Richard Swift was a musician, artist and visionary producer based in Cottage Grove, Oregeon. At his legendary studio National Freedom, he made albums with artists like The Shins, Damien Jurado, Sharon Van Etten, Lonnie Holley, Kevin Morby and Foxygen. His music and recording techniques were inspired by the urgent, raw American art of Bo Diddley, Walt Whitman, Ray Johnson, Captain Beefheart and Kerouac.

He conjured timeless earworms out of thin air. He was truly hilarious. The Swift universe was singular. He died of complications related to alcohol abuse on July 3, 2018.