Kurt Swinghammer

Kurt Swinghammer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist.

He has released 13 full-length albums of original songs and as a session musician appears on over 100 CDs. He has also composed extensively for film and TV. As a visual artist he is represented in the permanent collection of the Canada Council Art Bank. He has worked in the commercial realm as illustrator, graphic designer, wardrobe designer, set designer, and art director on music videos.

Swinghammer currently exhibits his paintings at INabstracto in Toronto and the True North Gallery in Waterdown, Ontario. In 2016 True North Records will be releasing “Sexsmith Swinghammer Songs” by Lori Cullen, which features 12 songs co-written with lyricist Ron Sexsmith.

While attending the Ontario College of Art, Kurt produced his first multi-track recording of experimental music and used the tapes in improvised multi-media performances with slide projectors. After moving to Toronto in 1984 he began presenting his songs on acoustic guitar utilizing an array of effect pedals. From 1984 to 1988 he independently released six album length cassettes of original songs. In 1990 the indie label Fringe Product released his CD PoMo A GoGo, recorded in a 24 track studio and which featured an array of musicians including Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo), Holly Cole, Chis Tait (Chalk Circle), Rebecca Jenkins, Hugh Marsh, Curtis Driedger, and Kim Deschamps. Kurt appeared on the cover of NOW Magazine following the release.

In 1999 Kurt collaborated with on an album of instrumentals called Remote. The two artists traded ADAT tapes back and forth, gradually building up the experimental tracks.

Kurt’s next album was Vostok 6 - an elaborate electronic-oriented song cycle about Valentina Tershkova, the Russian cosmonaut who was the first woman in space. It was self produced and mixed by Michael Phillip Wojewoda. Guest appearances include Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies), and the late, great voice of CITY TV, Mark Daley. CBC Radio brought Kurt and a full band into the studio to record a live version of the album for broadcast. Ani DiFranco re-released it in the US on her label Righteous Babe Records, and Kurt opened several tours for her in the US around this time.

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