NIGEL B SWIFTE

PALE YELLOW MOON Cat# SV0498

What do you feed a soul? Protein shakes? Soy Lattes? How about an earthy, honest blend of alt/country and contemporary folk? Melbourne singer/songwriter Nigel B Swifte's work is testament to the fact that music can indeed nourish the soul. Nigel's rasping vocals and warm, virtuoso guitar playing have been nourishing Australian audiences from coast to coast in a career spanning more than 15 years and 6 independent recordings.

From the eager 7-year-old who picked up a guitar and strummed his first chords with tiny fingers, to a rock & roll powered, amp-blowing teenager who believed volume was god, Nigel B Swifte's music has come of age. Whether driven by a beautiful melody, a poignant moment or memorable scene, the last few years have seen his personal song-writing and musical proficiency come together to produce a series of outstanding recordings.

Nigel's debut EP 'Little One', released in 2002 to nationwide radio play and now into its second pressing, introduced listeners to the soulful and rootsy side of his music. Alongside his own superb guitar playing, the addition of cello, tabla and gospel backing vocals provides a richly textured setting for this warm and honest recording.

"Nigel's unassuming style and husky vocals reflect the fragility and honesty which are characteristic of his songs, songs which lyrically capture vignettes of the human experience. A freeze frame on a break-up, or a moment of happiness" - Richard Mayer, ex-Channel[v] and musicMAX.

Nigel has just completed his debut solo album Pale Yellow Moon, an "impressive collection of sweet, gentle pop songs" (Jeff Jenkins, Inpress Magazine). The album encompasses eight Swifte penned songs and two distinctively Swifte styled covers. Pale Yellow Moon is a landscape of steel-stringed sadness that's been soaked in sunshine and ginger wine, drawing the listener into a soundtrack of acoustic guitars, cello, pedal steel and piano. It's a rich yet simple album, one that records the tiny, perfect moments of beauty and madness that mean so much, yet are so nearly impossible to share.

In between recording and writing, Nigel can be found on stage, playing intimate solo gigs or at the helm of full band The Kwiks. In 2004 and 2005 he played at the Folk, Rhythm and Life Festival as well as the Brunswick Music Festival, and has opened for Marcia Howard and Carus and the True Believers among others. His smiling face and distinctive sound are a familiar highlight at many of Melbourne's top live performance venues including the Retreat Hotel, the Cornish Arms, the Empress of India and the Evelyn Hotel.

In the current climate of mass-produced protein-shake music à la Australian Idol and X Factor, Nigel B Swifte's refreshingly real, engaging song-writing is just the nourishment your soul needs.

Nigel B Swifte Biography

Melbourne singer/songwriter Nigel B Swifte's work is testament to the fact that music can indeed nourish the soul. In his debut album 'Pale Yellow Moon' he provides us with a refreshing earthy and honest blend of Singersongwriter/Newcountry/Folk.

The album encompasses eight Swifte penned songs and two distinctively Swifte styled covers. Pale Yellow Moon is a landscape of steel-stringed sadness that's been soaked in sunshine and ginger wine, drawing the listener into a soundtrack of acoustic guitars, cello, pedal steel and piano. It's a rich yet simple album, one that records the tiny, perfect moments of beauty and madness that mean so much, yet are so nearly impossible to share.

From the eager 7-year-old who picked up a guitar and strummed his first chords with tiny fingers, to a rock & roll powered, amp-blowing teenager who believed volume was God, Nigel B Swifte's music has come of age. Whether driven by a beautiful melody, a poignant moment or memorable scene, the last few years have seen his personal song-writing and musical proficiency come together to produce a series of outstanding recordings.

Nigel's debut EP 'Little One', released in 2002 to nationwide radio play and now into its second pressing, introduced listeners to the soulful and rootsy side of his music.

"Nigel's unassuming style and husky vocals reflect the fragility and honesty which are characteristic of his songs, songs which lyrically capture vignettes of the human experience. A freeze frame on a break-up, or a moment of happiness" - Richard Mayer

Nigel launched his debut album 'Pale Yellow Moon' to a packed and very appreciative audience at the Northcote Social Club in October 2005. Since then momentum has been building. On Christmas day the cd was voted by Lee Howard of The Sunday Herald Sun as one of the best album releases of 2005. After securing distribution in Australia through Soundvault in February 'Pale Yellow Moon' was released into shops in March and has continued to receive glowing reviews.

"Every note seems right, the vocal inflection hits the mark" (Lee Howard, The Herald Sun).
"Pale Yellow Moon, an "impressive collection of sweet, gentle pop songs" (Jeff Jenkins, Inpress Magazine).

In August 2006 'Pale yellow Moon' was released in Japan through Universal Records and has been receiving strong attention in the surfrock scene which is currently flourishing. Nigel's rasping vocals and warm, virtuoso guitar playing have been nourishing Australian audiences for 15 years but now he was set to take the international stage. In October 2006 he was invited to do a solo tour of Japan including live radio and Tv appearances. The tour was a huge success, selling out the prestigious Club Ikspiari and the Medium café in Shonan beach. To follow up on his international debut, Nigel will also be playing a series of shows in Germany in November. (all details can be found on his website).

In between recording, writing and wooing audiences abroad, Nigel can be found on stage, playing intimate solo gigs or at the helm of full band The Kwiks. Since 2004 he has been a regular feature at the Folk, Rhythm and Life Festival as well as the Brunswick Music Festival, and has opened for Marcia Howard and Carus and the True Believers among many others, and his smiling face and distinctive sound are a familiar highlight at many of Melbourne's top live performance venues.

Fans of great song writing, alt-country or contemporary 'Finn-Folk' can pick up Nigel B. Swifte's, debut album and rejoice in the fact that one of Melbourne's own has produced such a beautiful album.

Visit: www.nigelbswifte.com
Email: nigelswifte@hotmail.com