Biography
Though Kurt Swinghammer has never achieved the same visibility in Canadian arts circles as Barenaked Ladies, his contributions as a musician, technician, and visual artist have left a clear mark. He launched his career in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where his 1978 shows blended art-school experimentation with pop elements, deploying projectors, television monitors, and a mix of live and taped music. After several years of regional gigs punctuated by occasional Toronto appearances, he relocated to the city itself in 1984.
Alongside his own unconventional solo recordings, Swinghammer joined forces with General Electric, the Lawn, and Vital Sines. At his home studio he captured sessions for other musicians, among them an emerging bike courier named Ron Sexsmith. Despite this steady output, many listeners first recognized him as the artist who hand-painted the performance suits worn by the Shuffle Demons.
A series of self-released cassettes preceded the 1991 PoMo a GoGo CD, whose distribution through Fringe Product finally reached listeners nationwide. During the same period he renewed his association with the rising Ron Sexsmith, appearing in Sexsmith’s band the Uncool and performing with him under the name Sexhammer, while also beginning to score material for film and television.
Returning to solo work, Swinghammer created the concept album Vostok 6, centered on cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel in space. Although commercial sales remained modest, Ani DiFranco became an admirer, issuing a broader edition on her own label and enlisting Swinghammer for both her live band and the album To the Teeth. Black Eyed Sue appeared as his next solo release in 2001.
Outside his own projects, he continues composing for the screen and contributing to recordings by fellow Canadian artists such as Dan Bryk, Great Big Sea, and Sarah Slean.
Alongside his own unconventional solo recordings, Swinghammer joined forces with General Electric, the Lawn, and Vital Sines. At his home studio he captured sessions for other musicians, among them an emerging bike courier named Ron Sexsmith. Despite this steady output, many listeners first recognized him as the artist who hand-painted the performance suits worn by the Shuffle Demons.
A series of self-released cassettes preceded the 1991 PoMo a GoGo CD, whose distribution through Fringe Product finally reached listeners nationwide. During the same period he renewed his association with the rising Ron Sexsmith, appearing in Sexsmith’s band the Uncool and performing with him under the name Sexhammer, while also beginning to score material for film and television.
Returning to solo work, Swinghammer created the concept album Vostok 6, centered on cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel in space. Although commercial sales remained modest, Ani DiFranco became an admirer, issuing a broader edition on her own label and enlisting Swinghammer for both her live band and the album To the Teeth. Black Eyed Sue appeared as his next solo release in 2001.
Outside his own projects, he continues composing for the screen and contributing to recordings by fellow Canadian artists such as Dan Bryk, Great Big Sea, and Sarah Slean.
Albums
Singles
