Inga Swearingen: First Rain
Inga Swearingen always loved singing, whether it was with her elementary school choir in San Luis Obispo, California, or performing her own songs in high school, or during her years of voice lessons. But it may have been joining a jazz choir while pursuing her education at Cuesta College that sealed her decision to be a jazz singer. In 2003, after studying with Swiss artist Susanne Abbuehl, she won the Shure Jazz Voice competition at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival. She earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from Florida State University, then returned to California, where she now performs, works on recording projects, and teaches at Cuesta College — her old alma mater. First Rain is her latest CD.
Tell us a bit about First Rain, your new cd? How did the album come about?
First Rain features music and song rooted in family, nature, love and human spirit. It’s a mix of homegrown folk, and soulful jazz, with guitar, stand up bass, violin, cello and vocal harmonies by my sister, Britta.
Last year my friend said, “It’s time for you to record again, lets have a party”. So we put on a couple of house concerts at the farm that helped to fundraise for the project. I was surprised and touched by people’s generosity. We made this together, and the music is filled with that gratitude and love.
What is your favorite track from the cd? Tell us a bit about the song.
“Brick by Brick” is a song I sing with my sister that compares my experience of living in a farm-house that was being remodeled for seventeen years — to a transitional place in life where one must rebuild from the ground up.
How did you go about choosing or writing songs for an album? How long is the process from start to finish?
When I arrange a song, I try to get to the essence of the lyric and find a musical way to communicate that. And when I write, I’m pulling from everything that inspires me, be it jazz, classical, folk, rock, anything good..
The actual recording goes down pretty quickly — it’s the gathering of songs that takes the most time for me. This project took about a year.
I have read that you described the album as “Swedish Farm Jazz”. How would you describe this type of music? What song on the album best represents Swedish Farm Jazz and why?
I view jazz as a big umbrella — a lot that can fit under there in my opinion. On this album, we incorporate jazz harmony and improvisation and the sense of exploration that jazz encourages, while using rhythms and feels other than straight ahead swing. I’ve found that European jazz draws heavily from the folk songs of particular regions. They have a very broad definition of jazz, which certainly resonates with me.
When creating, I try not to fence myself in with a particular genre. However, eventually you must describe your music to others. Having spent time in Sweden as a child I have a fondness for the language and the music. We cover a traditional Swedish tune “Visa Fran Jarna”, which is one of my favorites on the album.
How is this cd different than your previous recordings?
It feels like it’s my most personal work to date because I wrote 5 songs on the album about my home (a small farm in California), and my family mostly. Even the standards and traditional songs are rooted in themes of nature, love and human spirit. I’ve given myself the time to gather material, find the musicians and sit at the mixing board making decisions about how to best present the songs in an honest way. I think this has given the album cohesiveness and fluidity.
'Whatever' from the 30th Anniversary Special
How has appearing on the A Prairie Home Companion affected you or your audience? Have you noticed a new breed of fans showing up at your concerts?
The opportunity to perform on A Prairie Home Companion has not only provided me with lifetime musical memories, it has also expanded my audience to places that I have not yet been able to tour. I’m an independent artist who books my own shows and plans my own tours, so to receive an email from a PHC listener inviting me to their town is an incredible offer. I’m touched that people take the time to email, and I try to write everyone back.
You have appeared on A Prairie Home Companion as a featured guest many times over the past years. We have been taking a quick look back in honor of the 35th Anniversary of the program. Do you have any favorite memories from your guest performances or of the show? Are there any favorite guest performances that you recall hearing that stand out?
I remember singing a song by Rich Dworsky at Tanglewood a few years ago and the poem mentioned birds, just then birds began to chirp in the rafters and we all heard it. Even the radio listeners heard them! It was magical.
And yes, every time Jearlyn Steele is on the show I am moved by her passion and joyous spirit. She sings from her heart.
"Hush Little Baby'
Do you remember anything special about the 30th Anniversary concert?
I loved singing “Hush Little Baby” with 30th anniversary lyrics, a cappella with the audience. They sang their part with such confidence, and that allowed me to scat sing over the top.
How can fans keep in contact with your touring schedule/appearances?
My website has a full listing of tours and upcoming performances and also a way for folks to write to me. I do like hearing from you and staying in touch!
Welcome. BE NOT TROUBLED anymore. you’re at the right place. Nothing like having trustworthy hackers. have you lost money before or bitcoins and are looking for a hacker to get your money back? You should contact us right away. It’s very affordable and we give guarantees to our clients. Our hacking services are as follows:Email: Dwchzone@gmail.com
Whats app:+1 (979) 362-1437-hack into any kind of phone
_Increase Credit Scores
_western union, bitcoin and money gram hacking
_criminal records deletion
_BLANK ATM/CREDIT CARDS
_Hacking of phones(that of your spouse, boss, friends, and see whatever is being discussed behind your back)
_Security system hacking…and so much more. Contact THEM now and get whatever you want at
Email: Dwchzone@gmail.com
WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO HIRE A HACKER??:
OUR SPECIAL SERVICES WE OFFER ARE: RECOVERY OF LOST FUNDS ON BINARY OPTIONS Credit Cards Loading BANK Account Loading You can also contact us for other Cyber Attacks And Hijackings, we do All ? CONTACTS: For Binary Options Recovery,feel free to contact (Dwchzone@gmail.com)for a wonderful job well done,stay safe.There are so many Reasons why people need to hire a hacker, It might be to Hack a Websites to deface information, retrieve information, edit information or give you admin access.
