Dan’s AMBIENT t& INSTRUMENTAL works

“Everything That Grows” is all about paying attention to our inner voices, whether real or imagined.  This arrangement includes William Shakespeare’s Sonnet XV: When I consider everything that grows, which did influence the title.  This song also features the Andricks Mental Orchestra Ambient Choir, Steve Andricks, realizer and arranger.

The lyrics are:

a gentle soul
heard an unseen voice
got a chance
to make another choice

turn to the left or right
that fork in the road
it’s all those little things
that make us look bold

words will echo through the years
where they’ll show
they turn a wasteland 
into everything that grows 

voices, talking
speaking, softly…,
they’re carried on the wind

you hear a voice so clear
seeking amends
how can you know
if it’s an angel or a friend

the same or change
you’re given a choice 
you hear it in your ears
a clear yet distant voice

words will echo through the years
where they’ll show
they turn a wasteland 
into everything that grows

voices, talking
speaking, softly…,
they’re carried on the wind

Copyright Dan Swanson, 2022

Everything That Grows

When Light Floats is co-written by Dan Swanson and Steve Andricks

Our world is turning 
Colours fill the sky
We watch the light floating
Dancing ‘cross our eyes

Dan Swanson - guitars and vocals
Steve Andricks - keyboards, bass, mandolin
Eddie Framzoid - drums

Copyright Dan Swanson & Steve Andricks 2022

When Light Floats

The Hummingbird Suite was written in 2015 and re-recorded here on 12-string guitar.  The Suite consists of 4 short movements that represent a day-in-the-life of the hummingbirds that we used to attract to our feeders when we lived in WV:

 I   - Dawn Arrivals 
 II  - Morning Acrobats
III  - Afternoon Lull
IV - Evening Flights

It was very common for dozens of those beautiful birds to be active at our 3 feeders during the summer months.  Just one of the things we miss from that part of the country.

The Hummingbird Suite (2022)

This work is about completeness and satisfaction.  It was inspired by what I see as a response to the prosperity doctrine and the constant demand for personal perfection. It is loosely based on the following quote:

“I think that whole “we can have it all” thing is bullshit.  I don’t actually hear the message “you can have it all” as a liberation, I hear it as an accusation…. I didn’t need to have it all, I needed to be set free…. I am already enough….”        Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, May 2018

This work features me on vocals, acoustic guitars, synths, etc.  For my fellow music nerds, the harmony is circular (there is no traditional cadence, just a return to its beginning) and the meter ‘polymetric’ (it is in common time and 11/8 simultaneously), both add to the free-form feel.

Copyright Dan Swanson 2022

Unbound (Vocalise)

‘Best Guess’ is a new work from Dan Swanson and Steve Andricks.  This piece brings together ambient, musique concrète, and cinematic soundscape elements to create a very unique work that we hope you’ll enjoy.

We made our beds
Said our goodbyes 
Thought through our plans
Till we were paralyzed.
After all, what is life
But questions asked?
And our answers can only be
Our best guess.

Some succeed while others fail
Some find their freedom
While others land in jail.
For what is life but questions asked?
Our answers are only our best guess
Our best guess.

We gain an edge 
Dull the surprise 
Think through our plans
Until we’re paralyzed.
After all what is life
But questions asked?
And answers can only be
Our best guess.

Copyright Swanson-Andricks 2023

Best Guess

This work grew from remembering an Ursula Le Guin book that I read years ago.  Though the book was titled The Word for World is Forest, this work focuses on a few more and different words and ends with a conflict of war and peace.

The Word for World is earth…, life…, home..., tundra..., desert..., sky…, mountains…, ocean…, war…, peace.

Copyright 2023 Dan Swanson

Image: Jordan Singh from pixababy.

The Word For World

‘Willow’s Tear’ is an ambient work that is a combination of an art-piece and program-music.  If you like, close your eyes and imagine yourself as the willow tree on a summer night, with the crickets, stars, rain and wind.  The title is because willows weep.

Copyright Dan Swanson 2023

Willow's Tear

All the Clouds in the Sky is a new alt-ambient work.  It’s built on musical textures similar to how clouds texture the sky.  This features me on all virtual instruments and electric guitar (yes, it's in there).

Updated 3 October, 2023


Copyright Dan Swanson 2023

All the Clouds in the Sky

This site is a mix of some of my compositions and solo guitar performances.

Dan’s AMBIENT t& INSTRUMENTAL works

The Music of Dan Swanson