inthemix | Features | Switch: Even dance music has its superheros

By day he is Dave Taylor, mild-mannered UK music producer from Ladbroke Grove and by night he transforms into Switch, the dark-hearted beat molester who’s sonic mayhem has been felt the world over. From Diplo to Digweed, his twisted fidget house has conquered 2007 with its patented contorted time signature, eerie melody and grinding bassline.

As you can pick a Switch or Solid Groove (his other alias) record out of a DJ set just as easily as you could spot a white guy on Soul Train, it would be safe to say that he is the future of house music – although to say that what he produces is ‘house’ would be like saying that Jocelyn Wildenstein’s head is a face… as we all know it’s A Bit Patchy.

“It’s all about big basslines. I think people are starting to be more open to changes in tempo as well so you can slow it down and speed it up more and people will still get it. I think speed garage is going to blow up again as well – everyone likes the noisier side of music at the moment, things with lots of energy!”

I have always wondered what it would be like in the studio with Switch. Given the intensity of his records, I imagine it would all culminate in me running away with my head exploding inb a similar fashion to Chico, the guy that didn’t make it at the start of The Running Man. “I generally try and regurgitate what I hear in the club, what works and gets people going. Crowd reaction in the clubs plays a big part in how I make music in the studio, there are definitely times when I feel like I am making good music though and there are times when I scrap something and start again.”

In his time, the man has worked with the likes of Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, Kelis, M.I.A. and Armand Van Helden to name but a few, and is currently working as a producer on the new Tricky album. When you make music that sounds like a chainsaw in a washing machine, it makes me wonder what happened to Dave as a child. Who gave him this bizarre twist on rhythm, and where does his influence come from?

“Everything from really cheesy pop music to the latest forms of dancehall! There is a really exciting indie rave sound coming through at the moment as well. I pretty much have influences from right across the board! I just got back from Jamaica where I have been doing some things with Diplo, and before I left I heard some M.I.A. stuff and thought she would be great to work with also. So I left a CD of beats at XL (her label) and apparently she was asking who I was at the same time, so working with her on her record evolved from there.”

While he is famed for his live shows, he has recently ‘switched’ back to using other methods of destroying people’s minds in dark rooms. “I have actually gone back to using CDs as I lost my luggage a few times and lost a midi controller which was a bit of a logistical nightmare when you are playing off a laptop. I still love playing with computers as you can be really creative, but there is more of a physical attachment to the crowd when you are using CDs.”

Having seen him in action before, I am champing at the bit-crusher awaiting his return to Oz for a number of dates around the country. “Australia is actually one of the hardest places to leave… I love the lifestyle, the people have a great outlook and the crowds really embrace the club music. When I was there last I was completely blown away by some of the (Aussie) DJs like Ajax and the Bang Gang guys. I remember watching them thinking ‘I really have to pick up my game!’”

Published with thanks to BMA Magazine. Switch will be caving heads ‘fidget house’ style at the following dates around the country…

Fri Nov 23 – Tonight Only Showcase at The Bakery Artrage Complex, Perth
Sat Nov 24 – Harbourlife at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Sydney
Sat Nov 24 – Killer at the Abandoned Cinema Complex, Melbourne
Sun Nov 25 – Sounds on Sunday at Greenwood Hotel, Sydney
Thu Nov 29 – Dirty Thursdays at Monastery, Brisbane
Sat Dec 1 – Fore Shore at Commonwealth Place, Canberra

And check out this clip of the man himself dropping his seminal A Bit Patchy tune at Sydney’s Field Day earlier this year, and the madness that ensues…