Interview – Switches

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Haribo fizzy sweets, Doritos and an iceberg lettuce were just some of the treats littered across the table as I walked in to a room in Clwb Ifor Bach to meet the band, Switches before their gig in Cardiff. Three of the band members, singer Matt Bishop, drummer Jimmy G and bass player Max Tite, were slouched on separate leather sofas, two of them engrossed in their handheld computer games. Their fourth member, Ollie Thomas, was nowhere to be seen. A glimpse into the glamorous life of an up-and-coming band, indeed…

So how has your tour been going?

Matt “We’ve been on the road since the end of January. We’ve had good crowds on the tour and had lots of fun. We played the London Koko and the cast of Skins came to see the show - they came on stage between the penultimate and last song. It was easily the best night of the tour for me.”

What has been the best gig that you have performed together as a band?

Jimmy “The Reading festival last year was good!”

Matt “I enjoyed playing with Hard-Fi as well. It’s one of those moments you never forget.”

With so many bands out there at the moment all sounding very similar, what sets you apart from them?

Matt “I think people have found it hard to know what kind of band we are. After our first single – people asked, are they Brit-pop or glam rock revivalists? Someone even said ‘they’re trying to get on the new rave bandwagon’. (They all laugh) I can’t give you an example of another band that is quite like us.”

So what other music do you like?

Max “I listen to pretty much anything!”

Matt “Max is on the pulse of the non-popular music! We’re also pop lovers. Our single Lay Down the Law is us at our poppiest!”

Did you write the album collectively as a band?

Matt “The song writing on this album came from myself and if there were any instrumental collaborations, we done that together. I would demo the songs and then we would decide which ones were the best.”

At this point guitarist Ollie enters, politely introduces himself and sits down.

Which song would you most like to cover?

Jimmy “Blur’s Girls and Boys.”

Ollie “One Night in Paris by 10cc.”

Matt “I doubt anyone would know that one!”

Do you think the new chart rules help up-and-coming bands like yourselves?

Matt “I don’t know if that helps us. I don’t think, these days, chart positions are too important. As long as you can sell your records and get people to buy them and keep your fan base strong – I don’t think it’s the most important thing. I’d be happy with a top 10 album that sold lots of records at the expense of having no hits.”

Ollie “It’s another way to distribute music. It’s definitely a great thing being able to download a track. I think it’ll do album sales a lot of good as I think people will download singles and then they’ll want to buy the album.”

Do you have any other interests other than music?

Matt “I don’t have any other kind of interests. I never did really. I think if you want to be successful at something you have to dedicate your whole waking life to it.”

Jimmy “It’s not your job - it’s your life.”

Matt “I can’t stand listening to music when I’m not playing it. I go home and put on a CD and I end up turning it off. My head just needs a rest.”

Ollie “Sometimes you can overwork it, especially if you’re playing a set.”

If you weren’t in Switches, what would you be doing?

Matt “If I wasn’t doing this? I’d be trying to do it probably! Maybe I would buy a cat…” (The rest of the band look puzzled and laugh).

Jimmy “I would be travelling the world! I’d go to Las Vegas, or I’d do your job.” (Points towards me).

Are you enjoying what you’re doing at the moment?

Matt “We believe in what we do. We can’t complain as we get to play shows every night and meet lots of nice people.”

Ollie “And eat Doritos!” (He says this whilst munching from a bag)

Matt “And ultimately we get to put out an album in a few months which is my lifelong dream.

To those who haven’t heard your music, how would you describe it?

Matt “I’d probably say it’s quite catchy, melodic and powerful. It’s not soft music – the records are dense in their arrangements with little space around the voice. We don’t sing in English or regional accents. (Begins singing the View’s ‘Same Jeans’ in a strong accent and the others laugh).

So what are your plans for the rest of 2007?

Matt “The next step is to release the album and take over the world! (They all break into laughter again). Our plan is to work hard. We’ve done a really good album that we’re heartily proud of and we’ll see what happens. I’m up for doing as many gigs as we can. And hopefully this time next year we can look back and think that we’ve achieved something!”

Words and Photo: Alexis Forsyth

www.switchesmusic.co.uk

Alexis Forsyth, MyVillage, 22nd February