{{short description|Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|Biography|date=October 2022}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2021}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist | name = Ember Swift | image = Ember Swift (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | background = group_or_band | alias = 子玉 | origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | genre = Singer-songwriter, folk, jazz, world | years_active = 1996–present | label = Few'll Ignite Sound | module = {{Infobox person|child=yes }} | website = {{URL|www.emberswift.com}} }}
'''Ember Swift''' (born in Woodstock, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ember Swift in Toronto - ONE NIGHT ONLY at C’est What! |url=https://nowtoronto.com/event/ember-swift-in-toronto-one-night-only-at-cest-what/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=NOW Toronto |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250416052738/https://nowtoronto.com/event/ember-swift-in-toronto-one-night-only-at-cest-what/ |archive-date=April 16, 2025}}</ref> She has released 11 studio albums in English and Mandarin.
==Career==
Swift graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in East Asian Studies. In 1998, she and regular band member Lyndell Montgomery (electric violin, bass guitar) began touring North America, Australia and later, New Caledonia. Their live shows featured Toronto-based percussionist and drummer Cheryl Reid. Swift and Montgomery later worked with Michelle Josef and Adam Bowman on drums and percussion. Reid continued to work with Swift and Montgomery until 2008 as a part-time player, and also worked with Swift when she toured North America.
In 2008, Swift moved to Beijing and assembled a new band, consisting of Zac Courtney on drums, Paplus Ntahombaye on bass, and Wang Ya Qi 王雅琪 on the traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu.
In 2014, Swift performed on the stage of the competition program “Mamma Mia” and won third place in the national finals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Versatile Canadian singer to showcase fusion music style in Shanghai |url=https://www.shine.cn/feature/entertainment/2403113398/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=SHINE |language=en}}</ref>
Swift is also a voice over artist and writer, and has published work in magazines and literary quarterlies. She appeared as a vocalist on the video game ''Mobile Legends''. A memoir was scheduled to be released in 2022.
In 2021 Swift released an album entitled ''Mid-March Meltdown'', which was partially co-written with Beijing-based band member Gabriel Beaudoin and mixed with co-producer Tim Abraham. She released three music videos covering tracks from the album.
==Personal life== Swift identifies as queer.<ref>http://emberswift.com/why-i-dont-identify-as-bisexual/</ref><ref>https://pridesource.com/article/23820</ref>. She had a romantic relationship with her then-musical partner Lyndell Montgomery for 9 1/2 years<ref>http://emberswift.com/category/blogs/queer-girl-gets-married-cat/</ref><ref>https://xtramagazine.com/culture/bluebird-north-dissects-the-art-of-song-1149</ref>, before moving to China and marrying the Chinese reggae and rock musician Guo Jian (国囝),<ref name="speaking">{{cite web |url=https://www.speakingofchina.com/yangxifu-pride/ember-swift-how-china-changed-her-life/ |title=Ember Swift interview part 2 - how China changed her life |last=Eikenburg |first=Jocelyn |date=February 1, 2013 |website=Speaking of China |access-date=November 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603045106/https://www.speakingofchina.com/yangxifu-pride/ember-swift-how-china-changed-her-life/ |archive-date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> with whom she had a daughter in January 2012 and a son in December 2013. She separated from Guo in 2015 and was formally divorced in 2018. Swift continued to live in Beijing with her two children until October 2025, when she moved with them (and her partner, the Quebecois guitarist Gabriel Beaudoin) to Normandy, France.<ref>https://www.gabrielbeaudoin.com/</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums === * ''Self-Titled'' (1996) * ''InsectInside'' (1997) * ''Can't Corner Me'' (1998) * ''Permanent Marker'' (1999) * ''Stiltwalking'' (2002) * ''Disarming'' (2004) * ''The Dirty Pulse'' (2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://xtramagazine.com/culture/hope-and-outrage-fires-ember-swifts-latest-cd-21618 |title=Hope and outrage fires Ember Swift's latest CD |last=Malik |first=Suzy |date=May 17, 2006 |website=Xtra |access-date=November 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322084519/https://xtramagazine.com/culture/hope-and-outrage-fires-ember-swifts-latest-cd-21618 |archive-date=March 22, 2025}}</ref> * ''Lentic: The New Project'' (2009) * ''11:11'' (2011) * ''Sticks & Stones'' (2017) * ''Mid-March Meltdown'' (2021)<ref name=":0" />
=== Live albums === * ''The Wage Is the Stage'' (live) (2000) * ''Snapshots'' (live EP) (2000) * ''Witness: Live in Australia'' (2005; DVD)
== Awards == * 2006: "Youth Role Model of the Year" – Jer's Version Foundation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ottawastart.com/story/4841.php |title=The Jer's Vision Gala celebrates the transformation from a Scholarship into a National Charity |publisher=OttawaStart.com |date=4 October 2006 |accessdate=18 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022142029/http://www.ottawastart.com/story/4841.php |archive-date=22 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * 2006: Best Band Website – Canadian Independent Music Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciraa.ca/board.php?no=2 |title=CIRAA – Board of Directors – Ember Swift |publisher=Ciraa.ca |accessdate=18 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525023922/http://www.ciraa.ca/board.php?no=2 |archive-date=25 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website |http://www.emberswift.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Ember}} Category:1970s births Category:Living people Category:Canadian women singer-songwriters Category:Canadian folk guitarists Category:Canadian women folk guitarists Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters Category:Singers from Toronto Category:21st-century Canadian women singers Category:21st-century Canadian guitarists Category:University of Toronto alumni Category:21st-century Canadian women guitarists Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters Category:Year of birth missing (living people)