Suicide Swans

Suicide Swans are an Australian five-piece Americana/Alt-Country band consisting of Kyle Jenkins (guitar/vocals), Kristian McIvor (multi-instrumentalist/vocals), Glen O’Shea (drums/percussion), Morgan Hann (multi-instrumentalist/vocals) and Benjamin Lancaster (multi-instrumentalist/vocals/engineer/mixer). In their 7-year history they have released a self-titled EP ‘Suicide Swans’ (2013) and two albums ‘Ghosts We Forget’ (2014) and ‘Augusta’ (2017). Known for their unique take on Americana/Alt-Country, Suicide Swans’ distinctive sound tosses the twang of country and the chug of 60’s/70’s rock with dashes of pop, celebrating waves of piano, synthesizers and organ, textural atmospherics and a penchant for experimentation that expands upon their early sound rooted in classic country and folk.

Their self-titled EP ‘Suicide Swans’ (2013) debuted the band’s country rock leanings. While constant live shows featuring the ragged glory of four-part harmonies and the swagger of rock and laid back mid tempo country has cemented Suicide Swans as a live tour de force. In late 2013, the band retreated to their studio, By the Living Grace, to record and mix their full-length debut ‘Ghosts We Forget’ (2014) mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York. The album fluctuates between rolling mid tempo pastoral acoustic songs such as Great Divide and Everything Must Pass, country lamentations Pinkhearts and In Spite of the Dark Times, classic country rock Torn & Frayed and Shadows of the Lights, blissed out lap steel scuzz rock of Confetti and Someone’s Chrome, the banjo/harmonica mountain anthem of Pine Mountain and the expansive cosmic country jams of Safe in Ours Arms, See Similar Stars and the first single from the album Marriage Song.

In 2016, the band escaped to their studio once again, recording and mixing their sophomore album ‘Augusta’ (2017), which pushed their alt-country sound into new musical territory incorporating pop, woodsy mid-tempo rock mixed with washes of violin, Wurlitzer/Rhodes flourishes, four-part harmonies and reverb-laden vocals. The album was met with critical success: Rolling Stone 4 Stars, Sydney Morning Herald 4 stars ‘one of the best roots albums of the year’, the music 4 stars. The album fluctuates between acoustic refrains Wall and Come & See, forlorn mid tempo country/rock laments Pleasanton, Easy Heart and Canyons, country-indie rockers such as first single Horses, Broken Lines, and expansive sonic jams Nurse, Let Me Be and second single Yearling featuring the band’s distinctive take on Americana -mixing country and indie rock.

2018 sees the band release their third full-length album ‘la Jungla’ (2018), a 13 song 84 minute (double album) sonic journey incorporating classic 60s/70s rock, acoustic folk/country laments and explorative jams. Recorded in one day in late 2017, the band took the power and dynamics of their live show and made a decision to create an album that captures the sonic immediacy of five individuals performing together. ‘la Jungla’ is Spanish for the ‘the Jungle’ and that is exactly what this album is, a layered, present, energetic and forceful album exuding with the spontaneity and excitement of the band’s live shows. ‘la Jungla’ allows the listener to feel like they are there in the room with the band. Minimal instrumental additions; violin, acoustic, slide guitar and vocal harmonies, enhance the experience without eliminating the individual essences each band member brings to the mix.

If Suicide Swans first self-titled release was firmly planted in their early folk/bluegrass/country roots, their debut album ‘Ghosts We Forget’ allowed the band to paint with the broad strokes of cosmic country and their sophomore album ‘Augusta’ advancing the band’s sonic experimentation, then ‘la Jungla’ and its 13 songs represents in all its glory a band confident, pushing and capturing their live sound with a distinctive potency that is all their own.