You may have seen Swear and Shake play in Atlanta as part of the Shaky Knees music festival, or you may recognize them as a band featured on Paste Magazine. The quartet has most recently shared the stage as direct support for The Lumineers, Delta Rae, G Love & Special Sauce and ZZ Ward. Summer 2013 has seen them performing at such festivals as Shaky Knees, Governors Ball, Mountain Jam, Summer Camp. Despite near constant touring, the band has found time to record new material with an expected release in late 2013. The first single from these recordings has already seen the light of day, as Paste Magazine premiered fan favorite “Brother” in May of 2013.
Swear and Shake is hitting Atlanta yet again and we aren’t complaining! We caught up with Kari and Adam of the band to ask them about their recent touring expeditions, the band’s new single and their record in progress! Check it out.
You guys were recently featured on the websites of Teen Vogue and Paste. What’s it like having your music recognized by such accomplished, admirable publications?
Kari Spieler: It feels great. I’ve read Paste Magazine since high school, and found some of my favorite artists through their monthly compilation CDs.
You guys have played a wide variety of shows. Do you enjoy playing festivals and larger shows or smaller, more intimate shows?
Adam McHeffey: Playing small listening rooms like Eddie’s Attic is stunning. The audience is dead-quiet until you’re done with each song. You’re able to be subtle with the music, and that’s an amazing thing. Festivals are fun because you get to be super loud and run across the stage. They’re both great and totally different.
You played some shows this summer with ZZ Ward. What was that experience like?
Kari Spieler: We love touring! We’ve worked so hard performing every night. We were very grateful to be on the road with ZZ and look forward to hitting the road with other artists in the fall.
We heard you guys have started recording some new tunes down south! How’s the recording process going? Being from Brooklyn, why did you choose to record the album in the South?
Adam McHeffey: We actually spent a while looking for place down south. For a while we dreamt about renting a house in Athens for a month and doing the record there. In the end, we decided to go north for this record, and went back to Maple Ridge, the location where we recorded our first full length record. The southern record will have to come soon: there’s such a rhythm in that part of the country, and we gravitate towards it.
What or who inspired your newest single, “Brother”?
Adam McHeffey: Our original drummer left the band at the start of 2013. I couldn’t ask for a more fitting way to represent all of the remarkable musical ideas he’s brought to my music over the twelve years that I’ve played and grown with him — including the last two with Swear and Shake.
How do you connect with your audience during a live show?
Adam McHeffey: I feel most connected with the audience when we get them singing along. There are a few hooks that the crowd always seems to pick up on. When I hear them singing along I flip out and can’t help but smile.
What makes you most excited about playing in Atlanta again?
Adam McHeffey: We’ve developed a lot of friends and musical relationships down in Atlanta. Although 2013 was the first year we’ve toured there, we’ve already been back three or four times. The food, the people, the rhythm of the city… it works very well with our band and attitude.
Don’t miss Swear and Shake playing at Eddie’s Attic on Sunday, July 28! Grab your tickets below!
