Swimming In

Swimming In comprises Amanda Smith (vocals/lyrics), Darren Emanuel (instrumentation/production) and Matthew Harris (lead guitar). Amanda, the blue-eyed blond,Texas girl, was born and raised in the lazy, mixed-metropolis of Houston, who lent her soulful, standout voice to many experimental recordings with drum and bass, house and trip-hop producers. In 2002, Amanda recorded Dance/Pop album Do You? with prolific, global DJ/producer Sean Carnahan and talented producer Nikolai Stepan. Shortly following her introduction into the recording industry, Amanda met Darren Emanuel, a cool Canadian transplant, who after several years as a visual artist, decided to take his art in the direction of music, thus recording and releasing 5 albums with Two Words Records label, contributing music to film and television productions.

After writing and recording several songs in an electronic vein the duo began to gradually evolve their sound using an increasingly broader palette that incorporated more vintage and acoustic instruments. Soon, the electric piano and acoustic bass became staples of their sound and the electronic aspects took on a supporting role. The result is a lush atmosphere with a quality of timelessness that evokes the sound of classic jazz and rock as much as it does modern electronic music. Instrumentation has become the fundamental ingredient in their music, as their recording and practice studio is a vintage music shop, where guitar lined-walls, boxes of pedals and a back room full of keys, lend influence to their selection of sound from past decades. Swimming In's most recent addition was guitarist Matthew Harris, who joined the group, as a permanent addition for their fall tour. Matthew is a longtime friend with a discerning ear for hooks and a knack for complex riffs, whose guitar falls softly amid the chaotic melodies of Swimming In.

In May 2008, the group released their first self-titled album, Swimming In, which lyrically chronicles the tribulations of relationships at their end both as romantic relationships (Liked It Better, Not The Same) and as the unexpected passing of a friend "Godspeed" it also observes the treachery of family "Your Vertigo" and the selfishness of suicide "Signs of Life". Amanda's lyrics reveal an imperfect humanity and lay it bare, from the understated ferociousness of "The Sting", to the damaged and delicate of "Pearl".

Swimming In is currently in the studio working on their second album, while preparing for live dates this fall.