Astrid Swan’s new album D/other arrives on the 8th october, 2021
“I set out to write about mothering, being a daughter and a mother. I was informed by the simultaneous research process for my PhD which investigates maternal life writing in blogs and memoirs. The title D/other comes from this research. It is a mother/daughter in digital form, and as a trans-affirmative concept which argues that mothering is done by anyone who cares. In the music I wanted to explore sleeping and dreaming as states of unconsciousness which connect us to each other, to those who are dead and that which is in the future. I wanted to explore the logic of the liminal and intra-active, that which slides and transforms. In song writing I focused on clear, comforting and uplifting lines, kind of as always, trying to crystallize what I do melodically. In this case the lyrical depths are presented in comforting pop structures.” Astrid Swan 2021
Biography
Astrid Swan is a songwriter, performer and a writer. Between 2005 and 2020 she has published six solo albums as well as a series of collaborative releases. Swan’s solo albums have been released in Finland, USA, England, Germany and Scandinavia. Over the years she has performed her music on many tours in Europe and the USA. Her sixth solo album From the Bed and Beyond won the prestigious Teosto Award in 2018. The album was shortlisted for the Nordic Music Prize and was also nominated at the Emma Awards (her second nomination for a Finnish Grammy.)
Swan’s songs draw from the American songbook of singer/songwriters, blending pop structures with a cold weather poetry of the North. Accompanying herself with piano she exists on the precipice of pop and art. Her lyrics combine to strive for emotional accuracy with poetic storytelling. The result is the feeling of being comforted through hell. Swan writes, produces, records and mixes her music.
Over the years Swan has collaborated with a diverse group of artists and creatives: Jimi Tenor, Otto Donner, Emmi Kujanpää, Aamu Song, Nick Triani, Adel Abidin, Stina Koistinen, Owen Pallett, Koko Hubara, Timo Wright. Her latest release was the SWAN/KOISTINEN EP (Soliti) from 2019, a collaboration with singer Stina Koistinen (Color Dolor) and the Canadian violinist/composer Owen Pallett. In April 2019 Swan published a memoir Viimeinen kirjani. The Finnish language essay collection touches on her personal experiences of mothering, artistic development, chronic illness – analysing them in the context and structures of feminism, whiteness, Finnish and American cultural confluence.
Photo by Valreza Collective
Solo Discography:
Selected Press
“Further proof, if ever it were needed, of the importance of music, both created and consumed, the new record from Astrid Swan is a strikingly personal piece of work armed with the ability to make an impact on the listener, wherever they might be coming from” Gold Flake Paint
“unique style of grace and edge” Prefix
“She crafts these beautiful pop tunes, built around the strength of her vocal performances” Austin Town Hall
“Shamelessly pop and outrageously ambitious” CLASH
“Swan is a charismatic performer; one is compelled to follow her, and she makes it easy to do so”. AllMusic
“Astrid Swan is a fascinating artist who explores creative terrain that few have ventured through.” Phoenix
“Swan is a performer that possesses the theatrical charisma to captivate her audience. The musical smarts to hit the pop hooks and the technical competence to arrange it all perfectly.” When You Motor Away
“Swan’s cracked, multitracked voice brings to mind those of Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donnelly.” Village Voice
“Finnish Astrid Swan puts our deepest fears into words, but remains hopeful never the less.” Ja Ja Ja Music
With an utterly beguiling voice, Astrid Swan could well become the next sweetheart of audiophiles across the globe. Closewatch
Long MTV3 interview/overview with live clips (in Finnish)
SELECTED OLDER PRESS:
Prefix (Four Months To Kill)
Spin (small interview 2011)
NRGM (Astrid4 album review Finnish)
Soundi (Astrid4 album review Finnish)
Glue (Astrid4/ Four Months To Kill)
One Chord (Astrid4/ Four Months To Kill)
Ja Ja Ja (Four Months To Kill)
Ja Ja Ja (Astrid4/ Nature Calling)
HS 5/5 (From the Bed & Beyond)
Soundi 4/5 (From The Bed And Beyond)
Rumba 9,4/5 (From the Bed and Beyond)
Desibeli 5/5 (From the Bed and Beyond)
KSML 4/5 (From the Bed and Beyond)
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