Esteemed Actress/Artist Sarah Swire Experiments Alongside Joel Plaskett on Anti-Genre Monologue Single

Sarah Swire is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans stage, screen, and television. As an actor, Swire has made memorable appearances in The Boys, Anna and the Apocalypse, Murdoch Mysteries, and has highly anticipated roles in upcoming projects like Apple TV+’s thriller The Last Frontier and Hallmark’s drama Ripple, both set to release in 2025. But acting is only one facet of Swire’s artistic journey. They are also an art-rock songwriter and storyteller, known for incorporating original monologues and word art into dynamic live performances that blend music and spoken word.

In 2023, Swire released their debut album, Sister Swire, produced by Joel Plaskett in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The album is a vibrant collection of art-rock tracks that showcase Swire’s imaginative storytelling and distinctive lyricism. Beyond their work as a recording artist, Swire has a rich background in theater, having performed and toured internationally. They’ve also composed and arranged original music for the BBC, Avalon Arts, and The National Theatre of Scotland. Swire’s education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland provided a strong foundation for their diverse career, which includes touring with the indie-pop band Belle and Sebastian and choreographing major shows at iconic venues like Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Scotland’s Olympic Hydro Stadium, and the Glastonbury Music Festival.

Swire’s latest musical offerings, “Tight!” and “The Fish Song,” build on the narrative-driven style established in Sister Swire. These new singles reflect a marked shift in their songwriting approach, pushing further into experimental territory. Full of Captain Beefheart-esque lyricism and William S. Burroughs-inspired word art, the songs are an exploration of the uncanny and the unconventional. Tracks like Sister Swire’s “I Shot The President” and “She’s Screaming” set the stage for this evolution, but “Tight!” and “The Fish Song” push the boundaries even further. Inspired by strange fiction writers such as Joy Williams, Tom Robbins, Lewis Carroll, and Ishmael Reed, these songs draw listeners into a world that is both chaotic and deeply poetic.

In describing their new work, Swire embraces the idea of making as much noise as possible with minimal instrumentation. “I wanted to make as much noise as possible with an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and a kick drum. I don’t know what the genre of ‘Tight!’ is, or ‘The Fish Song.’ They exist somewhere in the uncanny valley. Anti-Genre? Singer-Songwriter, Art Rock? Spaghetti-Doom-Folk?” Swire’s humor and inventiveness shine through as they wrestle with defining their own genre, reveling in the ambiguity that makes their music so compelling.

The lyrics of “Tight!” capture this spirit of chaotic energy and social commentary:

To the tube / Tight to the TV, tight with the news, tight with you / Tight with the taboos / Tight!

These lines illustrate Swire’s ability to blend sharp cultural observations with an almost playful sense of urgency. The song is a reflection of our tightly wound, media-saturated existence, packed with biting humor and rhythmic intensity.

Both “Tight!” and “The Fish Song” were recorded at Fang Recording Studios and feature Eric Stephen Martin on guitar. Martin’s live underscoring adds depth to Swire’s monologues, creating a fusion of spoken word and art-rock that feels both spontaneous and meticulously crafted. Joel Plaskett, who also produced Sister Swire, makes a guest appearance on “Tight!”, playing the mellotron and contributing to the growing madness of the track. His collaboration adds a touch of melodic dissonance that complements Swire’s ambitious and boundary-pushing sound.

Swire’s unique blend of art and music is a testament to their commitment to challenging conventions and exploring the edges of creativity. Their work defies easy categorization, inhabiting a space where genre definitions blur and art takes center stage. With “Tight!” and “The Fish Song,” Swire continues to carve out a niche all their own, inviting listeners into a world that is as thought-provoking as it is sonically bold.