Last year we shared the news that Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer had teamed up with Thom Lord to form a new project titled Sway Wild which found them exploring the corners of rock, folk, pop, jazz, prog, and funk.
Their self-titled debut was recorded in Portland, Oregon at The Hallowed Halls, a historic Carnegie Library, by engineer Justin Phelps (Cake, Galactic, Bob Weir). An impressive cadre of the band’s friends and heroes brings the songs to their full, frenzied potential. Birds of Chicago and Sean Hayes provide guest vocals, members of MarchFourth add the irresistible energy of a full horn section, and cellists Skip VonKuske (Portland Cello Project) and Anna Tivel and Anna Fritz contribute the brooding dynamism of bowed strings.
Previously only available on their debut double LP, Sway Wild’s latest single “As it Was” is a talking point on the American epidemic of gun violence by Mandy.
Mandy Fer explains:
“In a political climate boiling with so many speaking out against systems of oppression and a global pandemic escorting us towards a looming presidential election, there’s no doubt that we are all amidst a collective re-awakening. ‘As it Was’ was originally written after the Pulse nightclub shooting, and after performing this song around the U.S. and in Europe it has become a song dedicated to all those who have lost their lives to gun violence…whether it be via police brutality, hate crimes, domestic violence, or mass shootings. There is undoubtedly a direct line between the epidemic of gun violence and racism that runs deep in the shadows of our American history and continues to stare us down to this day. We’re releasing this song before this crucial election in hopes of urging folks to push for change in gun control legislation as well as reform in our criminal justice systems on their ballots in November.“
‘As it Was’ also features singer-songwriter Anna Tivel on violin. While in the studio I remember telling Anna something like, ‘Play it like your instrument can tell the world how much you hate gun violence’ – and that she did, with a haunting and dynamic solo bringing the pain of the song into clear focus.”
20% of the proceeds from “As it Was” will go towards gun violence prevention advocacy groups.
Sway Wild has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe sharing the stage with acts such as Iron & Wine, Lake Street Dive, Rising Appalachia, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mandolin Orange, Charlie Hunter, and many others. They are currently quarantined at home in the San Juan Islands in WA, writing/recording new material, and devoting time to anti-racism/anti-oppression work.
Order their new single via Bandcamp: https://swaywild.bandcamp.com/track/as-it-was
https://daveandmandymusic.com/