Raised by Swans

{{Short description|Canadian musician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Raised by Swans

| background = solo_singer

|image =

| caption =

| origin = London, Ontario, Canada

| genre = Indie rock, shoegazing

| years_active = {{Start date|1998}}–present

| label = 1101

| associated_acts = The Gandharvas

| website = {{URL|raisedbyswans.com}}

| current_members = Eric Howden

}}

Raised by Swans is the recording alias of Canadian solo artist Eric Howden.{{cite web|author=Francis Notarangelo |url=http://altprogcore.blogspot.it/2013/12/intervista-con-eric-howden-raised-by.html |title=Intervista con Eric Howden (Raised by Swans) |publisher=altprogcore |date=4 December 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}{{cite web |author=Eric Howden | title=… · raised by swans |url=http://raisedbyswans.com/new/?p=634 |publisher=raisedbyswans.com |date=22 October 2012 |accessdate=13 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202213329/http://raisedbyswans.com/new/?p=634 |archivedate=2 February 2014 }} A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Howden chose the name 'Raised By Swans' in 1997 following a cathartic dream he had after leaving his previous band, The Gandharvas; the name relies on a homonym (‘raise’: to rear; to elevate{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/raise |title=Raise | Define Raise at Dictionary.com |publisher=Dictionary.reference.com |date= |accessdate=19 March 2012}}) to convey a simultaneous sense of connection and freedom.{{cite web|url=http://www.blogto.com/music/2009/12/raised_by_swans_on_dreams_and_nightmares/ |title=Raised By Swans on Dreams and Nightmares |publisher=Blogto.com |date=10 December 2009 |accessdate=19 March 2012}}

Howden composes his songs using a multi-track recorder, guitar, bass, drum machine, and keyboard, writing all parts for all instruments, as well as all the lyrics.{{cite web |author=Terri |url=http://three.nxew.ca/2009/12/swans-in-flight.html |title=Swans in Flight |publisher=nxew.ca |date=8 December 2009 |accessdate=24 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194922/http://three.nxew.ca/2009/12/swans-in-flight.html |archivedate=29 October 2013 }}

{{cite web

|url=http://theparalleluniverse2008.blogspot.ca/2010/01/raised-by-swans-interview.html

|title=Raised By Swans Interview (unedited)

|accessdate=21 March 2013

}} This process contributes to his relatively slow recording and releasing pace.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.canoe.ca/brandnewblog/general/reaney-rawk-intvus-mmxvol-i-a-fascinating-qa-with-eric-howden-of-raised-by-swans/ |title=Reaney rawk intvus: MMX,Vol. I . . . a fascinating Q&A with Eric Howden of Raised by Swans |accessdate=10 February 2013 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130407140543/http://blogs.canoe.ca/brandnewblog/general/reaney-rawk-intvus-mmxvol-i-a-fascinating-qa-with-eric-howden-of-raised-by-swans/ |archivedate=7 April 2013 }} His music has been described as haunting{{cite web|author=Josh |url=http://www.crackintheroad.com/music/393-5-minutes-with-raised-by-swans/ |title=Review & 5 Minutes With: Raised By Swans |publisher=Crack in the Road |date=23 April 2010 |accessdate=19 March 2012}} and contemplative.{{cite web|last=Persaud |first=Travis |url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/PopAndRock/Raised_By_Swans |title=Raised By Swans – No Ghostless Place • Pop & Rock Reviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date=10 May 2011 |accessdate=19 March 2012}}

In a 2013 interview, Howden explained that pride in his body of work eventually overcame his discomfort in referring to Raised By Swans as "I" instead of "we". In his words: "Raised By Swans is and always has been a solo project, not a band. That fact hasn't been made clear in the past, which is wholly my fault; well-meaning but misguided attempts at modesty and inclusion have clouded the truth. I'm honoured to have such gifted musicians alongside me onstage...but if someone else happens to play a part on an album of mine, for instance, they're playing a part I've written."{{cite web|author=Francis Notarangelo |url=http://altprogcore.blogspot.it/2013/12/intervista-con-eric-howden-raised-by.html |title=Intervista con Eric Howden (Raised by Swans) |publisher=altprogcore |date=4 December 2013 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}