Richard Swift (musician)

Richard Swift (Born Ricardo Swift Ochoa) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and short film maker. Richard was a keyboardist in the band Starflyer 59 and he currently fronts his own ambient-electronic outfit, Instruments of Science and Technology. Before recording under the name Richard Swift, he released two albums on the label Metro One Music under the names Dicky Ochoa and Company. Swift and his live band, The Sons of National Freedom, have earned a cult following through frequent touring in the US and Europe, alongside My Morning Jacket,Two Gallants and The Walkmen. His big break came at a performance at the 2006 South by Southwest festival. Swift's influences span Bob Dylan to early seventies dub acts including the Congos and Lee Perry, whilst his latest material has drawn comparisons to Burt Bacharach, Van Dyke Parks, Paul McCartney, Rufus Wainwright and Elliott Smith amongst others.

Press quotes

"Little short of magnificent. The onset of a major talent" - Uncut Magazine "Swift fashions music that thrills with new shapes… a difficult and surprisingly rare achievement" - Sunday Times "It's not stringently retro, more a Tin Pan Alley of the Imagination. Four stars." - Mojo "Connoisseurs of grand American pop will love Richard Swift. Four stars." - Uncut "Swift's adherence to what is essentially bygone rises above contrivance to further reveal him as a worthy descendant of the approach to which he aspires." - Under the Radar

Discography

Albums

• Dressed Up for the Letdown - US & UK (2007)
• The Novelist - US (2005)
• Walking Without Effort - US (2005)
• Dicky Ochoa - Released under the name Dicky Ochoa (2000)
• Company - Released under the name Company (2002)

EPs and Singles

• The Novelist - US (2003)
• You're Lying - US (2004)
• Buildings in America - US (2004)
• Nothing to Do with Foxy Boxing - US (2005)
• P.S. It All Falls Down - US (2005)
• Beautifulheart - UK (2006)
• Kisses for the Misses - UK (2007)
• The Songs of National Freedom - UK (2007)

Box Sets

• The Richard Swift Collection, Volume 1: The Novelist / Walking Without Effort - US (2005), UK (18/09/06)

External links

• Official Site
• MySpace Page
• Secretly Canadian
• Official Richard Swift Vodcast
• Platforms Magazine interview
• Gigwise interview
• PopMatters interview
• Rockfeedback review
• Pitchfork review
• Drowned In Sound live review
• Being There Magazine review
• Austin Chronicle live review
• Press Play and Record interview
• Richard Swift interview with www.MusicTowers.com