Music
Press
"Acoustic guitars must fear Swati..banging out riffs like a punk flamenco player."
- Boston Globe
"The strangest thing is that the first time I put on a short selection of songstress Swati's music, it missed me or I it. But since then, I haven't been able to turn it off." - Bob Margolis - The Woodstock Times
"My second major discovery of the week was...Swati...The 32 year old singer-songwriter has got the whole package - a passionate voice, fiery guitar-playing, honest songs and a devil-may-care attitude that recalls the young, hungry Ani Difranco." - Greg Haymes - The Albany Times Union
"I doubt you are going to hear a more engaging acoustic driven pop song ("Blackjack") right now, maybe even the rest of 2007." - John Laird - Side One: Track One
"Small Gods is an impressive debut from an exciting new artist who refuses to mine the same old female singer songwriter cliches." - John Holcomb - Amplifier Magazine/April 07
"A remarkable debut that resonates with muscle & truth." - The Truth Enlightens Me Blog
"For all its laid bare ...anger and anguish, though, the overall vibe of Small Gods isn't a crushing one - nobody with an ear for off-the-hook honesty will be eager to walk away from it." Tammy LaGorce - Billboard.com
Discography
New album Small Gods out April 17, 2007 on Bluhammock
Photos
Bio
An excellent song has the power to evoke imagery that blows you away, filling your head with visions of a dark venue, surrounded by people immersed in music, wrapped in the moment. Swatis debut, Small Gods will inevitably bring you there. Deep rich vocals will haunt you as they lace through waves of the purest melodies youve ever heard. Swati can be classified as a singer-songwriter by process of elimination, but her music cannot be described by any one genre: a little rock, a little indie and a little folk, though ultimately Swatis sound is entirely her own. Her vocals and guitar lines are ethereal, moving, astonishing while her lyrics are dark and moody, contrasting sharply with her riveting guitar.
A native New Yorker, Swati was raised on the Lower East Sides vibrant and eclectic music scene. Despite being offered a scholarship to the prestigious Juilliard School to study trombone, she chose instead to follow her passion and became a stalwart at New York musical haunts like the Living Room and Nightingales. Her initial demo was produced by Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band, Morrissey), who had seen her playing at Arlenes Grocery on the Lower East Side and was so excited about what he saw that he had to get involved. These gigs and the demo landed her a spot playing on the Lillith Fair. Despite all the positive feedback and exciting opportunities, Swati postponed her career in music indefinitely. Her love for song however, followed her throughout all of her endeavors, like an itch that she just couldnt scratch - until now.
Small Gods was recorded at Allaire Studios in upstate New York, with producer Duke McVinnie (songwriter/guitarist with Shivaree), and producer/engineer Brandon Mason (David Bowie, The Secret Machines). The record echoes with Swatis sprawling voice and edgy guitar riffs that are distinctly New York City. Big Bang comes at you like a tidal wave, the mellifluous sound of her signature acoustic-electric Alvarez Yairi 12 string (configured as an 8 string with doubled B and high E strings) emits a powerhouse of sound that melds flawlessly with the big vocals that go from gruff to gritty throughout the track without skipping a beat. Blackjack weaves a tale of loneliness so heartbreaking itll make you want to curl up and cry with a glass of wine or ten, while Dodge provides the perfect closing track to the album: Swatis singing rips sweetly through the hushed guitar, as she lets you know exactly how she sees the world and what she stands for, telling it like it is. A refreshing theme that surfaces repeatedly throughout the CD.
Every once in awhile an album comes along with the capability to sweep you off your feet and set you off on a journey
Small Gods promises to do just that and more.
For more information, please contact:
Cara Wodnicki
cara@pressherepublicity.com
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