Wang Ya
In 2008, Ember Swift and Lyndell Montgomery, who were also life partners, went their separate ways and ceased their working relationship. Swift had always dreamed of going to China. She had visited in 2007 and had fallen in love with the country and culture there. In 2008, she moved to Beijing and continues to live and work part-time in Beijing, China and Toronto. In Beijing, she assembled a new band consisting of Zac Courtney of Australia on drums, Paplus Ntahombaye of Burundi (Africa) on bass, and China's Wang Ya Qi 王雅琪 on the traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu. All of the members were long-time residents of Beijing. The band changed forms many times over the years but now features Anthony Vanacore (USA) or Ray Diaz (Cuba) on drums, Darvel Chapman (Cuba) on bass, Orijinal Ray (Ghana) on keys, Gabriel Beaudoin (Canada) on guitar and, the longest remaining member, Wang Ya Qi 王雅琪 on the traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu. Swift's tours now include many stops throughout Asia as well as bi-annual European tours since 2017.