It has been four years since California-based Switchfoot made their India debut. Both the times they decided to tour the country, the five-member band had their mind set on unravelling an unexplored side of their image. First time around, it was stating on record that they were a rock outfit as opposed to the gospel tag they had. This time, the reveal has been much bigger — Switchfoot, who had announced an extended hiatus for the ‘foreseeable future’ in 2017, has regrouped. They’ve also unveiled the title track of their upcoming album Native Tongue, and India is the first destination on their tour list. “Even when you stop chasing songs, the songs chase you. I have loved every minute of my time off, but the music was chasing us down. I have heard it said that beauty is the battlefield for God and the Devil. For us, music is how we throw punches and it is time to step back into the ring,” frontman Jon Foreman revealed in a video promo on the band’s page, hinting at the reunion a few weeks ago.
Sound sense
The San Diego surfers turned Grammy award-winning alt-rockers started out as a mainstay for gospel music in 1997, but soon found resonance among teenagers from the late 1990s and through the 2000s with Dare you to Move (featured in the film A Walk to Remember) and Meant to Live —both songs from their 2003 double-platinum album, The Beautiful Letdown. Ten records in, with another set to release in 2019, Switchfoot’s sound has evolved to a layered, heavier rock tone with elements of electronica backed by Jon Foreman’s raspy vocals and impassioned lyrics; a prominent feature in Native Tongue. “We started off very young and naive and hopefully, we have learned a few things over time. I am grateful that YouTube didn’t exist when we first started touring, we were terrible live musicians! Our audience has grown up with us and allowed us to explore new musical territories,” says drummer, Chad Butler.
Steering the conversation towards developing a new sound, we land on the metal version of the song Meant to Live that the band pranked fans with on the occasion of April Fools this year. Could one expect heavier experiments from the band in Native Tongue? Laughing it off as a fun moment, Chad tells us that while he loves musical exploration, Switchfoot is better off leaving that style of music to the bands that do it well.
Imagined communities
Keeping their fan network tightly knit through constant interactions since their inception, the band has also been hosting an annual beach and surfing festival over the last 13 years. “The crowd is not there to give me something, I am there to give them a gift: joy, light, hope, perspective, truth — anything can happen in a song. The community aspect of music is why I play rock ’n’ roll,” explains Jon, with Chad adding in, “We love our fans, we see them as one big family! It’s wonderful to see people initially connecting through our music and then developing friendships.” A competitive swimmer in high school, Chad’s treasured memory of making a friend through his music is that of decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. “I couldn’t believe it when he sat in with us and played the tambourine,” he recalls.
Boardwalk empire
Rueful that their trip does not offer them a chance to ride the waves of the Indian coasts, the drummer isn’t giving up just as yet. “It would be amazing to go surfing in India and I’ll keep hoping for that.” In addition to crowd favourites from older albums, fans can look out for exclusive, unreleased tracks from the upcoming album as NH7 Weekender Shillong and Kolkata editions will be the curtain raisers of the band’s Native Tongue tour.
Quick takes with Chad Butler
The band has been vocal about how music has helped make sense of the world. What’s the one song by Switchfoot that has helped you through dark times?
CB: Self-doubt and insecurity can be daunting voices. Two songs come to my mind: Where I belong and Dare you to Move.
Is there a song that you think is perfect?
CB: U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. I think that song captures a feeling both musically and lyrically.
Favourite musical memory?
CB: The crowds in India singing so loud! Some of my favourite memories are from our last tour in 2015.
In Shillong on November 3 and Kolkata on November 4. Native Tongue is set for worldwide release on
January 18, 2019.