EPK | desandtheswagmatics

Rockin' your funky souls

P R E S S

"I remember seeing her perform at The Saint as a solo performer on a crowded night in December. The show itself was a bit of a train wreck as it was this odd combination of poetry, art and musicians that just didn’t fit. The crowd was more into hanging out than the paying attention to the music. That is until Des stepped on stage. Armed with only an acoustic guitar, she blew everyone away the moment she began singing. Her voice stopped the entire room and everyone was laser-focused on her magnificent pipes"

Bill Bodkin

thepopbreak.com

"When you combine excellent musicianship with stage polish and a good helping of funky riffs, you've got a winning formula. Des and the Swagmatics have been around for a few years but they're on the ascent. Their set as Prince and the Revolution at the Wonder Bar's Halloween show is still buzzed about and dynamic Deseree Spinks is a new millennium Carly Simon with soul.

"Des has beautiful pipes," Feola said. "The lady can sing.""

Chris Jordan

Asbury Park Press

Des and the Swagmatics have been a nice option for Asbury Park music fans over the last few years. Their rock-funk vibe is a change up from the city’s prevailing full-on rock sound, and they have a grown and sexy appeal, too.

Chris Jordan

Asbury Park Press

"The band burned up The Wonder Bar with an abundance of positive energy. Their performance of "Sunny Side" was just what I needed after a dreary couple of days. They closed things out with a faithful cover of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" that had everyone moving."

Jim Appio

cooldadmusic.com

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D E T A I L S

Based in Asbury Park, NJ

Founded in 2012

Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk Rock, Pop, Original & Cover

W E A R E

DESEREE SPINKS, band leader, vox, keys
RANDY PRESTON, lead guitar
CRAIG LAWLOR, drums, vox
KEVIN STRYKER, bass, vox
RAYMOND SAADA, keys, vox

ABOUT THE BAND

Des and the Swagmatics is an Asbury Park based five-piece band on a mission to get your booty shakin’ by any means necessary! Reborn from the glorious ashes of a storied one-off Prince tribute on Halloween 2014, Des and the Swagmatics pack a sexy blend of R&B, rock, soul, funk and pop sounds in a way guaranteed to make you dance so hard you’ll pull something if you don’t stretch first!

Led by vocal powerhouse Deseree Spinks, the Swagmatics are guitarist Randy Preston, drummer-vocalist Craig Lawlor, keyboardist-vocalist Ray Saada, and bassist Kevin Stryker. Coming together over their shared love of Prince’s fearless virtuosity, the raw soul power and harmonies of the great R&B voices of the 60s and 70s, the smooth bass and deep pocket grooves of 90s R&B and New Jack Swing, classic reggae vibes, and iconic 80s synth sounds, a night at a Des and the Swagmatics show is a genre-bending adventure through every way you’ve ever wanted to get down! Known for their original takes on a diverse range of cover songs, Des and the Swagmatics have also released an original self-titled EP, as well as their new single “Back to Blue” with their friends at Telegraph Hill Records. They’re excited to be actively writing and recording material for an upcoming LP!

Their high-energy show has brought them to audiences across the east coast, with multiple appearances at their own hometown venues like The Stone Pony and Convention Hall, NYC institutions The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall, and residencies at the legendary Green Parrot in Key West. They’ve been honored to open for local legend Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ annual New Years Eve concert at the Count Basie Theatre, played New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s election night after-party, and were featured in an Emmy-winning news feature about the renaissance of Asbury Park’s music scene. They’ve also won Asbury Park Music Awards for Top R&B Band, Top Female Vocalist, and Top Guitarist.