Michael Gira

The founder of Swans and Angels of Light, Michael Gira makes his way to Brisbane.

Michael Gira founded the seminal NYC band Swans in 1982.  Quickly infamous for their brutal onslaughts, extreme volume levels, and Gira's growls, Swans gradually transformed.  They ventured into harsh mechanical rock to sprawling shifts of texture, gentle acoustic-based songs to finally their ultimate statement, Soundtracks For The Blind (1997) which somehow incorporated all of these elements in one album. At this point, Gira called it quits after 15 years of relentless touring and productivity, and disbanded Swans.

Since 1999 Gira has released his music under the name Angels Of Light.  He writes the songs for Angels Of Light on acoustic guitar and orchestrates them using a shifting cadre of musicians, employing a wide variety of instrumentation such as strings, wind, brass, electric guitars, electronics and choral vocals.

The songs are often eccentric and extreme, in keeping with Gira's love of soundtrack music. Though nominally more traditional than Swans, Angels Of Light is often just as hard hitting through different means. The most recent album by Angels Of Light is We Are Him. Though Angels Of Light recordings are often elaborately orchestrated, Gira has recently chosen to tour exclusively solo, using acoustic guitar and voice. These performances are raw, to the point, and emotionally powerful.

When not recording, writing music, or touring, Gira spends his time producing and releasing music through his label Young God Records. He's been responsible of late for such notable talents as Devendra Banhart, Lisa Germano, Akron/Family, Fire On Fire, and most recently, Larkin Grimm. In early 2009 Young God will release the YGR debut by the acclaimed composer/guitarist James Blackshaw.