“Leveling Up ” is the first new Astrid Swan track since 2021’s D/other album
It’s been five years since the arrival of Astrid Swan’s album “D/other”, a collection of songs that was expected to be her last. In the years after Swan has published her debut novel, Noitarakastaja (2024) and continued her academic research.
According to Swan: “‘Leveling Up’ begins a new cycle of songs. It is not obvious to continue making music. It is particularly strange when you have prepared to die and have imagined certain recordings to be the last ones you ever make. And then there is more time and more songs. Yet, there is also the question why and why me? Should I produce more noise in this world or recede and listen to the sounds that others make?”
In a tempo set by such circumstances and the questions that remain without answers, Swan has continued to work with her trusted band – recently performing a show celebrating 20 years of published music, and preparing new sounds.
Swan continues: “The process of songwriting has slowed down. I must inspect my own reasons for creating new things. I must open up new doors and not just repeat myself. Or choose to repeat with a purpose. In the trickle of music that’s come my way, I have tried to inspect the void, the gaps and absences that appear. Sometimes I think they are there because of my particular death-bound-ness and other times I blame middle age.”
Biography
Astrid Swan is a songwriter, performer, writer and researcher. Since her debut in 2005 she has published six solo albums as well as a series of collaborative releases. Swan’s solo records have been released in Finland, USA, England, Germany and Scandinavia. Over the years she has performed on multiple tours in Europe and the USA. Swan’s sixth solo album From the Bed and Beyond won the prestigious Finnish music award, Teosto-palkinto, in 2018. The album, which describes the experience of becoming seriously ill and encountering the figure of death, was shortlisted for the Nordic Music Prize and nominated at the Emma Awards (her second nomination for a Finnish Grammy.) In 2021 Swan released her latest solo album D/other, which is an accomplished amalgamation of her thematic songwriting over her career, sonic production and her work with the long-term accompanying musicians in her band. In 2019 Swan co-composed, co-produced, recorded and mixed the SWAN/KOISTINEN EP (Soliti), a collaboration with singer/songwriter Stina Koistinen (Color Dolor) and the Canadian musician Owen Pallett.
Swan’s creative expansiveness has resulted in intersecting careers in music, literature and research. At this point, Swan considers it her method to continue to work in all three areas, often inspecting thematic conglomerates in both artistic and research methods at the same time. During her 20-year career in music, Swan has become an award-winning Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil 2021, from University of Helsinki, gender studies) and a practicing researcher as well as an author. She is currently a visiting scholar at Oxford Centre for Life-Writing, University of Oxford 2024-2025, where she works on the Finnish Research Council funded project Counter-Narrative of Cancer. In 2019 Swan published a Finnish-language memoir Viimeinen kirjani: kirjoituksia elämästä (Nemo), which constructed a narrative of the different strands of her life experience from a child who grew up in an unsafe home to a woman who wrote her own songs in the early 2000s to falling ill with incurable cancer in her early 30s. In 2024 Swan published her first novel, Noitarakastaja (S&S Kustannus) which she describes as an experiment on literary form and an elegy to mother-daughter love in the grips of generational violence.
Swan writes, produces, records and mixes her music. Her songwriting has drawn from the American songbook of the 20th century, the nursery rhymes and folk songs of Finno-Scandinavia and the classical and contemporary music traditions of the last centuries. The result is a blend of pop structuralism, art music sensibilities, and the cold weather poetry of the dream escape from the North. Accompanying herself with piano, Swan is a storyteller striving for emotional accuracy in the poetics of popular music. Sometimes this might sound like being comforted in hell, other times like residing in a sonic bloom.
As a composer Swan is currently working on two projects: a) she is recording pop songs to express the insecurity, unpredictability and melancholia of grief and b) she is composing her path toward ancestry by using the recordings of violinist Kerttu Wanne (1905-1963) and pianist Astrid Joutseno (1899-1962) to co-create with them.
