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

Sarah Swire is a dynamic multi-disciplinary artist whose work spans the worlds of music, theatre, television, and film. Known for her versatility, Swire has made a significant mark as an actor, with notable roles in projects like The Boys, Anna and the Apocalypse, and Murdoch Mysteries. Her star continues to rise with the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller The Last Frontier and Hallmark’s new drama Ripple, both slated for release in 2025. But acting is just one facet of Swire’s talent. As a songwriter and performer, she brings a unique voice to the art-rock scene, often blending music with spoken word, original monologues, and visual word art in her live shows. This multidisciplinary approach sets her apart, offering audiences a distinctive experience that goes beyond traditional music performance.

Swire’s 2023 debut album, Sister Swire, was produced by acclaimed Canadian musician Joel Plaskett in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The collaboration marked an exciting moment in her musical journey, giving life to a collection of songs that showcase her narrative-driven songwriting and eclectic style. Since its release, Swire has continued to build her career, releasing new music and expanding her artistic reach. Beyond her own work, she has made significant contributions as a composer and arranger, creating original music for the BBC, Avalon Arts, and The National Theatre of Scotland. Swire’s education at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland laid the foundation for her diverse career, equipping her with the skills to excel across various artistic mediums.

After her formal training, Swire’s career took off when she joined the band Belle and Sebastian, embarking on international tours that exposed her to a wide range of musical influences. Her experience as a touring musician included notable performances at iconic venues like Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Scotland's Olympic Hydro Stadium, and the Glastonbury Music Festival. These experiences have greatly shaped her approach to live performance, infusing it with a sense of theatricality and a willingness to experiment with unconventional elements.

Swire’s latest singles, “Tight!” and “The Fish Song,” signal an evolution in her sound, building upon the fiction-driven storytelling and experimental narratives she explored on Sister Swire. The new tracks showcase her ability to craft intricate, surreal lyrics reminiscent of early Nick Cave records, blending dark humor with vivid imagery. Her lyrical style draws inspiration from a diverse range of writers, including Joy Williams, Tom Robbins, Lewis Carroll, and Ishmael Reed. These influences are evident in the playful yet profound nature of her lyrics, which often veer into strange, fictional worlds that invite listeners to explore their own interpretations.

The singles “Tight!” and “The Fish Song” mark a departure from the more traditional song structures of her earlier work. Embracing a raw, stripped-down approach, Swire sought to create as much sonic chaos as possible using minimal instrumentation: an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, and a kick drum. She describes the songs as existing “somewhere in the uncanny valley,” defying easy categorization. “I don’t know what the genre of ‘Tight!’ is, or ‘The Fish Song,’” Swire admits. “They could be Anti-Genre, Singer-Songwriter, Art Rock, or even Spaghetti-Doom-Folk.” This playful, genre-defying spirit is a core part of her artistic identity, as she continues to push the boundaries of what her music can be.

“Tight!” in particular is a chaotic burst of energy, characterized by repetitive, chant-like lyrics that build tension and momentum. The words tumble out in rapid succession: “Tight to the tube, tight to the TV, tight with the news, tight with you, tight with the taboos.” It’s a song that feels urgent and relentless, a sonic reflection of the overwhelming barrage of information and cultural pressures that define modern life. Swire’s vocal delivery is raw and impassioned, underscored by jagged guitar riffs and a pounding kick drum that drive the song forward with a frantic, almost hypnotic rhythm.

“The Fish Song,” on the other hand, explores more surreal territory, blending playful wordplay with dark, whimsical imagery. The track features a series of bizarre, seemingly nonsensical verses that evoke the absurdist fiction of authors like Tom Robbins and Lewis Carroll. It’s a song that invites listeners to embrace the strangeness, to let go of any preconceived notions of narrative or meaning and simply revel in the bizarre, dreamlike atmosphere that Swire creates.

As Swire continues to release new music, she remains committed to her vision of creating art that transcends conventional boundaries. Whether performing on stage or on screen, she brings a fearless authenticity to her work, unafraid to explore the darker, more chaotic corners of human experience. Her willingness to blend genres, experiment with sound, and incorporate other artistic elements into her performances is a testament to her broad creative vision. With her new singles paving the way, Sarah Swire is poised to make a significant impact on the art-rock scene, challenging listeners to rethink what music can be and offering a glimpse into her singular, ever-evolving artistic world.