The solo project of Australian musician Esther Edquist, Sweet Whirl's wry, sophisticated adult-alternative pop songs draw on the influence of singer/songwriters spanning Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, and Bob Dylan. The project's official full-length debut, the reflective How Much Works, arrived in 2020. A singer and bass guitarist in Melbourne, Edquist released a handful of EPs as half of downcast dream pop duo Superstar with Kieran Hegarty in the early to mid-2010s. A solo debut under the moniker Sweet Whirl featuring only electric bass and vocals followed on local experimental label Nice Music in 2016. Polishing her sound, expanding arrangements, and putting a focus on classic songwriting over bleary atmospheres, arriving at something more akin to noir-pop, the six-track Love Songs & Poetry, followed on Chapter Music in mid-2019. She emphasized still more clarity and gave space to keyboard instruments on mid-2020's How Much Works, Sweet Whirl's official debut album. It was recorded with members of Melbourne bands Total Control, Sleep Decade, and labelmate Gregor. ~ Marcy Donelson