Swiss Lips are the quintet that are quickly becoming Manchester’s most exciting export since Hurts. Apart from a name that sounds like a euphemism for the female anatomy, Swiss Lips have an abundance of punchy crossover pop, indie and electro songs and nothing to prove. Wonderland managed to squeeze an exclusive summer mixtape out of them.
Firstly, the band name? Whose idea was it and are we right in assuming the innuendoes?
It just rolled off the tongue, popped into my mind and it felt right. The innuendo thing is a coincidence, if you look on Urban Dictionary for more than a minute you realise that every word or phrase has some filth connection.
How did the band come together?
We’re all from Manchester and Manchester isn’t very big. We’ve all known each other for years, playing in different bands and hanging out.
What will set you apart from the hoard of other Mancunian bands that have descended from the north?
I don’t think that we sound typically Mancunian so it’s hard to say. Hopefully our songwriting will set us apart from some bands, and our lack of northern grit.
Who have been your main influences and inspiration when writing your record?
Probably each other and our friends and family. The theme of the album seems to be acknowledging mortality and embracing the short time we have.
You manage to relentlessly combine pop, dance, electro and indie to almost create a whole new sound. If you had to describe your overall sound, what would it be?
It’s hard to describe your own sound as you’re so involved with it, but from day one we have aimed to write the kind of songs that live with you forever, songs that make you feel something. Massive goal.
‘U Got The Power‘ is doing massive things throughout the country right now. Are you overwhelmed by how well it’s been received?
We have always had confidence in what we do but that song is a special one for us. When we wrote it, it felt like the first time we had totally nailed what we were doing.
You’re signed to a major now, so when can we expect the full length record?
We have finished recording our debut album and we’re really proud of it. We will be waiting a little longer to release it though as it’s still really early days for us. This year we hope to release 2 or 3 singles . Our debut single is out on August 10 and it’s called ‘Danz’. Expect the album in January!
If you could collaborate with any other musician, band or artist, either dead or alive, who would you want on a Swiss Lips track?
Kanye West, George Formby, Marilyn Monroe, Prince, Skip James, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga.
What else can we expect from the ‘Lips’ for the rest of the year?
We wanna play as much as we can this year. In a few weeks we go to play Fuji Rock in Japan and in October we are going on our first UK tour with Bastille. We can’t wait to see you all.
Words: Shane Hawkins