Rough draft

Joshua Swain and Jordan Miller started out jamming in various high school bands in their hometown of Columbia, S.C. Swain, a multi-talented musician, left for Full Sail University in Florida in 2001 and Miller stayed behind.

One year later, Swain returned home and his mind was made up. College was just not in his future, he dreamt of something different. This something was given a name: The Movement.

Swain and Miller reunited and began writing songs and mixing music in Swain’s garage. Then along came DJ Jon Ruff.

The trio combined their talent and created their first full length album, entitled On Your Feet. This album was recorded and mixed in a mere 24-hour period and released in March of 2004. On Your Feet was the just the beginning in the birth of a loyal fan base that would support the band for/over the next five years.

The band toured the Southeast nonstop, building up recognition and getting out there any way they could. The Movement had a number of opportunities to do so.

“We loved playing with Common and Ludacris in Alabama. That was such a great show,” said Miller, reminiscing.

The Movement opened for a variety of top artists over the years including Blues Traveler, Slightly Stoopid, The Wailers, The Wu Tang Clan, 311 and Rebelution.

Unfortunately the band wasn’t breaking any new ground. Things were good, but not great. The guys began to lose interest. DJ Ruff left the band in 2008 to pursue other aspirations and start a family of his own.

It was time for something new.

Producer Chris DiBeneditto was also in search of something new. He had a studio with no one to work with and The Movement had new songs and no where to mix them.

DiBeneditto saw them play a couple times in the past and decided collaborating would be best. The only issue/problem, the guys would have to migrate up north to Philadelphia.

Swain and Miller were committed to this project so they packed the essentials and followed their dreams up the east cost. They met up with DiBeneditto at Philadelphonic Studio to begin working on their second album Set Sail.

Their passion and hard work was prevalent. They completed 18 songs in about a week’s time. Next was the search for the rest of the band.

Without a doubt, this is the most difficult part of putting together a band: the search for talent. Somehow, for The Movement, this caused them no trouble whatsoever.

Their producer suggested a local drummer by the name of Michael “Gary” Jackson. They jammed once and they were sold. Jackson told the others that he knew a bass player that would fit the vibe. Jay Schmidt was the final piece of the puzzle. The Movement was reborn.

Since the release of Set Sail on October 25, 2008, The Movement has been going nonstop. Set Sail reached has reached up to number 7 on iTunes Top 100 reggae albums alongside renowned artists Bob Marley, Matisyahu and SOJA.

This time around, The Movement expanded their tour locations far beyond the Southeast region of the U.S. From the Carolina’s to Baltimore, from Boston to New York, across the Midwest to California back to Kentucky down to Florida. Die-hard fans welcome the guys wherever they go.

Adam Gandy is the man in charge of all things dealing with advertising, marketing, and promotional work that surround The Movement. He posts daily updates on the top social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. This way, fans are able to stay up-to-date in regards to recent happenings and tour information.

Gandy also heads up a group of dedicated fans called The Movement Street Team. People from all over sign up to be a part of this promotional team whose purpose is to further spread the beats/sound/feeling of The Movement.

Two weeks prior to a show, Street Teamers customize and print flyers from the band’s official website. Flyers include venue information like the ‘Who’ ‘What’ ‘When’ and ‘Where’. Then they must post them in high-visibility places like music stores, surf and skate shops and school campuses.

In order to be praised for doing a job well-done, Teamers are required to forward pictures of themselves next to the flyers hung around the various locations. Gandy then rewards them with 2 free tickets to the upcoming show. Members are also encouraged to create events and groups using Facebook and MySpace. After all, every little bit counts.

Internet sites, like the ones mentioned above, are just an incredible way to advertise and promote. The Movement’s official website, www.themovementvibe.com provides listeners with a brief history of the band, song lyrics and tour information.

The website also includes polls to encourage fans that by voting, they are truly a part of The Movement vibe. It’s up to them to vote for their favorite song or choose which band they think the guys should go on tour with next.

There is also a section of items for sale for those who wish to flaunt their love for The Movement. They have T-shirts, stickers and CD’s for sale.

Not to forget, the best part of the website, the tons of pictures and videos shared between concert-goers from all over. Videos line the homepage, giving visitors a little taste of The Movement’s sound, along with a little taste of their personality too. These videos show the guys in their simplest form and document the highs and lows of being on the road on a day in and day out.

“Ya know, of course things get tough,” said Schmidt about constantly being on the road. “But I can’t think of any other way I’d rather spend my time.”

Like any band just starting off, money is scarce. You eat only when you’re starving and your meals tend to be small, whatever you need to get by. You drink a lot of beer—cheap beer. Water for the morning after.

Home is on wheels. “The Van” is big, boxy and black. It gets the job done.

“That ol’ thing has broken down more times than I want to think about. Right here in High Point, actually.”

The roof above their head is either the roof of “The Van”, a bar, or a Motel 6.

“I got 38 cents in my pocket right now, that is all I have to my name and I don’t give a [damn] because music is always going to be there for me and I want our music to be there for everyone else,” said Miller.

Wake up around 11:00 am, pack up and get on the road. Next destination. Who’s turn is it to drive. Directions? Call venue, get the OK. Find out start time. Set list. Arrive. Get settled, I guess settled isn’t the right word. Never really “settled” anywhere. Set up equipment. Meet and greet.

Very approachable group of guys. That’s not always the case when dealing with musicians.

Have a drink. Opening act, main act? Pack up around 1:00 or 2:00 am. Back on the road or stay in town (depending on tomorrow’s schedule). Do it all over again.

The Movement rarely has any down time to visit with family. If, by chance, they do find an opening in their schedule, they are sure to swing home for a quick stay, even if it’s just for one night.

“We have been doing some serious non-stop touring, from 2009 right through 2040,” said Miller.

But that doesn’t mean they’re not working on new stuff. New songs make it on the setlist on a regular basis.

Miller is always scribbling something on paper. He carries his bright yellow store-brand spiral notebook with him wherever he goes. The binding of the notebook shows some wear, but once you open up to the first page, you understand why. Inside are flat, crisp pages of lined paper filled with surprisingly good/legible handwriting.

“I can speak for Josh as well saying there are no boundaries for this band.”
The Movement… future.


“Rock, Reggae & Hip Hop: Each if definable, recognizable, and at one familiar to people all over the world. But never have those three forms of musical expression been so effortlessly blended into one sound that is as indefinable as it is recognizable and familiar.”