Switchblade Symphony
Encyclopedia
Switchblade Symphony was a San Francisco, United States
–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root
. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records
label. They also had two live guitarists, first Robin Jacobs (who later joined Razor Skyline) and then George Earth
(most recently of Small Halo, also with Tina Root), and two live drummers, first Eric Gebow (now with Blue Man Group
) and then Scott van Shoick.
Switchblade Symphony's music combined orchestral sounds with heavy synth sequences and ethereal vocals to create a highly original sound resembling The Flower Duet
sung over a twisted union of classical music
and gothic rock
. The band's name refers to this union, the result of cutting up elements of classical music to mix them with harder sounds. Though this sound is uncommon, it might be compared with Rhea's Obsession
, Siouxsie, Cindergarden, The Machine in the Garden
and Dead Can Dance
.
Switchblade Symphony disbanded in November 1999. Subsequently, Tina Root started Tre Lux
. In 2008, Tina Root and George Earth formed Small Halo, a band based out of Los Angeles
and working on an upcoming EP
.
Their song "Clown" was featured in the 1998 film "Wicked" starring Julia Stiles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
–based band which was formed in 1989 by composer Susan Wallace and vocalist Tina Root
Tina Root
Tina Root , also now known as Tina Minero, is an American classically trained female vocalist and songwriter from Los Angeles, California, perhaps most famous for her work performing as the lead singer of Switchblade Symphony during the mid-to-late-1990s...
. They released their first album in 1995 on the Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
label. They also had two live guitarists, first Robin Jacobs (who later joined Razor Skyline) and then George Earth
George Earth
George Earth is an American musician, guitarist, songwriter, composer, music producer, comic book artist, and talk show host from Echo Park, California...
(most recently of Small Halo, also with Tina Root), and two live drummers, first Eric Gebow (now with Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...
) and then Scott van Shoick.
Switchblade Symphony's music combined orchestral sounds with heavy synth sequences and ethereal vocals to create a highly original sound resembling The Flower Duet
The Flower Duet
The Flower Duet is a famous duet for sopranos from Léo Delibes' opera Lakmé, first performed in Paris in 1883. The duet takes place in Act 1 of the three act opera, between characters Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, and her servant Mallika, as they go to gather flowers by a river...
sung over a twisted union of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
. The band's name refers to this union, the result of cutting up elements of classical music to mix them with harder sounds. Though this sound is uncommon, it might be compared with Rhea's Obsession
Rhea's Obsession
Rhea's Obsession, which takes its name from the Greek goddess, Rhea, is a band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their music mixes several different styles including gothic rock, darkwave, and world music, similar to Dead Can Dance.-Brief history:...
, Siouxsie, Cindergarden, The Machine in the Garden
The Machine in the Garden (band)
The Machine in the Garden is a music duo featuring Roger Fracé and Summer Bowman. They have released six full-length albums and one EP. Their music is a blend of different genres, such as synthpop, trip hop, electronica and gothic rock.-History:...
and Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
.
Switchblade Symphony disbanded in November 1999. Subsequently, Tina Root started Tre Lux
Tré Lux
Tre Lux is the solo trip hop project of Tina Root, the vocalist of Switchblade Symphony.-A Strange Gathering:Her first full-length album, A Strange Gathering, was released September 19, 2006...
. In 2008, Tina Root and George Earth formed Small Halo, a band based out of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and working on an upcoming EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
.
Their song "Clown" was featured in the 1998 film "Wicked" starring Julia Stiles.
Discography
- Full-length albums and EPs
- Serpentine GallerySerpentine Gallery (album)First released in 1995, Serpentine Gallery is the debut album of gothic rock duo Switchblade Symphony. A deluxe edition with a bonus disc was released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Bad Trash" – 3:42# "Dissolve" – 4:31# "Wallflower" – 4:58...
(19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
) - ScrapbookScrapbook (ep)This self-released limited edition EP was only available at Switchblade Symphony gigs.In the cover is the message "This collection of recordings, a limited edition unavailable in stores, was compiled for our dedicated fans whose supports has helped make this tour possible...
(19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
) (out of print) - Bread and Jam for FrancesBread and Jam for FrancesReleased in 1997, Bread and Jam for Frances is the second album by Switchblade Symphony. It was recorded at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco and Private Island Trax in Hollywood and mastered at Private Island Trax...
(1997) - The Three CalamitiesThe Three Calamities-Track listing:# "Invisible" – 3:56# "Wicked" – 4:18# "Naked Birthday" – 4:11# "Invitation" – 3:23# "Fear" – 3:59# "Monsters" – 2:00# "Therapy" – 4:13# "Copycat" – 4:52# "Green" – 7:12 # "Into the Sky" – 4:10...
(19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - Sinister NostalgiaSinister Nostalgia-Track listing:# "Sweet" – 6:52# "Dollhouse" – 4:56# "Dissolve" – 5:14# "Cocoon" – 5:20# "Clown" – 4:57# "Insect" – 4:15...
(20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
) (remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es) - Sweet Little Witches (20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
) (live performances and video track) - Serpentine Gallery DeluxeSerpentine Gallery (album)First released in 1995, Serpentine Gallery is the debut album of gothic rock duo Switchblade Symphony. A deluxe edition with a bonus disc was released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Bad Trash" – 3:42# "Dissolve" – 4:31# "Wallflower" – 4:58...
(20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
)
- Serpentine Gallery
- Singles
- Clown (19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
) - Drool (19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
)
- Clown (1996
- Other
- Fable (19911991 in musicSee also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
) (out of print demo cassette) - Elegy (19921992 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
) (out of print demo cassette) - Girlscout (single) (recorded with Jack Off JillJack Off JillJack Off Jill was an American alternative rock band from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, founded in 1992 by Jessica Fodera, Tenni Arslanyan, Robin Moulder, and Michelle Oliver. Though these four young women were the initial founders, twelve members rotated through the group in its lifespan, including...
) (19981998 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
)
- Fable (1991
- Compilations
- From The Machine, featured the song: "Mine Eyes" (Index Records, 1990)
- Gothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90'sGothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90'sGothic Rock Volume 2: 80's Into 90's is the second of a trio of double-disc Gothic Rock compilations produced by Cleopatra Records. Jungle Records has also released the album . The album also features an article on the development of the Gothic Rock movement by Mick Mercer...
(1995) - Gothik (1995) (re-released in 20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
) - Wired Injections (1996)
- Gothic Divas Presents: Switchblade Symphony, Tre Lux, and New Skin (Cleopatra, 2006)
- Psycho Tina's Hell House Of Horrors, featured the song "Witches (Live)" (Cleopatra)
- The Devil's Songbook, featured the song "Wicked" (2010)
External links
- Tre Lux - Tina Root's new band
- Cleopatra Records - Switchblade Symphony's record label