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!
After retiring from the Healthcare section with over 38 years of service, I thought I’d done everything right—saved diligently, invested wisely, and set myself up for a peaceful retirement. But I got caught in something I never expected. I invested $375,000—my life savings—into what I thought was a legitimate crypto trading platform. It all looked real, until one day, everything disappeared. The platform vanished, and I was left with nothing. I felt sick, angry, and completely lost.
That’s when I came across PROFESSIONAL WIZARD HACKERS. Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes. I figured once money is gone in the crypto world, it’s gone for good. But from the first conversation, their team was different. They were real professional, honest, and incredibly knowledgeable. They didn’t make wild promises—they explained the process clearly, laid out what they needed from me, and got to work right away.
To my surprise, the whole process was smoother and faster than I ever expected. They tracked the transaction trail, worked with blockchain data, and coordinated with exchanges. I didn’t have to deal with any of the technical stuff—they handled it all. They kept me updated every step of the way, which really helped me feel at ease.
After just a few weeks, I couldn’t believe it—they recovered every penny I lost. My savings are now back in my hands, safe and secure.
If you’ve been scammed or lost money through crypto, I’m here to tell you: don’t give up. PROFESSIONAL WIZARD RECOVERY HACKERS gave me back my peace of mind and my financial future. I can’t recommend them highly enough. They’re the real deal and they can be contacted through their contact details below.
Contact us today: via ?? Email: professionalwizardrecovery@programmer.net
Telegram: https://t.me/professionalwizardcryptohackers
Contact, professionalwizardrecovery@gmail.com
WhatsApp +44 7442 684963
🌟 Client Testimonial: How Morphohack Cyber Service Helped Me Recover My Lost Crypto 🌟
A few months ago, I was scammed and lost access to my crypto wallet, along with a significant amount of cryptocurrency. The emotional toll was crushing, I felt helpless and devastated. After contacting the platform and authorities with no luck, I was stuck.
Then I found Morphohack Cyber Service, a company specializing in crypto recovery. Initially, I was skeptical, but I decided to give them a chance. From the start, their team impressed me with professionalism, transparency, and their deep knowledge of blockchain recovery. They carefully reviewed my case, explained each step of the process, and worked tirelessly to trace the stolen funds.
To my surprise, they succeeded. I recovered my assets and regained control of my wallet. What stood out most was their honesty and commitment, they didn’t promise miracles but delivered results. Throughout the process, they kept me informed and treated me with empathy and respect.
Thanks to Morphohack, I got my crypto back and my peace of mind. If you’ve been a victim of a crypto scam, I highly recommend reaching out to them. They gave me hope when I had none and made my recovery possible.
E-Mail: Morphohack@cyberservices.com….
🌟 Client Testimonial: How Morphohack Cyber Service Helped Me Recover My Lost Crypto 🌟
A few months ago, I was scammed and lost access to my crypto wallet, along with a significant amount of cryptocurrency. The emotional toll was crushing, I felt helpless and devastated. After contacting the platform and authorities with no luck, I was stuck.
Then I found Morphohack Cyber Service, a company specializing in crypto recovery. Initially, I was skeptical, but I decided to give them a chance. From the start, their team impressed me with professionalism, transparency, and their deep knowledge of blockchain recovery. They carefully reviewed my case, explained each step of the process, and worked tirelessly to trace the stolen funds.
To my surprise, they succeeded. I recovered my assets and regained control of my wallet. What stood out most was their honesty and commitment, they didn’t promise miracles but delivered results. Throughout the process, they kept me informed and treated me with empathy and respect.
Thanks to Morphohack, I got my crypto back and my peace of mind. If you’ve been a victim of a crypto scam, I highly recommend reaching out to them. They gave me hope when I had none and made my recovery possible.
E-Mail: Morphohack@cyberservices.com….
I want to take the opportunity to tell you about my wonderful experience working with Wizard James Recovery. I wasn’t sure at first whether I could get my stolen bitcoins back. But because of their skill and knowledge, I was able to get my money back in full. Regrettably, scams in the bitcoin space, particularly those involving fraudulent investment platforms, affect a lot of people. I do caution, though, that not all recovery services are trustworthy. Due to a dishonest site, I personally lost $65,000 worth of Bitcoin from my Binance account. Wizard James Recovery is the most experienced and successful recovery company if you have had a comparable loss and are thinking about coin recovery. After gaining access to my wallet, Wizard James Recovery Service helped me retrieve my stolen money in less than a day. Many recovery services might not be reliable, but theirs was not only a timely service, but also incredibly competent and efficient. As a result, I heartily endorse Wizard James Recovery. Contact them if you need help locating your lost cryptocurrency; they complete their work efficiently and effectively. Be cautious and watchful when dealing with cryptocurrency. You can reach them via Whatsapp/Cell: +447418367204
Crypto Scam Recovery/I Need a Hacker To Get My Lost Investment Back/Contact Wizard Larry Recovery Experts
Website// wizardlarryrecovery .com
Email// support@wizardlarryrecovery. com
WhatsApp// +1(616) 292-4789
Telegram//https://t.me/wizardlarryrecoveryexperts
Hi everyone, Anyone that wants to recover lost money—whether it is bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies—from online scammers, wallet hackers, or if they have ever sent bitcoins to the incorrect wallet address should definitely use WizardLarry Recovery Experts. After contacting internet scammers, I was able to retrieve my missing bitcoins in less than a day. They are the most skilled professional hackers around, and I sincerely appreciate their assistance in getting back what I lost. Contact the address in case you also require their services.