Friends & Other Necessities is the debut LP from multi-talented Swatkins (Steve Watkins), longtime collaborator with Allen Stone, Scary Pockets and many others. For this record, Swatkins called upon his formidable network of musical peers, assembling a collection of songs that celebrate the sorely-needed spirit of collaborative joy. Recorded in live, unflinching one-take rhythm sessions in New Orleans, and then lushly orchestrated in west-coast studios, this album represents the culmination of a journey that has seen Swatkins on the road and playing in front of live audiences for over a decade.
Tracklist and Credits
Friends & Other Necessities
100 Percent
Track 01
Swatkins - Talkbox, bass, guitar, synths
Joey Porter - drum machine, clavinet, synth solo
Written by: Swatkins
Lost & Alive
Track 02
Recorded by Andrew Block at Neutral Sound Studio, New Orleans LA
Swatkins - keyboards, tambourine
Moorea Masa - lead vocals
Raquel Rodriguez - vocals
Deven Trusclair - drums
Nick Campbell - bass
Andrew Block - guitar
Written by: Swatkins, Moorea Masa
More to Learn
(Feat. Eric Krasno)
Track 03
Recorded by
Gus Berry at Jackpot! Recording Studio, Portland OR
Swatkins - Wurlitzer, vocals, tambourine
Allen Stone - lead vocals
Eric Krasno - guitar
Tyrone Hendrix - drums
Peter Knudsen - guitar
André J Zapata - bass
Michael Elson - organ
Raquel Rodriguez - vocals
Written by: Swatkins, Allen Stone, Eric Krasno, Jans Ingber
Lottery
Track 04
Recorded by
Andrew Block at Neutral Sound Studio, New Orleans LA
Swatkins - electric piano, synths
Raquel Rodriguez - lead vocals
Jess Best - vocals, arrangement
Connor Schultze - bass, arrangement
Michael Elson - felted piano
Eric “Benny” Bloom - trumpet
Peter Knudsen - guitar
Written by: Swatkins, Jess Best, Raquel Rodriguez
Until I Get Back
Track 05
Recorded by
Andrew Block at Neutral Sound Studio, New Orleans LA
Swatkins - vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards
Deven Trusclair - drums
Nick Campbell - bass
André J Zapata - bass
Andrew Block - guitar
Written by: Swatkins
Bright Light
Track 06
Swatkins - organ, vocals
Antwaun Stanley - lead vocals
Moorea Masa - vocals
Tyler Thompson - drums
Ryan Lerman - guitar
Jeff Leonard - bass
Written by: Swatkins, Jay Cobb Anderson, Jans Ingber, Antwaun Stanley
Sweet Talk
Track 07
Recorded by
Andrew Block at Neutral Sound Studio, New Orleans LA
Swatkins - keyboards, bass, talkbox
Moorea Masa - lead vocals
Raquel Rodriguez - vocals
Alvin Ford, Jr. - drums
Andrew Block - guitar
Nigel Hall - rhodes
Ryan Zoidis - alto sax solo
Naughty Professor Horns - horn section
Nick Ellman - baritone sax
John Culbreth - trumpet
Ian Bowman - tenor sax
Written by: Swatkins, Moorea Masa
Don't Tell You That Enough
Track 08
Recorded by
Slater Swan at Anjuna Recording Studio, Portland OR
Swatkins - vocals, talkbox, guitar, clavinet
André J Zapata - bass
Sam Brawner - drums
Peter Knudsen - guitar
Michael Elson - organ
Gabriel Mervine - trumpet
Written by: Swatkins
Letting Go
Track 09
Swatkins - keyboards, guitar
Ashley Jayy - vocals
Jans Ingber - percussion
Peter Knudsen - guitar
Jarrod Lawson - rhodes
Written by: Swatkins, Ashley Jayy, Jans Ingber, Jarrod Lawson
Gotta Give It Away (If You're Gonna Keep It)
Track 10
Recorded by
Joshua Fairman at Color Red Studios, Denver CO
Swatkins - lead vocal, talkbox, clavinet, synth solo
Michelangelo Carubba - drums
André J Zapata - bass
Michael Elson - organ
Craig Brodhead - guitar
Moorea Masa - vocals
Jans Ingber - percussion, vocals
Huntertones horns - horn section
Dan White - saxophones
Chris Ott - trombone
Jon Lampley - trumpet
Written by: Swatkins
