Unique sounds and surprising instrument choices put John Swihart on a path to creating unpredictable contemporary scores. His distinctive style can be heard in over 40 films, including Napoleon Dynamite, Youth In Revolt, New In Town, Employee Of The Month, The Great New Wonderful, The Brothers Solomon and Daltry Calhoun.
John Swihart was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of a physicist based at Indiana University. He spent a portion of his formative years in Europe and Asia, where his father would sabbatical. John had some musical training at a very young age but was not deeply absorbed by music until he was about eight. It was then that he found the saxophone, which he played exclusively before switching to guitar as a teenager. In high school John was a big fan of such bands as The Residents, The Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four and Captain Beefheart, as well as Miles Davis, Gershwin, Stravinsky and Ravel.
Although Indiana University has a stellar music school, John heeded the advise of Jazz department head, David Baker, who said, “80% of your education is your environment” and decided to leave Indiana. The decision to explore another city was made easier by his admittance to the renowned Berklee College of Music, in Boston. Boston was a great town for original music, and being a musician at the prestigious Berklee, was an eye-opener in many ways. At Berklee, John was struck by the level of commitment of his classmates to immerse themselves in musical experimentation. This made for an amazing culture of learning in the tight-knit Berklee dorm, where there were always people playing and inspiring each other. Artists like the "minimalist" Steve Reich and Brian Eno became big influences on John's musical development at that time.
Swihart was always trying to find a way to do something other than what was expected of him, or painfully trying to reinvent the wheel… After years as a musical drifter (ie: house painter, bike messenger) and performing in numerous bands, John decided it was time to put a studio together. The corporate communications and advertising work came, but the Emerson student films that John worked on made it clear that this would be the least restrictive and most creatively rewarding experience. Around that time John had an opportunity to audition for the Boston production of Blue Man Group. After a humiliating audition on an instrument John had never seen before, much to his surprise, he was hired to play Zither in the show. Of course, this wasn’t your traditional Bavarian Zither. The Blue Man Group experience was phenomenal, fun and creatively motivating. Working with some of the best musicians he’s ever met, he played Chapman Stick, Bass, Guitar and Zither in the Boston and New York shows. After a short time, the Las Vegas show was set to open and John was recruited.
When John finally made it to Los Angeles, he scored a few Independent films before his breakout project Napoleon Dynamite premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
John continues to push himself, and the collaborators he works with, to create unpredictable musical experiences that become the difference between watching a film and being immersed in it.
If you've read this entire page, it must be time for a snack!
Here’s a great recipe from dragonflyally.com:
http://www.dragonflyalley.com/constructionMOTM310.htm#snack
Enjoy!
John Swihart was raised in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of a physicist based at Indiana University. He spent a portion of his formative years in Europe and Asia, where his father would sabbatical. John had some musical training at a very young age but was not deeply absorbed by music until he was about eight. It was then that he found the saxophone, which he played exclusively before switching to guitar as a teenager. In high school John was a big fan of such bands as The Residents, The Dead Kennedys, Gang of Four and Captain Beefheart, as well as Miles Davis, Gershwin, Stravinsky and Ravel.
Although Indiana University has a stellar music school, John heeded the advise of Jazz department head, David Baker, who said, “80% of your education is your environment” and decided to leave Indiana. The decision to explore another city was made easier by his admittance to the renowned Berklee College of Music, in Boston. Boston was a great town for original music, and being a musician at the prestigious Berklee, was an eye-opener in many ways. At Berklee, John was struck by the level of commitment of his classmates to immerse themselves in musical experimentation. This made for an amazing culture of learning in the tight-knit Berklee dorm, where there were always people playing and inspiring each other. Artists like the "minimalist" Steve Reich and Brian Eno became big influences on John's musical development at that time.
Swihart was always trying to find a way to do something other than what was expected of him, or painfully trying to reinvent the wheel… After years as a musical drifter (ie: house painter, bike messenger) and performing in numerous bands, John decided it was time to put a studio together. The corporate communications and advertising work came, but the Emerson student films that John worked on made it clear that this would be the least restrictive and most creatively rewarding experience. Around that time John had an opportunity to audition for the Boston production of Blue Man Group. After a humiliating audition on an instrument John had never seen before, much to his surprise, he was hired to play Zither in the show. Of course, this wasn’t your traditional Bavarian Zither. The Blue Man Group experience was phenomenal, fun and creatively motivating. Working with some of the best musicians he’s ever met, he played Chapman Stick, Bass, Guitar and Zither in the Boston and New York shows. After a short time, the Las Vegas show was set to open and John was recruited.
When John finally made it to Los Angeles, he scored a few Independent films before his breakout project Napoleon Dynamite premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
John continues to push himself, and the collaborators he works with, to create unpredictable musical experiences that become the difference between watching a film and being immersed in it.
If you've read this entire page, it must be time for a snack!
Here’s a great recipe from dragonflyally.com:
http://www.dragonflyalley.com/constructionMOTM310.htm#snack
Enjoy!