• Some people might need us To Hack Their Target Smartphone so that they could get access to all activities on the phone like , text messages , call logs , Social media Apps and other information
• Some might need to Hack a Facebook , gmail, Instagram , twitter and other social media Accounts,
• Also Some Individuals might want to Track someone else’s Location probably for investigation cases
• Some might need Us to Hack into Court’s Database to Clear criminal records.
• However, Some People Might Have Lost So Much Funds With BINARY OPTIONS BROKERS or BTC MINING and wish to Recover Their Funds
• All these Are what we can get Done Asap With The Help Of Our Root Hack Tools, Special Hack Tools and Our Technical Hacking Strategies Which Surpasses All Other Hackers.
Whats-App: +19793621437
Why waste your time waiting for a monthly salary. When you can make up to $3,000 in 24hours from home,
Invest $300 and earn $3,000
Invest $500 and earn $5,000
Invest $600 and earn $6,000
Invest $700 and earn $7,000
Invest $800 and earn $8,000
Invest $900 and earn $9,000
Invest $1000 and earn $10,000
IT HAS BEEN TESTED AND TRUSTED
Whats app:+1 (979) 362-1437
Top crypto Recovery Firm in 2025: Speak with Optimistic Hacker Gaius.
The best bitcoin recovery service, Optimistic Hacker Gaius, is well known for its diligence in recovering lost or stolen bitcoins. Optimistic Hacker Gaius’ recovery utilizes modern blockchain analytics techniques and forensic investigations to track and assist victims in retrieving their lost digital assets. Its team of blockchain technology and regulatory compliance specialists provides tailored solutions for recovery problems, including money lost to fraud, scams, or hacking.
Contact Information…….
Visit Their Website: optimistichackargaius. c o m
Email: support@ optimistichackargaius. c o m
Text Them On Whatsapp; (+ 44) .737,674,0569.
Telegram:t. me /OPTIMISTICHACKERGAIUSS
I was defrauded of my cryptocurrency investment because I ended up in the wrong hands and had $845,000 worth of Bitcoin stolen. I was on the verge of giving up after learning that it couldn’t be located or retrieved, but luckily I stumbled onto an internet article about Recovery Hacker101, a recovery expert. I reached out to them and collaborated with them to give it a shot. I was shocked to learn that they were able to retrieve $545,860 of the money that was stolen from me, even though I never imagined it would be possible. I have chosen to share this with anyone who might need this kind of service. Recovery Hacker101 is a fantastic resource for Bitcoin recovery. Contact them at recoveryhacker101@gmail.com.
I want to share my experience of recovering my Bitcoin after falling victim to a scam mining bitcoin company. Like many others, I got involved with a company that seemed trustworthy at first, but eventually, I realized I had been scammed. The feeling of helplessness and frustration was overwhelming. I had invested a significant amount of $211,500USD and losing it felt like a blow to both my financial security and my trust in the crypto space. At first, I didn’t know where to turn. The feeling of being cheated left me in a state of disbelief. I tried reaching out to the company, but they stopped responding. I felt completely stuck, unsure if I would ever see my Bitcoin again. After some research, I found a recovery service (swift1@cyberservices.com or whatsapp: +1-845-224-5771) that specialized in helping people like me. I was cautious at first, not knowing if they were legitimate or just another scam. But after speaking with their team, I felt a glimmer of hope. They took the time to explain the recovery process, and they reassured me that they had experience in handling cases like mine. I wholeheartedly recommend their services. Don’t give up hope there are solutions out there, and you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Contact swift1@cyberservices.com or whatsapp: +1-845-224-5771
THANKS TO THE SERVICES OF THE HACK ANGELS // FOR HELPING ME RECOVER MY USDT AND BTC
I lost almost $698,000 in a bitcoin investment scam a few months ago. I was devastated and depressed, and I didn’t know what to do. When I saw a favorable review of THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT. I decided to contact them and voice my concerns. God is so good that I am a living testament to the fact that there are still legitimate recovery hackers out there. I will confidently recommend THE HACK ANGELS RECOVERY EXPERT to everyone I meet. I will suggest them to anyone who falls victim to any kind of online scam by using the information below.
web: https://thehackangels.com
Mail Box; support@thehackangels.com
Whatsapp; +1(520)-200,2320
If you’re in London, you can even visit them in person at their office located at 45-46 Red Lion Street, London WC1R 4PF, UK.