Swift Silver is Anna Kline and John Looney.
From the moment the listener presses play to the last track fade, Swift Silver’s self-titled debut album celebrates the tenets of Southern sound. This is a collection of songs cultivated in the dim lights of listening rooms and local jams, regional festivals and road trips, alone in the woodshed and crafted as an ensemble.
It doesn’t hurt that Kline’s vocal performances—on both lead and harmony vocals—display an astonishing range of versatility and skill, her voice flows as smooth as a rippling river current.
Looney gives a masterful performance on lead guitar, not only displaying his expertise as an integral sideman but also as a talented arranger, showcasing a finely-tuned ear for nuance and groove.
Together, they drive a contagious electric surge of sound.
“The major draw is the emotive, soaring vocals of Kline, reminiscent of Patty Loveless’ passion, if not her voice, on her indelible Mountain Soul album; Looney cuts loose with stunning guitar work.
Out of seemingly nowhere, we have one of the strongest and most memorable roots albums of the year to date.” — GLIDE MAGAZINE
Get swept away by Swift Silver’s big river of sound.
Their collaboration spans ten years of exploring the great expanse of the American songbook—touring, conspiring, songwriting—fused together by the Mississippi heat, molded in the mountain air of Western North Carolina, and flung free in the hills of Kentucky bluegrass.
Swift Silver’s debut self-titled album marks a meaningful milestone for the pair: It is a 180° (re)turn to their musical roots: the redemptive strains of Southern gospel, the drawling tremolo of rhythm and blues, and the twang of the rural soul.
This album speaks to the path we tread. It is lyrically insightful, eloquent—and timely when examined through the lens of current events. These songs help us navigate lingering questions we daily seek to answer, they pulsate with discovery, and melodically confess the hunger to right a few wrongs.
“This debut disc serves well to demonstrate the duo’s capabilities and creative focus. It works well to introduce newcomers to the act complete with material about love, life, and other personal yet oft’times understandable issues. It successfully presents their return to their musical roots in a relevant, entertaining manner. So check out Swift Silver because “We All Get Our Turn” and this dynamic duo deserves theirs.”
“This is poetry set to the sounds of traditional Southern music. It seems like they’ve travelled the southern United States and found feeling and inspiration in every corner, and brought it to us in a perfect blend. The way you expect poetry-or scripture- to be...it just gives you the freedom to think for yourself instead of inspiring any specific thoughts or feelings, and sometimes, that’s what we need. Kinda like when your pastor would say that “The Lord put this in my heart and mind today because He knew someone needed to hear it this morning,” but it was something that could apply to anyone in just about any aspect of life. Difference is, this is way more fun than the Bible (sorry, Jesus) and you don’t feel like you’re going to hell. If only Swift Silver wrote hymns…”
“This world is coming alive to some strange times”
• Album released: June 4, 2021.
• Recorded at Fat Baby Studios in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
• Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham, Tyler Childers, Senora May, Josh Nolan, Don Rogers).
• Co-produced by Anna Kline, John Looney, and Kenny Miles.
• Album Artwork by Joe King, album cover lettering by Grace Vant Hof, album design by Zack Looney.
FULL ALBUM BELOW
“Seek not to be reborn / Behold I am the pearl”
Swift Silver has an unmistakable sound conjured from an intense musical intimacy. Inspired by unapologetic songwriters and musicians who smash stereotypes and push the boundaries of American music, laying bare an experience that is at once both Southern and deeply universal.
Anna and John recorded the album at Fat Baby Studios in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, enlisting the help of brothers Kenny Miles and Hayden Miles of Wayne Graham. Kenny and Hayden not only comprised the album band—adding bass lines, keys and organ fills, as well as a few harmonies—but Kenny was also at the helm as engineer and co-producer.
Swift Silver’s album exemplifies a new era of Southern rock and soul, proving that the boundaries of Americana music are made to be redefined. They take their place among a (common)wealth of musical talent that continues to capture the nation’s attention.
Anna grew up in Hernando, a small town between Memphis and the Mississippi Delta. She is a writer of both songs and Southern culture content. From Memphis Soul to Muscle Shoals and Malaco Records, her roots ring clear in her songwriting as well as her capabilities as a vocalist on both lead and harmony vocals. “[Anna's] voice is a marvel—powerful and expressive—with a keening, gorgeous vibrato that brings forth images of a displaced Depression-era farmer's wife, mourning the loss of her land to the dust." (DeSoto Magazine).
Rhythm guitar, lead, and harmony vocals
Notable Projects and Appearances
⦿ Opener for Graham Sharp (Steep Canyon Rangers) ⦿ The Local Honeys | The Gospel | “Let the Church Roll On” (harmony vocals) ⦿ Don Rogers and The Apostlebillies | This Ain’t My Generation (harmony vocals) ⦿ KET Kentucky Life | Jim Ford Segment with Linda Jean Stokley of The Local Honeys ⦿ Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods | “Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail”
John was born in the mountains of Southwest Virginia and raised in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. He is a sought-after multi-instrumentalist (John R. Miller, Wayne Graham) whose accompaniment on mandolin or guitar gives each song personality and a distinct groove. Drawing from the varied influences of his mountain music heritage, blues, and the diversity of the American songbook, John’s contributions—in both live performances and on recordings—are ear candy.
Lead guitar, vocals
Notable Projects and Appearances
⦿ John R. Miller album | Depreciated | on Rounder Records (mandolin) ⦿ John R. Miller and The Engine Lights (mandolin & electric guitar) ⦿ Wayne Graham | 1% Juice | “Chiffarobe” (electric guitar) ⦿ The Local Honeys | The Gospel | Let the Church Roll On, We Will All Be Reunited (mandolin) ⦿ Don Rogers and The Apostlebillies | This Ain’t My Generation (lead guitar) ⦿ Paul Handleman | Until This Point (mandolin) ⦿ Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods | “Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail”
For the majority of their band life, Anna and John were known as the bluegrass duo, Grits & Soul.
With a history of major festivals and appearances under their belt—MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Suwannee Springfest & Suwannee’s Magnolia Fest, Countryfest in Belgium—and a performance on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern—the time came where they felt led to explore new musical space.
Thus, Swift Silver was born.
The legend of the early Appalachian settler, John Swift, and his lost silver mine is one of the oldest and most enduring tales of early Kentucky and to this day, remains unsolved.
Truth be told, we’re all still searching.
