Shwa and the Cuddlef*cks usually feature Misty Boyce--Keys John Embree--drums Bryan Dunn--guitars Phil Galitzine--bass
and regular cameos by Adam Christgau Jay Rapoport Tony Maceli Ryan Vaughn Matt Bogdanow Matt Basille
"Chop Chop" album features: Johnny Goudie--keys, guitars Dony Wynn--percussion Taylor Davis--mouth trumpet, backup vox Bradley Oliver--bass, keys Steve Bernal--cello
Influences
Radiohead, Pulp, Elliott Smith, Dinosaur Jr., Crowded House, Pearl Jam,
Beatles, Weezer, U2, Beck, Blur, Travis, Guster, R.E.M., Oasis, Josh Rouse, Damien Rice, the Thrills, Coldplay, Wilco, Ween, Ben Folds Five, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie
Sometimes you have to make a living. Even if it means feigning disease for money.
Until recently, Shwa Losben had been funding his music career by acting out illnesses—such as the ever amusing narcolepsy—for medical students to diagnose
as part of their medical training. And although this hard-working musician had to fake it with the med students, his musical chops are anything but fabricated.
After releasing his debut album "Just a Thought," Shwa has been touring constantly, making a name for himself in the thriving NYC, DC, Philadelphia, and London music scenes. No longer paying the bills by portraying a sick patient, Shwa now receives rave reviews for his music skills.
"Just a Thought" spawned the infectious “Come On,” which The Washington Post named one of the ten best songs of the year and said it packed “plenty of rhythmic
vitality and melodic appeal.” On Tap magazine described the album as “hook- heavy, radio ready songs that reflect elements of Travis and Coldplay but stand on
their own merits.”
By the end of 2004, Tribe.net named Shwa the winner of a recording package at the prestigious Indre Studios in Philadelphia, where top artists such as Weezer and
Ben Folds Five have cut tracks. The darker "Click Track," a six song EP, was recorded there during the summer of 2005, and released the following year. Building on the hooks and haunting melodies of "Just a Thought," "Click Track" combines quarter-life crisis anthems and shimmering guitars.
Now armed with "Chop Chop," his first full length release since 2004, Shwa layers guitars, bass, keyboard, cello, drums and claps, atop precise vocal harmonies to create a melodic and sweetly nostalgic work that displays his depth as a songwriter.
Recorded over ten days in January, 2007 in Austin, TX, Chop Chop began as an EP. But after a rare ice storm paralyzed the city, Shwa and co-producer Taylor Davis
holed themselves up in producer Johnny Goudie’s studio and the EP quickly became a full length album.
Chop Chop is a collection of songs that were initially written in 2006 while Shwa lived in DC, London, Philadelphia, and New York. “I wanted to create something that summed up the environment and time of my life spent in all of these cities.”
With tracks like “Myriah,” a wistful song about a love that never was and “You Got Wise,” a conversation no one wants to have, Shwa proves his versatility and
creativity as a songwriter.
“Lyrically it’s a big step,” he said. “Every song tells a story from a unique perspective. In a lot of ways, I feel like I’ve found my voice with this album.”
Chop Chop’s honest, organic sound is just the next step in Shwa’s musical evolution-- No faking it necessary (narcolepsy or otherwise).
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Praise for Shwa:
"The album is haunting, revealing levels past just the usual singer-songwriter ennui. Sounds like Elliott Smith at times, but that’s unfair. Losben is his own man. With the voice and chops worthy of repeated listens, you’ll get lost in this disc. And be glad you did."
--On Tap Magazine
"...The search for the next worthwhile troubadour is over. He could be Ryan Adams without the whiskey or Conor Oberst without the whine. At the end of the day, Losben is an inspired singer-songwriter who holds the promise of carrying more tricks and insight up his sleeve."
--DCist.com
"Packs plenty of rhythmic vitality and melodic appeal."
--Washington Post
"Finely-crafted love lorn songs with strong melodies and proper musicianship."
--Claire Kember, xfm
"Former DC rocker Shwa Losben has been making a name for himself since moving to New York last year. With a vocal style that sounds like a cross between Michael Stipe and Elliott Smith, Shwa specializes in melodies that you can't get out of your head. On his first solo effort "Chop Chop," Losben weaves intricate stories over beautiful arrangements. The product is one of the year's most unique albums."
--The Deli Magazine (Online)
"...A talented and charismatic singer and songwriter. Shwa writes solid pop songs and performs them with precision and distinct vocals."
--Jezebel Music
"The independent release Chop Chop is the first solo effort for singer/songwriter Shwa (Joshua) Losben. This is the kind of album you find yourself listening to over and over again, while gleaning something new and insightful each time. Losben's vocals are reminiscent of early Neil Young but the songwriting reminds me more or bands like R.E.M., Radiohead, Jack Johnson and others. This is a rare and great find; a true indie release that doesn't suck."
--75WordsOrLess.com
“Losben’s eloquent songwriting style and indie-rock sensibility sets his music on a higher level from so many other acoustic guitar-wielding solo acts.”
Plymouth State University’s The Clock:
