Reinventing the Bedroom Album with Cisco Swank

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During the pandemic, Cisco Swank, the New York-based jazz-rapper, did the thing up-and-coming musicians don’t do; he locked himself away. And it wasn’t just on good medical advice. Swank was hard at work on his debut album, More Better, a masterclass in versatility — it expertly blends jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel — that deserved the rave reviews it got. Despite having been recorded in Swank’s Brooklyn bedroom and Boston dorm room — the kid graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2022 — More Better sounds lush, expansive, and remarkably self-assured. Swank isn’t simply a breakout artist in one genre; in an industry in which genre is disappearing, in general, he is the brightest expression of the future.

For the last few weeks (not including Christmas) More Better has been playing on repeat in the SPY offices so it felt natural to reach out to Swank to talk about what it feels like to be on the come-up and how he managed to sidestep the startup costs — all that equipment — of pop stardom.

You recorded a large part of your debut album in your bedroom. What are your go-to pieces of audio tech that you use in that setting?

A lot of it is really basic stuff that people think, “Oh, yeah, this is what beginner musicians use.” But I didn’t feel like buying new stuff. Why spend money on mad-expensive gear when you can use stuff that’s cheaper and make it sound good? I used an audio interface, Focusrite, which is literally $100. I also used a Rode NT microphone for a lot of the record, which is about $200.

What audio gear do you think is worth dropping serious money on?

I play the piano, bass, guitar, and drums, so most of the expensive things I have are instruments. I used a Nord keyboard for a lot of my album; a Prophet, which is a really nice synthesizer by [instrument designer and Grammy-winner] Dave Smith; and Fender basses. It’s a really simple setup. I feel like you can make things work if you’re good at manipulating sounds.

Do you have a pair of headphones that you use most frequently?

I have a funny story about that. They’re the Audio-Technica M50x over-ear headphones. I actually stole two pairs from Berklee — they just have hundreds of them in all the classrooms and they’re really nice. They still have the writing from Berklee on them. Yeah, I borrowed them…

Ha! Did you give them back?

Nope, never did. I use them every day.

You went on a North American headline tour this summer. Aside from your gear, what are three things you always take with you on the road?

I always bring some deodorant. I mess with some Dove Men’s. Nothing crazy. I usually have a cap or some type of bucket hat. And always an extra T-shirt. If I’m out and about all day, I love to put on a fresh new T-shirt at 5pm. I don’t have a particular brand I love, though, because I thrift most of my clothing — I usually go to L Train Vintage, Urban Jungle, or Buffalo Exchange in Brooklyn.

What’s the best thrifted T-shirt you’ve bought? What was on it?

I love a good white tee. There’s this one that’s a church anniversary convention tee — it says “Today in My Life, Christ is Alive.” It’s actually mad cool. I got it at 2nd Street in Los Angeles.

What’s the first album you bought as a kid?

I wasn’t really buying too many albums — I was more listening to my mom’s and my dad’s. The first I remember listening was either [gospel artist] Kirk Franklin, [gospel artist] Tye Tribbet, or Stevie Wonder’s Innervsions or Songs in the Key of Life. Those definitely shaped the music that I make — it very much has a gospel-like chordal influence. A lot of energy.

What products do you get ads for on social media?

Musical instruments, clothes, or whatever I’m looking up that week. Earlier this year, I thought I should get into skincare — like, “Yeah, I should buy exfoliants and toners!” Then it was everywhere [on my social media]. I definitely bought a bunch of random skincare. I had an allergic reaction to one of the products. It was pretty sad. Now I just use a cleanser and a moisturizer.