Raised by Swans explained

Raised by Swans
Background:solo_singer
Origin:London, Ontario, Canada
Genre:Indie rock, shoegazing
Years Active:–present
Label:1101
Associated Acts:The Gandharvas
Current Members:Eric Howden

Raised by Swans is the recording alias of Canadian solo artist Eric Howden.[1] [2] A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Howden chose the name 'Raised By Swans' in 1997 following a cathartic dream he had after leaving his previous band, The Gandharvas; the name relies on a homonym (‘raise’: to rear; to elevate[3]) to convey a simultaneous sense of connection and freedom.[4]

Howden composes his songs using a multi-track recorder, guitar, bass, drum machine, and keyboard, writing all parts for all instruments, as well as all the lyrics.[5] [6] This process contributes to his relatively slow recording and releasing pace.[7] His music has been described as haunting[8] and contemplative.[9]

In a 2013 interview, Howden explained that pride in his body of work eventually overcame his discomfort in referring to Raised By Swans as "I" instead of "we". In his words: "Raised By Swans is and always has been a solo project, not a band. That fact hasn't been made clear in the past, which is wholly my fault; well-meaning but misguided attempts at modesty and inclusion have clouded the truth. I'm honoured to have such gifted musicians alongside me onstage...but if someone else happens to play a part on an album of mine, for instance, they're playing a part I've written."[10]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Raised By Swans' first two full-length studio albums (Codes and Secret Longing, 2005, and No Ghostless Place, 2010) were recorded, mixed and mastered at Andy Magoffin's House of Miracles studio, then located in London, ON. The studio has since moved to Cambridge, ON.[13]

Raised By Swans released the single 'Sightings'[14] on 19 July 2013, through Bandcamp exclusively.[15] The song was written and recorded by Howden following a trip to Berlin, Germany in 2012.[16] This was followed by his third studio album, Öxnadalur, in November 2014 and a double single Trains We Both Missed / Pale Blue Black Holes in September 2016.

In film

Raised By Swans' song 'Violet Light' is featured in Douglas Coupland's film Everything's Gone Green.[17]

Armenian-Canadian film director Atom Egoyan is a fan of Howden's music,[18] and has included his songs in two of his films. Three songs from Codes and Secret Longing are featured in Adoration (2008), and two songs from No Ghostless Place appear in Chloe (2009). The live version of the band, as it was in 2009, also plays themselves in Chloe, performing sections of ‘We Were Never Young’ and ‘Longer Shadows, Shorter Days’ live at The Rivoli in Toronto, Ontario.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Francis Notarangelo . Intervista con Eric Howden (Raised by Swans) . altprogcore . 4 December 2013 . 13 January 2014.
  2. Web site: Eric Howden . … · raised by swans . raisedbyswans.com . 22 October 2012 . 13 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202213329/http://raisedbyswans.com/new/?p=634 . 2 February 2014 .
  3. Web site: Raise | Define Raise at Dictionary.com . Dictionary.reference.com . 19 March 2012.
  4. Web site: Raised By Swans on Dreams and Nightmares . Blogto.com . 10 December 2009 . 19 March 2012.
  5. Web site: Terri . Swans in Flight . nxew.ca . 8 December 2009 . 24 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194922/http://three.nxew.ca/2009/12/swans-in-flight.html . 29 October 2013 .
  6. Web site: Raised By Swans Interview (unedited). 21 March 2013 .
  7. Web site: Reaney rawk intvus: MMX,Vol. I . . . a fascinating Q&A with Eric Howden of Raised by Swans . 10 February 2013 . usurped . https://archive.today/20130407140543/http://blogs.canoe.ca/brandnewblog/general/reaney-rawk-intvus-mmxvol-i-a-fascinating-qa-with-eric-howden-of-raised-by-swans/ . 7 April 2013 .
  8. Web site: Josh . Review & 5 Minutes With: Raised By Swans . Crack in the Road . 23 April 2010 . 19 March 2012.
  9. Web site: Persaud . Travis . Raised By Swans – No Ghostless Place • Pop & Rock Reviews • . Exclaim.ca . 10 May 2011 . 19 March 2012.
  10. Web site: Francis Notarangelo . Intervista con Eric Howden (Raised by Swans) . altprogcore . 4 December 2013 . 13 January 2014.
  11. Web site: Eric Howden . http://raisedbyswans.com/?p=969 . raisedbyswans.com . 28 September 2014 . 3 October 2014.
  12. Web site: trains we both missed / pale blue black holes (7"), by Raised By Swans. Raised By Swans. 13 September 2016.
  13. Web site: The House of Miracles . Thetwominutemiracles.com . 19 March 2012.
  14. Web site: Eric Howden . Sightings (Single), by Raised by Swans . raised by swans . 19 July 2013 . 6 August 2013.
  15. Web site: Eric Howden . http://www.raisedbyswans.com/new/?p=575 . raisedbyswans.com . 19 July 2013 . 6 August 2013.
  16. Web site: Eric Howden . http://www.raisedbyswans.com/new/?p=556 . raisedbyswans.com . 12 July 2013 . 6 August 2013.
  17. Web site: James Reaney – 25 May 2007 . Everything's Gone Green . . . for Raised by Swans « James' Brand New Blog . https://archive.today/20120706235612/http://blogs.canoe.ca/brandnewblog/general/everythings-gone-green-for-raised-by-swans/ . usurped . 6 July 2012 . Blogs.canoe.ca . 25 May 2007 . 19 March 2012 .
  18. Web site: Atom Egoyan | TALKING TO... | TORO MAGAZINE | What Men Need to Know about Sex, Style, Music, Sports, Drinks & Video . Toro Magazine . 19 March 2012 . 22 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120922151907/http://www.toromagazine.com/features/talking-to/9a0fcd34-b821-ea64-7541-5ee34142ad95/Atom-Egoyan/index.html . dead .
  19. http://radio3.cbc.ca/nmc/artist.aspx?name=Raised-by-Swans&readmore=true CBC Radio 3 – New Music Canada – Artist – Raised by Swans

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