A.J. Swearingen’s new release, “Take Flight”, is one of those cds you’ll listen to over and over again. This album flows effortlessly with infectious melodies and lyrics that will keep you coming back for more. AJ’s songwriting and musical sensibility is undoubtedly comparable to some of Paul Simon and James Taylor’s earlier work. This album has a timeless quality and is must have for your collection.
Artist note-
“I recorded this album a little differently than my previous ones. In order to preserve the natural flow and spontaneity of a live performance, I decided the guitar and voice should be captured at the same time using only one microphone. This was very challenging because I had to blend the voice and guitar by careful positioning and proximity to the microphone. In essence, this is a live album with additional instruments and tracks added later to enhance the mood of the songs.
I think this recording technique preserves the human element much more than some other modern methods”. I hope you enjoy this cd” – A.J.
A.J. Swearingen is an up and coming talent with a distinctive sound that reflects the vitality of classic singer-songwriters like Van Morrison, Paul Simon, and James Taylor. With his rich baritone voice and driving acoustic guitar work, A.J.'s music is quickly finding radio airplay and gaining label attention. AJ has an international audience as well, he has sold CD’s via the internet to fans in Germany, Belgium, Japan and Spain.
A.J. Swearingen is from Bethlehem, Pa. Inspired at the age of thirteen by “Simon & Garfunkel’s - A Concert In Central Park”, AJ decided he wanted to be a songwriter, sing, and master the acoustic guitar. A.J. devoted his time to lessons and endless rehearsals to develop his talent. In his late teens this passion became his profession. AJ started out as a solo artist in local clubs in the PA and NJ area. After years of perfecting his ability to cover the songs by the artists that inspired him, A.J.’s songwriting was starting to reflect the essence of the greats that preceded him. His first album “I Could Be The One “recorded in 1994, marked the beginning of his career as a talented recording artist. With an extensive fan base, A.J. now performs his compositions for audiences in his hometown and throughout the Northeast region. A.J. has also become a first choice support act for many of the local theatres and venues including, Penn’s Peak, the Tin Angel, Sellersville Theatre, Mauch Chunk Opera House, Bodles Opera House, and Musikfest. A.J has shared the stage with numerous recording artists including Livingston Taylor, Kenny Rogers, Steve Forbert, Jonathan Edwards, John Gorka, Ellis Paul, Tom Rush, Dave Mason, Lee Roy Parnell, Baillie & the Boys, and the Strawbs.
His first four albums: “I Could Be The One”, “Within Without”, and “Paper Walls”, are requested and played on WXPN, in Philadelphia, and WDIY in Bethlehem PA. His song, “Paper Walls” took second place in the 2004 JPFolks Music Awards New Folk Song category with 140,000 entries from 85 countries, and he took third place in the best New Folk Album. His self-titled cd was released in February 2005. A.J. played all the instruments, recorded, mixed, and produced the entire album on his own. The album includes some of his most requested songs including “You’re Not Here With Me”, and “I’m Free.”
Album Reviews / Press:
“A.J. Swearingen has more polish than many well-known performers and yet maintains the affability of a small town boy. Swearingen’s music evokes vivid images, and married with a rich baritone voice, offers up an unusual and stirring performance. Swearingen delivers what many solo artists cannot – a complete package of masterful acoustic guitar, superb vocals and a keen wit, a combination that keeps the audience glued to their chairs. 2005 marks the release of Swearingen’s fourth CD. The self-titled venture is a recording that is varied enough to show but a small part of his unique style. Swearingen has the type of voice that begs to conquer more than one genre, including folk, country, and pop”.
- Pamela Mortimer 5-26-05
"A.J. Swearingen has been part of the local music scene for a good number of years, and his new self-titled release shows why he has such staying power. On "A.J. Swearingen," his fourth disc, he plays all the instruments. Swearingen also recorded, mixed and produced the album, which has a clear, clean feel, with Swearingen's voice and acoustic guitar in the forefront. Working in the adult-contemporary singer-songwriter idiom, Swearingen takes on the popular style of James Taylor on the opening track,"You're Not Here With Me," and the folk sound of John Gorka on "Stars Go Blue." But on the disc, Swearingen also veers into modern-folk ballads, with songs such as "I'm Free" and "Merry-go-round." Swearingen's guitar playing is pure and his voice resonant. Altogether his disc is a solid recording offering ample evidence why he has been chosen to share the stage with artists such as Steve Forbert and, most recently, Ellis Paul."
- The Morning Call 4-16-05
“A.J.’s charcoal-filtered voice is unique and booming and is incapable of hitting wrong notes, his skills on each instrument is flawless, clean, and entertaining. Each song on his latest album should (and will) be played on more and more radio stations and his audience is already growing world-wide based on album sales. A.J.’s work will be a permanent fixture here and we look forward to hearing much more from him.”
- Chris at GidaFolk Radio 08-Mar-2005
"A.J. Swearingen performs amid an audible hush at the ultra-hip Tin Angel club in Philadelphia's Penn's Landing district. Although Swearingen is alone on stage-save for his venerable acoustic guitar-his plaintive vocals, virtuoso musicianship, and the sheer intensity of his performance make any accompaniment unnecessary. Swearingen himself defies categorization, a mellow troubadour clearly influenced by the folk music traditions, while at the same time the embodiment of something much more hip that resonates with the Tin Angel's eclecticism. It is Swearingen's first performance here, but the crowd embraces his music as though it were a familiar friend."
- Allentown Times
"The first thing a listener notices about A.J. Swearingen is his voice --- a rich melodic baritone that soothes in the style of James Taylor or Paul Simon. When Swearingen combines his voice with nimble acoustic guitar playing and original ballads that evoke the nuances of the search for love, the result is a package that seems capable of reaching beyond the region and gaining national audiences."
- The Morning Call
RADIO:
WXPN – 88.5 FM Helen Leicht – Philadelphia, PA
WDIY – 88.1 FM – Bethlehem, PA
WVIA - 89.9 FM - Mixed Bag - Scranton, PA
WVPE- 88.1 FM South Bend, IN
WPRB – 103.3 FM – Princeton, NJ
WVKR – 91.3 FM - Folk, Rock & Roots N.Y.
WXLV – 90.3 FM – Schnecksville, PA
WFCR – 88.5 FM – Valley Folk – Amherst, MA
WRUR – 88.5 FM – A Variety Of Folk – Rochester, NY
WPSU – The Folk Show - State College PA
WPSU – The Folk Show - State College PA
WAER – 88.3 – Syracuse, NY
WSHU- 91.1 Fairfield ,CT
WSHU- 91.1 Fairfield ,CT
KCSC – 90.1 FM – Edmond, OK
89.9 FM Acoustic Accents – Fairbanks, AK
Rismix Live- www.rismixlive.com -Ontario
Online Folk Festival – www.onlinefolkfestival.com
Radio Wayne – Webcast – Shreveport, LA
Whole Wheat Radio – Webcast - Talkeetna, AK
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