Time for something a little different. Swati is an out and proud singer/songwriter from New York City who is tipped as one of the most promising new talents to hit the indie music circuit this year. Her raw vocals, straight up lyrics and acoustic guitar melodies invoke memories of artists like Joni Mitchell and Sheryl Crow.

Swati (which means "birth of a star" in Hindi) started out playing the trombone as a a teenager. She even performed at Carnegie Hall and was offered a full scholarship at the prestigious Juilliard School to study the instrument. But Swati was more interested in the eclectic rock and folk music that she picked up around New York's vibrant Lower East Side neighborhood. She switched from the trombone to the guitar and started playing clubs and bars all around town. She even recorded a demo with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite, which led to an invitation to join the Lilith Fair tour in the late '90s.

After taking a break from making music, she assembled an eclectic group of people to help her record her debut album "Small Gods." She received help from people like producer Duke McVinnie (songwriter/guitarist with Shivaree) and producer/engineer Brandon Mason (David Bowie, The Secret Machines).

What makes Swati's music so unique is that she configured her acoustic-electric Alvarez Yairi 12 string guitar as an 8 string with doubled B and high E strings. This creates a distinct, low-octave sound that is equally gritty and lush, and perfectly fits her powerful vocals and genuine songwriting.



Download Swati "Two O'Clock In The AM" [MP3]