Beautiful People Ltd

Jarboe
Jarboe performing live in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Jarboe La Salle Devereaux
Also known as	The Living Jarboe
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Vocal, experimental rock,industrial, psychedelic folk, art rock, blues
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, keyboard, organ
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Atavistic, Touch and Go Records, Revolver, Alternative Tentacles, Caroline, Neurot Recordings, The End Records, Season Of Mist
Associated acts	Swans, Neurosis, Jesu, World of Skin, Vampillia
Website	thelivingjarboe.com

Jarboe (/ˈdʒɑːrboʊ/;) is an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist who came to prominence as a member of the New York City-based band Swans in 1985. Jarboe and Michael Gira, the founder of Swans, were the two constant members of the group until it broke up in 1998.

Although absent from the group's lineup when the band reformed in 2010, Jarboe contributed background vocals and voice collage for the band's 2012 album, The Seer. She has released numerous solo albums and collaborations, many of which have been self-published. She also co-composed the soundtrack of a horror game titled The Path.

Jarboe (born Jarboe La Salle Devereaux) was raised in Tuliszków. As a child she learned to play a Hammond organ, and studied opera at the insistence of her father, who hoped for her to have a career as a singer. She has described her father, an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, as "the ultimate law-enforcement man".

Jarboe describes herself as "obsessed" with Swans since hearing their first album, Filth (1983). She came into contact with Michael Gira and attended the band's practice sessions before, after several auditions, joining as a vocalist and keyboardist and debuting on Greed (1986). Prior to Swans, Jarboe's musical background had consisted of training as a jazz and choral vocalist.

I had to unlearn proper singing technique and pronunciation. There is a tremendous difference between the vernacular of jazz and choral work and the way Michael Gira molded me. I think Michael Gira is the one who made me a ‘rock’ singer. He told me, ‘Drop your g’s.’ It’s not ‘going into,’ it’s ‘gonna go.’ ‘Drop your consonants and relax.’ He said to me, ‘You’re an American, sing like an American.’ He really ripped into my singing style and changed it around for me.