Catching up with Switches at the Vogue
It was my pleasure and enjoyment to get some time with Switches before they played their June 10 show at the Vogue in Indianapolis, opening a 4-band night with headliners She Wants Revenge.
I’d like to mention that 1) I love English politeness, pomp, and personal presentation and 2) I love the idealist that is the BritPop rocker.
While much of their music is unabashed straight-forward pop (their single, Drama Queen, is the theme song to MTV’s new reality show Legally Blonde), their incorporation of vocal harmonies and unmistakeably, a bouncy danceability, separates them from the pop herd.
“We really separate ourselves with a music talent we can be a bit smug about,” said Matt, the lead singer and primary writer on their current release. “We use a lot of harmonies that sort of reinforce the chord structure. Like on Drama Queen.”
And their talent is evident with the creative approach to the melodies and arrangement on several of their tracks. Most markedly on the track “I Need To Be Needed” with its sweeping vocals that lead into a fabulous harmony late in the track, and in the rhythm of “Lay Down the Law” as well as a short interlude burst in that track with a tooting, minimalist organ sound.
But what is it in the song creation process that really makes them danceable? Do they start out that way?
“We keep it simple,” said their drummer, Steve. “I just play what suits the song, with small variations or touches.”
“It really is a more studied approach to music,” added Matt.
When asked about a one-line shot to describe their sound, they gave me some good answers:
“We’re like a trashy old whore in a three-star hotel suite.” Also, “We sound like trash whips coming in whipped streams.” Editorial note: when an Englishman says whore, I feel like it means something a little less abrasive.
Their music, albeit a bit poppy for this publication at times, is truly enjoyable, and, according to the band, will probably have some electronic instrumentation in its future (which I am excited to hear).
Switches’ album, Lay Down the Law is now available to purchase wherever you might like to buy it. They are currently heading west through the US on the Nylon Magazine Music Tour.
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