This album took me nearly six years to write, record and finally bring to life. There was a lot of sweat, a little blood, plenty of late nights, and more than a few times when I wondered if I would ever call it finished.

But somewhere along the way, it became the record I've wanted to make my entire musical life.

After all these years of playing, writing, recording and working around music, I finally reached a point where I stopped worrying about what category the songs belonged in. Blues, Americana, rock, country, New Orleans funk, jazz—it's all in there, because all of that music is part of me.

I truly believe Swamp Kat is the best record I've ever made. Not because it's perfect, but because it sounds the most like me.

These songs carry pieces of my life—places I've been, people I've known, stories I've heard, and a few characters who may or may not have wandered out of a Louisiana swamp.

I put everything I had into this one.

Turn it up, give it a listen, and I hope you enjoy the ride.

— John Zarra