New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Americana husband-and-wife duo Swearingen and Kelli are set to release their sophomore album, The Marrying Kind, on July 21, 2017. Unafraid of spilling their guts in their music, the Florida-based twosome of AJ Swearingen and Jayne Kelli presents 12 songs that challenge the listener to explore life's hard questions while embracing what you have in the moment.
The Marrying Kind is an album steeped in the sounds of Americana and country-folk with rich harmonies and character voices that are a modern echo of the singer-songwriters of the '60s and '70s. Organic, honest, and real, their music springs from a connected, closely shared life. "The creative process is very vulnerable and we trust each other completely," says Swearingen.
Drawing from influences and inspiration unique and shared, they trade off lead vocals, showcasing the strengths of both members. Says Swearingen: "We really dialed in our Americana country sound on this album. I used lap-steel on many of the songs. I was very inspired by the sounds of
David Lindley (Jackson Browne) and Jerry
Douglas (Alison Krauss). I even used a 1936 Rickenbacker to replicate some of those early sounds from the '70s." Kelli gave up a pull towards perfection for the sake of genuine, emotional performances.
The lead-off, title track highlights the power of Kelli's vocal, while telling the story of someone accustomed to her freedom and life on her own terms who second-guesses her aversion to settling down. "Annalise" uses a haunting, Appalachian feel to bring to life a tale of a man holding onto a memory of his true love that will never die. Tracks such as "Trying to Try," "Survival," and "
Why Wait" are both contemplative and encouraging and promote taking risks, while not discounting the uncertainties that face us all. Kelli's vocals perhaps do not shine brighter than on "Leaving Yourself," a song that is part Norah Jones, part
Paul Simon and offers an interesting perspective on the story of love. All the way to the final notes of the closing track, "Satellite Friends," a song that confronts the struggle of truly connecting with others, the artistic benchmark has been set high with The Marrying Kind.
AJ Swearingen, born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, grew up in a house where the classic country records of Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Willie
Nelson were always spinning. "I love that music, but the folk records of the early '70s like
Gordon Lightfoot and
Simon & Garfunkel are what really fueled my desire to pursue a life in music." He began playing at 13 and started performing professionally in his late teens. His acoustic guitar finger style echoes his influences -
James Taylor,
Paul Simon and Lindsey Buckingham - but his silky, soulful baritone voice is definitely his own.
Jayne Kelli's voice is both husky and sweet, tender and bluesy. Kelli was born in the small country town of Lapeer, Michigan. She grew up listening to her parents perform songs by John Denver, Jim Croce, and
Glen Campbell around the campfire. Jayne began writing and recording her own songs at the age of 15. Her first release garnered praise from critics, calling her "a formidable talent with elegantly poetic and emotionally charged songs." Jayne's song "
Sweetness" was chosen as an anthem song for the domestic violence foundations Victim Services International and
Angel Wings International in 2015.
This partnership has led to some extraordinary things over the past few years; including writing and producing their own symphonic pop shows of music from the writers that inspired them from the '70s - Cat Stevens,
Gordon Lightfoot, Carole King,
James Taylor, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and more - with performances alongside orchestras in Edmonton, Dayton, and Cleveland. Their song "You're Not Here With Me" (from their debut album) was recorded by folk icon, Tom Rush and is available on his album What I Know. "Give
Everything Up," also on their debut album, was licensed by DMX for restaurant airplay.
Swearingen and Kelli, together and separately, have shared the stage supporting Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle,
Livingston Taylor, John McCutcheon, and Dave Mason, among others. They plan to continue a heavy touring schedule in support of the new album. The pair plans to celebrate the release of The Marrying Kind with a special orchestral show with the Cleveland Orchestra on July 23rd. Confirmed tour dates are listed below. More tour dates will be announced soon.
Swearingen and Kelli Tour Schedule:
7/23 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom
Music Center with the Cleveland Orchestra
7/28 - St. Petersburg, FL - The Hideaway Café
8/5 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest
8/6 - Jim Thorpe, PA - 40 Story
Radio Tower Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House
8/10 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest, Liederplatz Stage
8/14 - Morro Bay, CA - Morro Bay Winery, Songwriters at Play
8/15 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Bang the Drum Brewery, Songwriters at Play
8/26 - Sarasota, FL -
Common Grounds Hall
9/3 - Lynn Haven, FL - Roberts Hall, Americana Café Sundays
9/15 - St. Petersburg, FL - Sacred Lands
9/23 - LaGrange, GA - Pure Life Studios
10/19 - Jim Thorpe, PA - The Mauch Chunk Opera House
11/18 - Las Cruces, NM - Toad Hall House Concerts
www.swearingenandkelli.com
