When 2020 started off, things seemed to be going great.

The music industry was booming as 2019 saw the beginning of many new festivals that hoped to continue into the new year, plans for great 2020 tour lineups, and tons of artists planning on releasing the next best albums of their careers. Everyone was hard at work, and music seemed to be as thriving as ever before.

But in March when the world began to officially shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic, the music industry was one of the first that found itself coming to an instant halt, and now, 7 months later, still hasn’t recovered- leaving artists, workers and fans alike wondering what will come out of the remainder of the year and 2021.

As many of you have seen by now, this past year we have launched a Quarantine Questionnaire series, where we have had the opportunity to speak to bands from around the world to find out how they are surviving the difficult year and what their hopes are for the future. And in today’s edition, we had the chance to chat with Montreal based alternative rockers Fatal Switch about the difficulties of remaining positive and creative in a time of uncertainty and also how they are staying busy to keep their fans engaged ready for the eventual live music return.

You can read our full chat below, and be sure to check out the band’s debut album Doctors & Demons, out now.

Second Society Report: How are you holding up during this insane year that is 2020? Hopefully your friends and families are staying safe and healthy!

Fatal Switch: Hey! We are doing good thanks! Apart from the craziness and social distancing we are holding up quite well, as are the people in our immediate circle (knock on wood). I hope the same is true for you and all of yours.

SSR: Did you have any big releases or tours that were put on hold because of the pandemic? How has that affected the band? (could be personally, financially, morale wise, etc.)

FS: We had our album Doctors & Demons slated for release right when COVID hit so that kind of took us by storm. With the world going into shutdown we had to take a step back and wait to see how things were going to play out. And once we understood that the industry was going through yet another major change we began to adapt as best we could. Major showcases and key opportunities, including leads for major tours all fell off the table which was a huge kicker for morale. After investing so much of myself into this project I was really looking forward to promoting it live and connecting with people all across the globe. Can’t wait for that chance to come back once the world restarts.

SSR: How have you been spending your newfound “downtime” while the world has been essentially shut down?

FS: I wish I had downtime lol. I work really hard all day everyday on advancing my music and building my brand. There’s tons of songs to work on, media to connect with, radio to service, marketing plans to follow. There really are not enough hours in a day to get everything done that needs to get done so it’s all about organization and prioritization. 

SSR: Have you picked up any new hobbies while quarantining that you’d like to share?

FS: Can’t say I have. Between juggling my careers and my family whatever time I would have had to learn a hobby is spent teaching my kid new skills.  

SSR: Have you worked on any new releases during this time? Any that are already out or that we can get a sneak peak of?

FS: We recently went through with the launch of our debut album Doctors & Demons. It’s officially up for everyone to stream, download and listen to. At the same time of our album release was also our latest single release with the same title that has a pretty dope visual attached to it in the form of a music video you can catch on YouTube and on Stingray Loud. Definitely something to check out!

SSR: If already out- what was the inspiration for the release? Have you written any songs specifically about the state of the world right now?

FS: Nothing written specifically about COVID-19 but all my songs play out like mini movies as I rap out thought provoking stories. Whether it’s about artificial intelligence, domestic abuse, child soldiers or aliens everything I write is always inspired from the current status of the world we live in. So yes, I would say there are some very relevant themes within music that I write.  

SSR: How has it been being an artist in a time when you cannot tour? How have you been working to promote your music and expand your reach?

FS: It’s been a bit of a disappointment. Touring typically generates the newest connections with potential fans and it also puts a bit of bread back in the pocket if it is done right. So, to miss out on one of the very few ways of making back some money in business is kind of bummer, I won’t lie. In the meantime, I am hoping the airwaves generate some good outcomes for us and social media strategies are something we are always working on even though it seems the moment you understand a bit of an algorithm it changes. Kind of like the whole music industry lol. 

SSR: Do you have any words of advice for fans that are feeling particularly bummed out about the live music world coming to a halt?

FS: You can still discover artists! Music still exists and absence only makes the heart grow fonder so just think about how sweet it will be once the live industry comes back! Check out a live stream if you haven’t. You might actually enjoy the experience. 

SSR: When the world returns to a safer spot and we are able to (hopefully) attend live shows again- say in 2021- what do you hope to achieve?

FS: We need to get as far around the world as possible. It would be truly amazing if we could open for a big act (like say Rage Against the Machine for example) and get some well appreciated exposure.

SSR: Is there anything you wish your fans would know about you or about the current state of the music world?

FS: It’s a temporary state. Don’t focus too much on the negatives and know that the future is very bright and positive. You never know what kind of changes this pandemic will lead to. Already mother nature is healing herself and with everyone working from home now and we too shall heal from this. 

But right now, yes, it is difficult.  It is not easy to see friends struggling, losing their businesses they took years to build. It rips my heart out to know they are watching their livelihoods go up in flames with no immediate end to the mayhem in sight. But though I know so many are suffering I also know that through difficult situations there is always a better way forward, a path out the darkness. Music is still alive and well and those who persevere through this storm will be stronger, better musicians, bar owners, promoters, managers, etc… Now is the time to reach out to those you know in the industry and just make sure they’re ok. It’s a tough business and this pandemic just made it a whole lot tougher. 

Thanks for having this chat with us and thanks to your readers for spending some time with us!

You can stream Fatal Switch’s debut album Doctors & Demons out now wherever you stream music, and if you like what you hear be sure to follow the band on social media for updates on all things new music.

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