Switchfoot

The San Diego alternative-rock band, Switchfoot, gained mainstream recognition after the inclusion of four of their songs in the 2002 movie A Walk to Remember. This recognition led to their major label debut, The Beautiful Letdown, which was released in 2003, featuring their best-known single, Meant to Live.

It’s Switchfoot’s raw honesty that has continued to inspire the group’s hordes of loyal fans. Rarely does a rock band combine explosive guitars with an intense longing for meaning. Their lyrics deal with universal themes, and steer clear of preachiness. Switchfoot yearns for something more than what pop-culture is selling and they use their music to discuss spiritual and social themes which reach both secular and Christian audiences.

Switchfoot has won numerous Dove awards including Best Modern Rock Song (New Way To Be Human) in 1999 and Artist of the Year in 2005. The band has also won several ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) awards including Best New Artist in 1997.

Prior to the release of The Beautiful Letdown, Switchfoot signed with Charlie Peacock's re:think records, a division of Sparrow Records, who produced their first three albums, The Legend of Chin, New Way to be Human and Learning to Breathe. Switchfoot is currently signed to Columbia Records, a mainstream label, and their most recent album Nothing is Sound, was released in 2005.

Switchfoot “Unplugged”

During a ministry project, our team sat down with Switchfoot and asked them some questions about what they hope to accomplish with their music. You can see more of Switchfoot in one of the Bluefish TV video resources on the right.

Bluefish TV: What do you seek to communicate through your music?

Switchfoot: I think that music strikes a chord deeper in your soul…there are very few things that can strike you in that place and that can touch you there. All of my favorite songs are songs that have moved me on a spiritual level, and for us, that is what we’d be hoping to do. The biggest things we can be doing is asking questions.

Bluefish TV: Why do you focus on asking questions in your songs?

Switchfoot: We’ve always said that we write our songs for thinking people…underneath a catchy melody that might get stuck in your head, there is a lot of thought and a lot of my heart that’s in those songs…I feel like the listener could bring to the table an open mind and open ears. The questions that are asked in the songs are powerful…once people open their ears to what the songs are saying they are face to face with the possibility of change.

Bluefish TV: What do you hope your fans take away from your concerts?

Switchfoot: We always try to come at our music very honestly and that means that some days you have good days and some days you have bad days…we try to be the same people on and off the stage and approach life very open and honest…aiming for integrity.