The Swifter – a trio featuring Andrea Belfi (drums and percussion), BJNilsen (electronics) and Simon James Phillips (piano) – give careful attention to capturing the unique resonant acoustic offered by the airy, stone building, exhibiting the broad palate of aesthetic qualities the group are able to create. Subtly evolving sound worlds that evoke, at times, the loneliness within a ship’s hold; a relentlessly driven wall of harmonically rich sound or a sonic fog that lifts to reveal a delicate instrumental discourse. Simon is influenced by electronic music and is particularly interested in trying to replicate the mechanical and repetitive sounds that surround us. He is also attracted to the tension between trying to recreate inorganic sound with the piano and the limitations of the instrument and his own physical mechanism. His solo album Chair was released in 2013 on Room40 and received rave reviews internationally.

Facts

1: There are no facts, only interpretations!

2: See 1 (above)

3: See 2 (above)

Questions

1.What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Life

2. How and when did you get into making music?
My mother bought a piano when I was 4 years old. I began learning almost straight away. When I was 6 I was given a cello and began learning that as well, at 7 I was given a guitar and so it went on…..

3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
My favourites change. Right now I’m listening to: Sibelius Symphonies 5, 6, 7 with Conductor Rozhdestvenskij; Bernard Parmegiani ‘De Natura Sonorum’; Keith Stewart ‘Yellow Bird’; Kim Myhr ‘All your limbs Singing’; Charlemagne Palestine – ‘Schlingen Blängen’

4. What do you associate with Berlin?
The huge difference between to beautiful Summer and depressing winter

5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
My apartment

6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Sleep

7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Folk Music of Norway – Ethnic Folkways Library

8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Christoph Marthaler

9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
The Necks – 2004 Sydney

10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Not important

11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes – a sister. She is kind of proud of what I do, although, I’m sure she’s never listened to my music.

Link: Website