"I feel the worst music is being listened to by the most people. I wish it would be the other way around!"

Pierre Omer: Tropical Breakdown

Ten years after reaching the earth, Pierre Omer and his Swing Revue are back, as fresh and energetic as ever with a brand-new album! With «Tropical Breakdown», album is due October 27 on the faithful Voodoo Rhythm Records, the iconoclastic quartet clearly breaks the boundaries of the swing format. Twisting the music around, bending the rhythms, and experimenting with new sounds. With mostly original material rooted in blues, swing, exotica, experimental and film noir, the songwriting is rather dark, addressing the troubled times we’re going through. But the band reminds us that swing is and always has been an energetic, joyful and fearless music for a troubled and absurd world… Holding it together, the head and heart of the band, Pierre Omer on vocals and guitar elegantly shares his true love for beautiful melodies (telling you terrible stories) but also for the drive and the dirt of garage rock and surreal humor.

(Pierre Omer / Photo by Stephan Roisin)

Some tunes were recorded a couple of years back at Alex McGowan’s Space Echo east (Son of Dave, Martina Topley Bird, Urban Voodoo Machine, Jah Wobble) in east London. The rest was recorded last winter directly in the band’s rehearsal room in Geneva. Part of the songs were mixed at Nené Baratto’s Big Snuff studio (King Khan, Maximilian Weissenfeldt) in Berlin, while the rest was mixed in Geneva by Monney B (Hells Kitchen, Los Gatillos). Pierre Omer was born in London of an Indian father and a Swiss mother. He is a founder member of the legendary Swiss funeral Rock 'n' Roll band The Dead Brothers. In 2009 he started several solo projects along with Robert Butler, Roland Bucher and Christian Aregger in 2013 the Swing machine where born..

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues/Swing and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world?

I guess the first thing these musical styles (blues, swing, country music) have in common is that they are from the past. So that triggered an imaginary, a nostalgia for a time I never knew. The other side of the story is feeling these music are the people music. Authentic expression of the people.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

I like the entertainment. I know it can be looked down to by artists but I like to entertain people, which doesn't mean you cannot be profound or deliver a message.

It's hard to describe my sound, since I think my different projects cover different genres. Just to mention the new Swing Revue album coming out I would say it is a mix of swing, strange easy listening, film noir soundtrack and experimental...

I have feelings to express, that's my main inspiration. My other source of inspiration is the desire to share the music with first the other musicians I play with, then the audience.                                   (Pierre Omer's Swing Revue / Photo by Stephan Roisin)

"I guess the first thing these musical styles (blues, swing, country music) have in common is that they are from the past. So that triggered an imaginary, a nostalgia for a time I never knew. The other side of the story is feeling these music are the people music. Authentic expression of the people."

What moment changed your life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

With no doubt the birth of my daughter!

I've had many intense musical and human adventures through the music. And I'm lucky enough to still be excited by the next thing to come... I guess I should mention the Dead Brothers that was the first band with which I got to tour a lot. Musical adventures and a lot of travelling. Playing in Russia or South America was quite an experience.

But you know, I try to consider every show as a new adventure. This new album with the Swing Revue has been an amazing musical journey!

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I guess an obvious answer is technology! It is amazing and frightening at the same time. I miss the sound of music that is being performed and recorded as it is performed. I hope the younger generation will not forget that. I'm not against technology as long as it doesn't kill the "know how".

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

That's very tricky. I was thinking about this while listening to the new album of some friends here in Geneva. Their music is clearly political. Post punk inspired with poetico left wing words kind of thing. I myself, as I said before, believe in entertainment. What I was figuring out while comparing is that what all music have in common is the search for a transcendence. Some musician express their hopes and views for a better society, I myself don't have big expectation. My transcendence is celebrating the absurdity of life... And when we get to share that feeling and have a laugh with the audience, I think I did my job.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Hard to say. That you never know!! I have learned a lot, but I still have the feeling I am doing things for the first time, rediscovering things...

"I have feelings to express, that's my main inspiration. My other source of inspiration is the desire to share the music with first the other musicians I play with, then the audience." (Pierre_Omer / Photo_by Miss Radiogram)

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I feel the worst music is being listened to by the most people. I wish it would be the other way around!

What's the balance in music between technique and soul? Do you have a dream project you'd most like to accomplish?

They are no rules if you ask me. I can be into two chord songs that go straight to my heart and also into very sophisticated music that blows my mind, so... A dream project? I'll keep this to myself!

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