Artist description Singer and storyteller Penelope Swales is at the cutting edge of contemporary folk in Australia. Best described as a musical journalist, she constantly travels Australia and the world. She combines wry and often outrageous humour with her deep passion for people and issues. In concert, she blends the best of old and new - not only does she present songs a cappella and in the time-honoured singer-guitarist format, but by applying a small on-the-spot sampler to both her rich vocals and her energetic guitar style, she builds live, trance-like soundscapes over which she deliveres a shatteringly incisive commentary. Her spoken word material swings from anecdotes bordering on stand-up comedy to an astute presentation of deeply challenging and thought-provoking ideas. She pokes sly fun at our failings while celebrating with insight and compassion our attempts to build a better world and our capacity for love, courage and sensuality.

Music Style Folk

Similar Artists Ani Defranco, Michelle Shocked, Tracy Chapman

Artist History Penelope turned to songwriting at the age of 16 when she was homeless, living in poverty and supporting herself by busking. Forged on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne, her songs developed an authentic edge that only personal experience can supply. Swales's recording career spans 6 solo albums to date, with another due for release in the New Year. They chart the arc of a woman's development. “Between Light and Dark” (1993) is a passionate album full of the struggles of a young person grappling with her deep concern for the injustices of the world against a background of homelessness, drugs and the early deaths of dear friends. “Returning on Foot” (1995) maps the demise of a marriage and the finding of a new personal wholeness interspersed with tales of the fight for racial and environmental justice. “Homemade Wine” (1997) is rich and evocative album where ballads of love and yearning lie cheek-by-jowl with songs like the frenetic “I thought Judge Dredd was a Cartoon Character (about police shootings) and the shameless “We Danced” (about a family celebrating the death of it's patriarch). 1998 saw two releases - “Live At Woodford” a record of Penelope wowing the crowd at Australia's biggest folk festival, and “Justifying your Longings to the Doctor” which shows the emergence of the mature woman and artist. In 2001 she released “Archive: Demo's out-takes and one-offs 1995-2000” which lifts 16 gems from her extensive catalog of previously unreleased material. Her Latest release is "Monkey Comfort" (2003). The fruit of 5 years of writing, travelling and informal study, this double CD is a playful combination of anthropology and anthropomorphism that draws on the lush imagery of the natural world to describe the human condition. Swales draws parallels between modern human society and naturally occurring ecosystems, pointing out the predators, scavengers, parasites, grazing herds in our midst even large companies are described as Leviathan creatures: “You and I are the plankton that the multinationals graze upon. You and I at the bottom, Bill Gates at the top.” Friends and lovers emerge as their animal alter egos, or perhaps as strange plants. The personal journey is expressed as travelling through - or even being - a landscape. Woven through the songs is the idea that we are animals, warm, intelligent, boisterous, sophisticated animals, and that we will never understand ourselves or change the things we need to change about ourselves until we come to realise this.

Instruments Vocals, Guitar, stompbox, sampling pedal.

Albums Between Light And Dark (1993) Returning on Foot (1995) Homemade Wine (1997) Live at Woodford (1998) Justifying your Longings to the Doctor (1998) Archive (2001) Monkey Confort (2003)

Press Reviews "A stunning tour of moods and emotions not only for the Folkies. Swales has enough power to touch anyone." The Sunday Herald-Sun, Melbourne "An outstanding collection..... 'Monkey Comfort' is Penelope Swales at her very best ." Rhythms Magazine, Australia "A double taste of some of the best writing I have heard for some time...a fantastic blend of musical ability and writing dexterity." Trad and Now Magazine, Australia "A formidable achievement. It signals a mature woman and an artist with a humanist eye and one with formidable courage and skill." Barfly Magazine, Cairns "An outstanding collection..... 'Monkey Comfort' is Penelope Swales at her very best ." Rhythms Magazine, Australia "A double taste of some of the best writing I have heard for some time...a fantastic blend of musical ability and writing dexterity." Trad and Now Magazine, Australia "A formidable achievement. It signals a mature woman and an artist with a humanist eye and one with formidable courage and skill." Barfly Magazine, Cairns

Additional Info to join penelope's emailing list contact penelope@penelopeswales.com

Location Melbourne, Victoria - Australia

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