going to the SOTY award thing. Pretty sure Tyshawn is going to take it again. We need another East Coaster to win.

Would you consider yourself a family man?

Absolutely, for sure. I came back now to see my family for Thanksgiving. Growing up I really learned to appreciate my family. They’re not here forever so you can’t take that shit for granted.

Speaking of family, who are some of the people who have helped you to get to where you are now?

That’s a long list. I’m gonna start with my day one friends. My homie Stiff helping me out. My dad for instilling hard work into me. My mom for driving me to the skate shop or the park. Bobby and John at Technical Skateshop, so shout out to them. I wouldn’t be riding for DGK if it wasn’t for them. All the people who have helped me and taught me how to move. Stoughton Skatepark homies. There’s too many people. All those homies. I appreciate everyone.

Where do you hope to be in a year?

Dude, I’m trying to be in Barcelona. I’m trying to go overseas. I need to find out what that’s like. I’m trying to get my passport, I want to be out in Paris and Barcelona next year. All the homies from Oakland are telling me that I’ll go and will want to stay. You can be chilling like a king. And I know that food’s smackin.