Forming in 1999 as Sw1tch, the band played shows around Ohio and released a demo entitled Fuckin' Demo. The songs "Anymore", "Wrongside", "Inside", "Darkening Days", "Last Chance", and "Skins", which appear in their demo versions on this CD, went on to appear on the Subject to Change album. This demo was later re-released on disc two of the "Ghosts in the Machine" album in 2006. Since a funk band already had rights to the name Switch, the band had to change their name to Sw1tched, and was later signed to Immortal/Virgin Records. After recording all of the bass for the Subject to Change album, bassist Shawn May left the band for unknown reasons, and was replaced by Chimaira drum tech Jason French. French did play bass on one song on the album, though, since the band re-recorded the song "Walk Away" before the album was released.
Switched rose to prominence playing at popular festivals such as Ozzfest in 2002 and on the Vans Warped Tour in 2001 and 2002. Their debut album titled, Subject to Change was released via Immortal/Virgin Records in 2002, and went on to sell over 100,000 records worldwide.
Sometime before the band began work on their second album, they fired bassist Jason French for unknown reasons. They then replaced him with former Stereomud/Stuck Mojo bassist Corey Lowery, who would eventually leave the band to join Dark New Day. They also parted ways with drummer Chad Szeliga sometime in this time period, and as a result, most of the drums on the "Ghosts in the Machine" album are programmed. During the recording phase for their second album, the band decided to go on an indefinite hiatus, mainly due to the band's poor relationship with Immortal Records. The hiatus more-or-less signaled that they had broken up, and members of the band went on to other projects.
Former bassist Shawn May, who had left the band in 2001 prior to the release of "Subject to Change", started a custom bass shop in Michigan. Drummer Chad Szeliga joined popular post-grunge group Breaking Benjamin in 2004, bassist Corey Lowery helped form alternative metal group Dark New Day, lead guitarist B.C. Kochmit joined then left hard rock group "Rikets" to form his own projects, called "Tinjen", "Shambella", and "My Alter-Ego Experiment", and is currently the lead guitar player in Dark New Day. Vocalist Ben Schigel found success as a producer working with bands such as Drowning Pool, Chimaira, Breaking Benjamin, Rikets, Bleed the Sky and Allele.
With help from their first manager, Thom Hazaert, now co-president of Californian indie label, Corporate Punishment Records, the group reformed (with a modified lineup) and released their second album titled, Ghosts in the Machine on January 10, 2006. The two-disc album contains rarities, b-sides and demos. The first disc includes eleven tracks that were intended for the band's second Immortal release, while the second disc includes four live songs plus several demos and the unreleased track "She Blinded Me with Science". The quality of the first disc can be described as "rough" as the tracks weren't yet mastered and still in the demo phase.
A repackaged version of Subject to Change was also released which features the b-side track "Spread", the Howard Benson produced alternate versions of "Walkaway" and "Inside" and the Rick Will mix of "Inside". Two videos for "Inside" are also included.
The name SW1TCH also currently belongs to a Cortland, NY artist (Peter Natale) who creates music for clubs.
Switched declared a second hiatus after Ghosts in the Machine but as of January 2010, according to Ben Schigel, there are no plans to continue with Sw1tched. Ben Schigel currently works as a producer at Spider Studios in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He has produced bands such as Ringworm, Chimaira, Bleed The Sky and Solus Deus; just to name a few.
Bassist Corey Lowery and guitarist B.C. Kochmit have since formed hard rock supergroup Eye Empire with solo artist Dixie Duncan and former members of Submersed singer Donald Carpenter and drummer Garrett Whitlock.
Ben Schigel produces bands at his Spider Studio. He also plays drums for pop rock band SomeKindaWonderful.
Walk away
Switched Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cought up like a drug deep in my thug stream
She says she wants to get it on like a sex machine
But hold on 'cause its my eyes that I can't believe
And you waste my time with all your lies
I'm denied 'cause it ain't my fault
'Cause I'm losing control
Before this war
Its hard to believe this truth you speak
Hey you've headed out the door
Before I said walk away
Another verse that I put my words in
Rehearse tight beats with the groove that you thirst for
All wrapped up on that leash you got me hanging from
But its still my songs that you uh huh
And you waste my time with all your lies
I'm denied 'cause it ain't my fault
'Cause I'm losing control
Hey I've heard it all before
Before this war its hard to believe this truth you speak
Hey you've headed out the door before I said walk away
Hey I've heard it all before
Before this war
Its hard to believe this truth you speak
Hey you've headed out the door before I said walk away
Switched's song "Walk Away" is a powerful representation of the internal struggles of a person who is trapped in a toxic relationship. The song is about a person who is deeply involved with someone who is manipulative, controlling and possibly even violent. The singer is trapped in a cycle of abuse and can't seem to break free.
The lyrics "I come wild with the wicked style that I bring, Caught up like a drug deep in my thug stream" suggest that the singer knows they have a dangerous side and may even be drawn to it. They are caught up in this dangerous relationship like a drug addiction, unable to escape. The person they are involved with promises them everything that they want in the moment but ultimately, it’s all a lie. The singer is frustrated and tired of being manipulated, unable to trust even their own perceptions. They feel like they are losing control of themselves and their life.
The chorus, "Hey I've heard it all before, before this war, it's hard to believe this truth you speak, hey you've headed out the door before I said walk away" suggests that the singer has been in this situation before and it's not the first time they've been hurt by someone they've loved. They can see the truth but can't seem to act on it. They know the only way out is to walk away, but something keeps them from doing so. The singer implores their love interest to walk away before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
I come wild with the wicked style that I bring
I am confident in my unique style and I am proud of it.
Caught up like a drug deep in my thug stream
I am deeply committed to my thug lifestyle and it has become a part of me.
She says she wants to get it on like a sex machine
She is sexually attracted to me and wants to engage in sexual activities with me.
But hold on 'cause its my eyes that I can't believe
However, I am not fully convinced of her intentions and I am skeptical of her motives.
And you waste my time with all your lies
You are dishonest and you are wasting my time with your false promises and words.
I'm denied 'cause it ain't my fault
I am being rejected, but it's not because of something I did wrong.
'Cause I'm losing control
I am feeling overwhelmed and I am struggling to maintain control.
Hey I've heard it all before
I am not new to these experiences and I am familiar with the patterns of behavior.
Before this war
Before this conflict or disagreement.
It's hard to believe this truth you speak
I find it difficult to trust what you are saying.
Hey you've headed out the door before I said walk away
You have left before I could express my desire to end this relationship or interaction.
Another verse that I put my words in
I am confident in my lyrical abilities and I am excited to share this new verse.
Rehearse tight beats with the groove that you thirst for
I have practiced my music and I am confident that it is what you are looking for.
All wrapped up on that leash you got me hanging from
I feel trapped and controlled by your actions and decisions.
But its still my songs that you uh huh
Despite feeling trapped, I still have control over my music and my artistic expression.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: FELDMAN, LEVY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind