Flickr

I know I missed so many great releases in 2012. The first 6 months of the year found me largely focused on wrapping up and releasing my latest record, Respire. However, music is a vital part of my day. It serves a valuable function in my day. I spend a lot of time on the road, in my recording studio, sitting at a computer designing things, retouching photography, etc. The following list shows the releases that were the ones I reached for over and over again in order to maintain the focus and vibe needed on any given day in 2012.

Read More

The year has kicked off with quite a flurry of busy activity. Design, recordings, photography, mastering, writing music, illness, etc. So, here’s something I unintentionally neglected to mention at the beginning of the year.

Around the end of 2012, a lovely compilation was released that featured my new track “Ignis Gloria” along side some wonderful pieces of music from Cousin Silas, Earlyguard, Fontaine, Ambienteer and many others.

Now you can download it for FREE. Highly recommended. Available here.

My new track “Ignis Gloria” now available as a free download. Enjoy! A little something to warm up the winter. =)

Was excited to recently discover that my album Respire made it on to this lovely list from the Headphonaught site. A lot of really wonderful artists on there and I’m honored to be in such great company.

Over the course of any given year, I have the privilege of working with many musical artists from recording, mixing and mastering to researching music for commercials and films. I’m constantly exposed to a variety of genres. While I have certain genres that I love, there are always random songs that seem to scratch a musical itch in just the right way. They involuntarily end up as part of the soundtrack to life around the house whether it be relaxing in the evening or dancing in the kitchen with my children. I also have friends whose tastes are all over the map. So, to all my dearest friends and those I don’t know as well, here are three FREE mixes of music for the winter that should offer a little something for everyone. Enjoy!

1. Childhood, Born To Be A Servant - Daniel Half
2. Remember - Windy & Carl
3. Anders V - FJRicharts
4. The Curve That Warms - Widesky
5. Enormity Of An Empty Sky - Jannick Schou
6. My Skies Cry Your Name - Bvdub
7. Egress - Bengalfuel
8. Breathing Slowly - Field Rotation
9. Abandoned Silence - Willits + Sakamoto
10. 0327 - Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto
11. Aftrthghts - kwajbasket
12. Sealevel.2 - Simon Scott
13. Untitled - Olli Aarni
14. Snippet - Nils Frahm
15. Two for Joy (Ed Hamilton edit) - Anna Rose Carter

DOWNLOAD HERE 

1. Digging Shelters - Neil Halstead
2. Everlasting Light - Fire Mountain
3. Around And Around - Mark Kozelek & Rachel Goswell
4. Hear the Noise That Moves So Soft and Low - James Vincent McMorrow
5. These Days - Sad Souls
6. The Temptation Of Adam - Josh Ritter
7. Galanka - Amadou Binta Konté
8. Maraqopa - Damien Jurado
9. Hey Daydreamer - Neil Halstead
10. I’ve Got A Woman - Bert Jansch
11. Busied My Hands - The Singing Skies
12. First Born - J. Tillman
13. Song of Good Hope - Glen Hansard

DOWNLOAD HERE 
 

1. The Yes Strut - Teams vs. Star Slinger
2. Slow Down - Poolside
3. Wild - Beach House
4. Origins - Tennis
5. It’s Real - Real Estate
6. Over the Moon - Rosie Thomas
7. Beg for the Night - Twin Shadow
8. Safety - Leagues
9. & It Was U - How To Dress Well
10. Nocturne - Wild Nothing
11. Soul Mates - Glam Shell
12. Be Mine Tonight - Twin Shadow

DOWNLOAD HERE

End of year lists are popping up and I’m honored to discover I was added to the top albums of 2012 list for Stadiums & Shrines. Dustin Wong, Julia Holter, Tame Impala, Heathered Pearls, etc. are also on there. Not bad company. Happy holidays! Hug those you love as many times as you can. Cheers!

Flickr

Honored and thankful for kind and deeply understanding words about my work from ATTN: Magazine. Thank you!

 

Flickr

Flickr

I recently answered some questions about my music and why I do what I do for the Headphonaught blog out of Scotland. Thanks Thomas for the opportunity. =)

Thrilled to see some thoughtful words about the new album from Thomas at the Headphonaught blog. Cheers!

 

Delighted to discover some lovely and very true words about my new album from Richard Allen at A Closer Listen.

My new album is out. Now, the details and a stream of the whole album. 

AVAILABLE AT:
Beatport
iTunes
eMusic
Amazon





Respire is a body of work that explores the power and intimacy found in deep connections between people. The album is built around recordings of rhythmic and meditative breathing made by myself and some close friends in a quiet room. From there, even the instruments recorded in the aftermath were treated as breathing entities. Inhaling and exhaling. Washing in and out. Everything moving in, through and around the sounds of friends sitting silently in each other’s presence, just being. All of these elements are knit together – guitars, piano, breathing and heartbeats – to create a work that is delicate, intimate and, at times, visceral in nature.

TRACKLIST:
1. Butterfly Flaps Its Wings 
2. Yours Mine Ours
3. Ocean Breath 
4. Ocean Breath (313 Version) 
5. Breathe Out The Sea

For the following whom I greatly love and who have been light and inspiration in return: God, Anna Swartz, Claire Swartz, Noelle Swartz, Liza Swartz, Mom & Dad Swartz, The Owen Family, Michael Carian, Monique Prieur, Candice Belanger, Justin Van Slembrouck, Janie Van Slembrouck, Mom & Dad Van Slembrouck, Stephenie McWalters, Dan Edwards, Tom Currie, Philip Zott 

Very special thanks to Anna Swartz, Daniel Half, Monique Prieur, Windy & Carl, Brock Van Wey, Candice Belanger, Michael Carian, Justin Van Slembrouck, Krystle Lilliestierna 

This album was recorded, mixed and mastered in high resolution audio with numerous subtleties. The mix of each piece will sound different from system to system due to the full scope of frequencies captured during the recording process. To protect the integrity of the dynamics and subtleties contained within each mix, mastering was treated minimally and tastefully. Listening volume should be considered as one would consider adding salt to a dish. Add to taste. In other words, if you need it louder, turn it up. 

Photography by Monique Prieur 
Artwork by Daniel Half 
All compositions written, arranged and performed by Steve Swartz 
Breathing by Candice Belanger, Michael Carian and Steve Swartz 
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Steve Swartz at Utter East - Detroit, MI 

© 2012 UTTER EAST / ASCAP