Members
Lyndell Montgomery(violin and bass)
Adam Bowman/Cheryl Reid(Drums) Search newherenowlive.com for Ember Swift Biography
Indie music sensation Ember Swift’s particular brand of politically charged folk-jazz-funk music has garnered ardent fan frenzy and rave critical acclaim from across Canada, the U.S., and Australia. Ember is a poignant songwriter, a prolific recording artist (eight albums and counting on her independent Few’ll Ignite Sound label), a relentless touring artist (over 200 shows per year), a vibrant stage performer, and a fierce political/social activist. As a highly accomplished musician, performer, composer, businesswoman, and committed activist, Ember continues to solidify her reputation as one of Canada’s truly substantial artists.
Ember Swift grew up in both Burlington and Woodstock, lived in Ottawa for a time, and now resides in Toronto (all in Ontario). A self-taught guitarist/percussionist, “mothertaught” vocalist, and trained pianist through the Royal Conservatory of Music, Ember has been writing songs since she was nine years old and performing since she was ten. She has always been an involved activist, and her early work combines her political opinions with her melodic inventions, displaying the beginnings of a songwriting ethic that melds music and activism for greater social awareness and change.
Ember’s first professional live show featuring her own music took place in Ottawa, but it was only after moving to Toronto and immersing herself in the music scene there that Ember met her soon-to-be integral band-mate Lyndell Montgomery. In 1997 as a four-piece band, Ember headed out on her first tour of the east coast of Canada. At the same time, Ember formed her own independent record label, Few’ll Ignite Sound. Throughout it all, Ember continued to attend school and eventually graduated from University of Toronto in with a degree in East Asian Studies.
Now, seven years later, Ember has toured internationally, released eight independent records, established herself as a businesswoman to be reckoned with, and brought Few’ll Ignite Sound’s resources to a global stage. And all this while still in her twenties!
FUN FACT: Ember is bilingual, speaking English and French, and also has functional knowledge of Mandarin!
“I look for those who…find the honesty charming,” Ember Swift sings with a wink on the title track of her newest CD, Disarming. And honesty and charm are but two of the many qualities that abound on this substantial series of songs that range from the gorgeous to the hilarious, reflecting a level of musicianship seldom heard on contemporary recordings. A staggering eighth release on her own Few’ll Ignite Sound label (all issued while still in her twenties!), this genuinely beautiful collection of 13 tracks will undoubtedly reinforce Ember’s reputation as one of Canada’s most accomplished independent artists.
As fans have come to expect, Ember and musical collaborator Lyndell Montgomery (bass, electric violin, backing vocals) serve up songs of political and social observation, environmental concerns, and love, all with thoughtful originality that eschews clichés. Walking the tricky tightrope of social commentary, Ember’s focus on honesty above all as a guiding value is balanced by her understanding of optimism as a precondition to effecting real and positive change, whether in the world at large or in our personal relationships.
This breakthrough-to-optimism approach is the foundation for Ember’s quest to displace gloom, and is brought to life through her jazzy, shimmering vocals and sophisticated acoustic guitar.
While the 90-degree turns in mid-song and the propensity for chords that no one knows the names of may be reduced on this release, there are few musical artists who are more adept at the successful combination of style and substance than Ember Swift. In spite of the sheer loveliness of the CD’s sound, there is no shrinking of her outspoken worldview on songs such as “Tapped and Wired” a call for political accountability and honesty. Another thought-provoking look at contemporary issues is “Sucker-Punched,” one of the four songs composed by Ember and Lyndell.
Much of the CD’s beauty can be attributed to Ember’s strong sense of melody and highly developed layers of backing vocals, adding alluring texture to songs that will frequently transfix listeners. In other cases, a more sparse structure still culminates in absolutely spell-binding results, and nowhere is that more apparent than on “Breath” – a distinctly strummed stunner of a ballad that closes the album. At just over seven minutes, it’s the type of song that would form the cornerstone for most CDs, yet is only one of many highlights on Disarming. Other truly outstanding songs include “Elle est la,” Ember’s first French-language composition that is propelled by a feel that falls somewhere between Spanish rhythm and the Juju music epitomized by King Sunny Adé. Co-written with Lyndell, it’s a unique and hypnotic gem.
Like the best marriage of art and entertainment, which too often comes across with as much passion as a shotgun wedding in the hands of lesser artists, Ember Swift’s Disarming provides a meaningful musical experience in the course of these songs of substance, reflection, love, and humour. Ember Swift Website:
http://www.emberswift.com |