Photo by Silvi Traina
Solo Discography:
Poverina (2005) (Delphic/Minty Fresh/Soliti)
Spartan Picnic (2008) (Johanna Kustannus)
Better Than Wages (2009) (Johanna Kustannus)
Hits (Pavement for Girls) (2011) (Soliti)
From the Bed and Beyond (2017) (Soliti)
Selected Press for Astrid Swan’s D/other album
“Deeply touching LP from award winning performer” – Mojo
“The album is beautifully raw, combining pop and poetic storytelling to uncover the beautiful interplay between life and death”. – Noctis Magazine
“D/other is not hit music, but something deeper that requires concentration. Beautiful and warm reflections on life from a sunset perspective.” 4.5/5 Kulttuuritoimitus
“…an excellent album and her explorations into the themes of motherhood are extensive and interesting” 4/5 R&R Magazine
D/other audio documentary via Ykle Svenska
Interview via Helsingin Sanomat
Interview via Nordic Watchlist
Album of the week Radio Helsinki
Interview via Kulttuuriykkönen
“On D/other Swan evokes deep feelings” I-P Ilkka-Pohjalainen 5/5
“Swan seems to have realized some significant things, the most important of which is probably living in the moment, because there is nothing else we really have. And often we don’t even need anything else to get really close to the essentials.” Desibeli 4/5
“Freedom and inspiration can be heard from the effortless arcs of the compositions, which Swan interprets in a heartfelt and straightforward way.” Soundi 4/5
“There’s a warm comforting feel to many of her songs” Big Issue North
“The D/other album, is once again a touching, comforting and artistic masterpiece.” Päivän Biisit
“While it is undoubtedly heartbreaking, Swan imbues the songs with positivity and not a small amount of oomph” Daily Express
“With D/other, a spectrum of emotions and experiences is gathered.” Album feature via Yle Svenska
“The artist returns after five years with ten personal and poetic songs” Sydsvenskan
“…it consists of ten songs that feature literate and poetic storytelling and Swan’s compelling vocals. Swan’s dramatic vocals are well-matched by the fulsome arrangements, highlighted by Swan’s piano, rich details and polished production. Don’t miss this album, it is absolutely terrific.” WYMA
“D/other is not your usual pop album, brimming with bouncy melodies and vibrant energy. Instead, Astrid Swan presents lustrous flows of innovative pop amalgamated with cashmere art-pop savors.” The Young Folks 8/10
“…her creativity seemingly knows no bounds, as evidenced by this substantial, cautious yet adventurous body of work. ” Take Effect 8/1o
“…the album touches on great themes and is Astrid Swan’s most personal work to date” Rumba
Best albums of 2021 via Totuus
“Such a special and powerful album that moves me deeply. There’s darkness but it’s overshadowed by humanity and light. A beautiful album.” Best albums of 2021 via One Chord To Another
“It’s a delightful piece” on “Silvi’s Dream” as one of Nordic Music Central songs of 2021
“Astrid Swan’s new album is really special and among my favorite Finnish releases of the year.” One Chord to Another
“Astrid’s performance has a strong effect on the audience, which makes sense because of the energy she puts into it.” Lefuturewave
“‘D/other’ is set to become yet another highly-praised collection in her growing catalogue to date” Music Crowns
“The light and effervescent energy of her music creates a fresh and vivid alt-pop direction that compliments not only her sublime songwriting, but her bold and sweeping voice as well.” Beehive Candy
“…which leads us to believe that the whole of the album will be filled with more charm than we can handle” Austin Town Hall
“A journey that reminds you that time and life are precious.” Higher Plain Music
“A great artist is one whose music is filled with truth. That transparency you seek as they tell their story, in a way that connects with your own life. That type of soul in the artistry is why music is leaned upon, during our trying times. That type of truth and soul is what blooms about Astrid Swan’s new song “Luxuries” Honk Magazine
“..this song (Luxuries) is hauntingly beautiful with an overflowing heart, a giving soul and open arms. Swan’s breathy vocals are timeless, the piano melody is earthily brilliant and the song itself will touch anyone with an open heart.” Listen With Monger
“…which once again demonstrates this incredible ability that Astrid has to write powerful, emotive songs that are also really accessible and easy to listen to – and that’s not always easy to do” Nordic Watchlist
“Mixing a smooth and sweeping piano-led aesthetic with her rich and velvety voice, Finnish musician Astrid Swan’s fresh and vibrant new single showcases exactly the kind of passion we can expect on her next studio LP” Purple Revolver
SELECTED OLDER 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)
From The Bed & Beyond won the prestigious Tesoto Prize in 2018
Prefix (Four Months To Kill)
Spin (small interview 2011)
Ylioppilaslehti (interview, Finnish 2011)
MTV Hive (feature 2011)
Austin Town Hall (Four Months To Kill)
NRGM (Astrid4 album review Finnish)
Soundi (Astrid4 album review Finnish)
Glue (Astrid4/ Four Months To Kill)
One Chord (Astrid4/ Four Months To Kill)
Largehearted Boy (Daily Downloads) (Four Months To Kill)
Ja Ja Ja (Four Months To Kill)
Austin Town Hall (Astrid4/ Nature Calling)
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)
In Between Songs (From the Bed and Beyond)
KSML 4/5 (From the Bed and Beyond)
