Spotlight On... Swiss Portrait
Following the release of his stunning new EP Safe House, we get to know Edinburgh-based artist and musician Swiss Portrait a little bit better
On Monday 25 April, Edinburgh-based artist Michael Kay Terence, who writes and records music under the name Swiss Portrait, released his gorgeous new EP Safe House. Made for hazy sun-filled days, its six tracks are dreampop at their absolute finest, filled with delicate instrumentation, perfectly placed flourishes and sublime vocals which float by like the seeds of dandelion clocks on a breezy summer afternoon.
Turning to music during the pandemic, Safe House is the third full release from Swiss Portrait. Following an EP (Moods) in 2020 and an album (Familiar Patterns) in 2021, this year looks set to be his biggest yet, with a slot at Wide Days just around the corner and a slew of festival dates through the summer, including a turn on our curated stage at Kelburn Garden Party. With all that in mind, we shine a spotlight on Swiss Portrait to find out more.
The Skinny: You started releasing music as Swiss Portrait during an early phase of the pandemic in 2020 – what inspired you to get creative and what was the process of recording music in isolation like for you?
Michael Kay Terence: Before the pandemic I was a working contemporary artist. I had a couple of really big exhibitions cancelled due to the pandemic. So really I was just bored at home and was looking for something to do. I wanted to start writing music, but I just didn’t have the time, but when the horrible situation we all found ourselves to be in came about, I decided to have a go.
My process for recording is more like an experiment. I had never recorded anything on my own before and really had no idea what I was doing. I just watched loads of YouTube videos on how to do things and really just took it from there. I recorded, mixed and mastered my first album Familiar Patterns all on GarageBand. I have now upgraded to Logic Pro!
Where does the name Swiss Portrait come from?
I came up with the name Swiss Portrait when I started this project because I didn’t want anyone to know it was me. But basically my wife Josie (I got married in lockdown) has Swiss heritage and I am/was an artist. So Swiss Portrait sounded like the perfect fit. But if it wasn’t for Josie convincing me during lockdown to actually share my music with people none of this would have happened. So, thank you Josie.
There’s a haziness and lightness of touch across all of the music you’ve released so far – was this summery, dreamlike state something you always aspired to create with your music?
Yeah, I think so. I just really wanted to make music that I wanted to listen to. I listen to a lot of post-punk bands and dream pop bands. Artists like Turnover, Mom Jeans, Joji and Vansire are probably my most played on Spotify.
I love your new EP Safe House – can you tell us a bit more about the themes on the record?
It is out now! So please go listen! I think lyrically it speaks about moments of change, difficulties, depression and solitude. I looked back for moments in my life to pull from to create a narrative that felt cohesive. But really it’s up to the listener to make of it what they will.
There’s a very beautiful collaboration on the record with New York band Phantom Handshakes – how did that come about and how did the writing and recording process work?
Both our bands released music on a DIY label called Z-Tapes, so I became aware of them through that last year. They have a very similar story to mine, where they started the band during lockdown. I wrote the music for the song, and I thought about asking Federica [Tassano] from Phantom Handshakes to sing on it. So I asked and she said yes! I sent the recorded song to Federica and said she can take her time to record the vocals, but she had finished in about three hours.
Beyond the release of the EP, you’re playing Wide Days in May followed by our stage at Kelburn in July. What else does this year have in store for you and what can people expect if they come to see you live?
Yeah, we are very excited to be playing these shows! We are also playing Over the Bridge Festival in Edinburgh on 30 July, which is really cool! We also play in London on 7 June and Inverness on 10 July, and another couple of headliners in the summer. Our live shows are very energetic, and everyone has a good time. The songs have an extra bounce to them when we play live!
Safe House is out now, available via Bandcamp
Swiss Portrait plays Wide Days, The Caves, Edinburgh, 20 May – register for free tickets here; Swiss Portrait also plays Kelburn Garden Party, Kelburn Castle, Nr. Largs, 1-4 Jul; Over the Bridge Festival, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, 30 Jul