Shwa Losben writes fun, catchy rock songs. As the name of his band "The Good Times" suggests, Losben brings a light perspective to his playful brand of indie pop.
"I'm always thinking of ways for people to have fun at my shows," Losben said. "If you're not having a good time at a rock show, why have one?" This attitude spawned ideas including fan votes for cover songs and a free taco giveaway to anyone who came to five concerts.
The approach has also earned Shwa an immensely loyal fan base and quickly established him as an up-and-coming singer/songwriter. Now others are starting to notice.
In 2008 he released his debut solo album Chop Chop to wide critical acclaim. Rebel Spirit Music described the record as having "truly outstanding melodies crafted to perfection," while DCist proclaimed "the search for the next worthwhile troubadour is over." The title track earned Losben the prestigious ASCAP Robert Allen Songwriting Award, for which he was honored at Lincoln Center, and he soon channeled the album's success into opening spots for Ben Folds and OK Go.
Despite his easy-going attitude, Losben's fans take his music very seriously. More than 100 listeners sponsored his new album, Good Times Good Times , by bidding on prizes like "watch an episode of Full House together." With the support of his fans, Losben raised enough money to independently release the record.
"The band was playing new songs for over a year and I really wanted to share them with everyone," Losben said. "I'm so fortunate to have a fan base that believed in the music too."
Now armed with Good Times Good Times , Losben is poised to break out. Drawing on influences from Pulp to Pearl Jam, the record contains ten hook-laden songs and marks a major musical leap for the band. While capturing the energy of inspired live performances, the album seamlessly weaves together stories about good times and bad decisions. From the opening track "Trainwreck," about a friend who went to Mexico with a guy she met on Craigslist, to "Brooklyn Girls," a catchy critique of mean hipsters, Losben paints vivid images of his characters.
The album even ventures into dance pop with the fan-favorite, "Penultimate Dance." "Oh, it's an obvious attempt to sell out for sure," Losben joked. "My dream is for it to be the second-to-last song played at weddings and bar mitzvahs."
By combining addictive melodies with a distinctive, fun-loving sensibility, it's easy to see why USA Today praised, "[Shwa Losben] deserves to be heard by more people." Now armed with Good Times, Good Times, it's only a matter of time until he is.
Recent Press:
"[Shwa Losben] deserves to be heard by more people. I like this a lot."
USA Today
"( Chop Chop) is haunting, revealing levels past just the usual singer-songwriter ennui. Sounds like Elliott Smith at times, but that's unfair. Losben is his own man. With the voice and chops worthy of repeated listens, you'll get lost in this disc. And be glad you did."
On Tap Magazine
".The search for the next worthwhile troubadour is over. He could be Ryan Adams without the whiskey or Conor Oberst without the whine.
DCist.com
".A talented and charismatic singer and songwriter. Shwa writes solid pop songs and performs them with precision and distinct vocals."
Jezebel Music
"This is the kind of album you find yourself listening to over and over again, while gleaning something new and insightful each timeThis is a rare and great find.
75WordsOrLess.com
" [Shwa] packs plenty of rhythmic vitality and melodic appeal.
The Washington Post
