QED Records Interviews: Switchboard Of Souls

Switchboard Of Souls (SOS) is primarily led by Christopher Quintos, a Fresno, California-based musician who puts together darkwave and industrial tracks that smell like they come from a parallel universe in 1986. His music is modern and synth-driven, but the musical structures, melodies and sometimes even lyrics are throwbacks to a past age.

SOS is one of the QED artists we’ve never met in person, but who has contributed a massive amount of music to the archive: as of September 2009 he has 5 releases in the QED Records  catalog. We caught up with him via email soon after the release of his 10-track album “Don’t Bother Me – Remixes” [qd-4257] to ask about his music and his process.

Full interview after the jump.

[qd-4257] Switchboard Of Souls – Don’t Bother Me – Remixes

(qd-4257) Switchboard Of Souls - Don't Bother Me

When Switchboard Of Souls sings: “Don’t bother me, just leave us alone, don’t you know that we’re all just as human,” he sounds the anthem of the alienated and the disenfranchised. It’s a simple enough tune, but the variations do bring new viewpoints to the plate.

The first two original 8-minute-plus tracks utilize a driving darkwave synth with guitars and vocals reminiscent of early New Order, but subsequent versions range from electro 808 State-like arrangements (Common Prayer Mix), to industrial stylings (BlenderMix), to sinister downtempo (Hands & Feet Mix), to 90s pop remix (InstrumentalMix), to new age piano (Sonata), to a combo of everything on the 2 reprises.

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DETAILS:   Total runtime: 47:10  |  10 MP3s encoded at 192 kbps, 44.1 kHz stereo.

DOWNLOAD:  Entire album as a single zip file with VBR MP3s. (File size:65 MB) – from Archive.org

Individual tracks after the jump.

[qd-4251] Switchboard of Souls – Mad With Me

qd-4251 Switchboard of Souls -Mad with Me

[qd-4251] SWITCHBOARD OF SOULS : Mad With Me

Another synthtronic release from the understated master of retro electric new wave moods. Switchboard of Souls unleashes a three-song EP that could very well have been a Depeche Mode underground release. The title track features vocals by the artist, the next two tracks are brooding instrumentals.

Keywords: new wave, darkwave, synthpop, more Depeche than Mode, synthesized melancholia.

DETAILS: Three mp3s encoded at 192 kbps stereo. | Total Running Time: 10:49

DOWNLOAD ALL FILES IN ONE 18 MB ZIP FILE: VBR ZIP

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