%20(1).png)
Skylyne Spotlight: Luc Swift
Inside Luc Swift’s understated world of folk songwriting, strange honesty, and songs that say more by saying less
Skylyne Spotlight: Luc Swift
Luc Swift writes folk songs with a slightly crooked smile. On “def mech,” the guitar moves through unexpected chord shapes, his voice stays close and unforced, and the lyrics are funny in the same way an overly honest thought can be funny. You laugh at a phrase, then realize there is something much more uncomfortable sitting behind it.
His path into music has taken a few turns. There are traces of Southern songwriting in the storytelling, alongside the closeness and character of Brooklyn’s independent music scene. The result is intimate, colorful and often much funnier than you expect.
Talking with Luc is a lot like listening to his music. He can answer a big question with a joke, a shrug, or one sentence that somehow says enough. In this Skylyne Spotlight, Luc talks about finding his quieter voice, his creative friendship and music taking shape behind the scenes.
SKYLYNE: Hi Luc, thank you so much for chatting with us. I want to start with the way you describe yourself: “North Carolinian in Brooklyn; son of a breakdancer.” What’s the story behind that line?
Luc Swift: Oh that’s just the truth! I grew up in the south and my dad is a breakdancer. He’s been dancing since 1977. He’d probably prefer the term “street dancer” though.
SKYLYNE: Oh wow, since 1977? That’s actually so cool. What brought you to Brooklyn, and how has the city influenced your music?
Luc Swift: I moved to Brooklyn mostly by accident. I sort of fell into working as a set dresser for TV and movies back in 2019 and figured it was a good way to make money and pay for studio time. I think the biggest influence the city has had on me though is probably more on the engineering side. I worked for 2 years at Electric Lady Studios and learned an incredible amount about recording.
SKYLYNE: What did those two years at Electric Lady teach you about recording, and how has that changed the way you approach your own music?
Luc Swift: I emailed them looking for work during the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes a few years ago and ended up doing an internship that turned into a full time job! It was an insane experience. Working in a studio is mostly a hospitality job unless you’re the engineer or producer. I got to assist though on some cool records and learned how to take care of that building which is honestly a lot of upkeep. While I was there, I made a record and learned about engineering from some of the best in the world.
SKYLYNE: That is indeed an unique experience. How did you first get into making music and writing songs?
Luc Swift: My love of music definitely comes directly from my parents. My dad is a Bob-Dylan-obsessed street dancer, and my mom was a choir director and piano player at her church in the Philippines before moving to the US. She taught me piano but I didn’t have interest in that until I was already an adult. As a teenager though in NC I was actually a banjo player, I was more interested in bluegrass and played just for fun. Then I went to an arts high school where I met other kids interested in music. From the Banjo I became interested in indie folk bands like The Avett Brothers (also from NC) and then became obsessed with Christopher Owens’ band Girls and Elliott Smith. That’s around when I started writing songs. I guess I was 15 or something.
SKYLYNE: Your chord voicings give each song so much character. How did you develop that approach to guitar?
Luc Swift: That's cool that you noticed that! I actually have a lot of fun with chord voicings. It’s just more interesting to me especially since a lot of my songs are pretty basic in a harmonic sense. Everything I write is essentially just a folk song.
SKYLYNE: Does a song usually begin with the guitar, or do the words come first?
Luc Swift: Honestly I don’t usually know what a song’s about until I’m almost done writing it. I’m not sure the guitar has much to do with it though. Maybe it does? I don’t think too hard about it until I have to.
SKYLYNE: Your quieter vocal style fits your songwriting so naturally. Did you always sing that way?
Luc Swift: I think quiet is totally accurate! I used to sing really loud and when I started recording my songs that all changed. I couldn’t stand the way I sounded! Like maybe it sounded forced or something. The way I sing now is maybe a reaction to that.
SKYLYNE: Let’s talk about your newest track, “def mech.” Where did the song begin?
Luc Swift: That's a funny one. It’s sort of a breakup song in disguise. I was dating around a little after a breakup and it was probably a bit too soon. As it goes. And I just kept cancelling all these dates. Horrible. That’s what that song's about.
SKYLYNE: The song begins with “you” before eventually turning into “I.” Why did you make that shift?
Luc Swift: Yeah it’s part of the whole “lie” of it all that the song suggests. It’s really just me at the end of the day. Talking to myself from the outside then claiming it by the end of the song.
SKYLYNE: Where did a line like “somewhat ugly handsome” come from?
Luc Swift: The mirror.
SKYLYNE: Hahaha I love that. When you listen back to Maybe Forever, what stands out to you now?
Luc Swift: That was a cool little mini album. It sounds ok and was a lot of fun to make. I like that song Marathon a lot. My friend Sandy who performs as Pecas helped me with that one.
SKYLYNE: You’ve collaborated with Kacie Jewel Hill more than once. How did you two meet?
Luc Swift: Kacie and I met actually playing at honky tonks around New York. Funny to find such a strong country music community in the city after moving away from North Carolina. Eventually we bonded over our love of Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams. She’s like my sister.
SKYLYNE: What helps you preserve the intimacy of your music when performing live?
Luc Swift: I usually sit when I perform. That helps.
SKYLYNE: What artists have you been listening to lately?
Luc Swift: My friends for sure. Kacie Jewel Hill, Henry Flower. Also been loving this girl Emma Ogier. The new Star Moles record is probably my favorite of the year, my friend Alli showed me that one. Widowspeak and Haylie Davis also have great new records out. Oh and Dagmar Zuniga.
SKYLYNE: Do you have any upcoming shows or live plans?
Luc Swift: I’ve been taking a bit of a summer break and finishing an album! So probably more shows in the fall. But Kacie and I play often at Skinny Dennis. We’re playing at Lucinda’s on 8/31.
SKYLYNE: Thank you again for taking the time to talk with us. To close, what should people be looking forward to next?
Luc Swift: Definitely more music all the time. I’ve got an album finished and another one tracked and a third one written. But the first album is coming in October. I’m excited.
