Q&A with Midge Parry from The Swingles ahead of Live from London performance
Last updated 24th Aug 2020
Midge Parry is a member of The Swingles - the present-day incarnation of the iconic close-harmony group established in the 1960s who brought an effortlessly cool jazz-infused feel to the music of Bach.
Today's group is participating in the Live from London Festival on Saturday 22 August. We spoke to Midge Parry before rehearsals began.
Get your tickets for the 'Live from London' concert series. Ticket purchases include access to TEN live broadcasts each Saturday night from 1 August 2020 until 3rd October.
You joined the Swingles recently, didn't you?
I joined them last year and it's been the best year ever. It's been my dream job for a long time. They are heroes of mine and I'm still pinching myself that I get to sing them. We've travelled to some wonderful places in the last year. Then COVID happened. We're a bit stuck now obviously, but we're keeping going and are really excited to be working on Live from London.
What makes them heroes for you?
I've been listening to them since I was very young. My Dad sang with them in the early 90s and I listened to his CDs. I became hooked on the sound they made. I also thought I could do that and I really want to do it, so when the opportunity came to audition for them I did freak out a bit because I thought 'Could this really happen?' Now I get to work with them. I am a bit of a fan girl, but they do that.
Your Dad was in it?
Yes. I'm the first ever second generation member, which is wild.
When did you first hear The Swingles?
I remember listening to them a lot and listening to my Dad singing solos on Beatles songs. I've been told, but I don't know whether I remember this, that I used to walk around the room singing into a hairbrush. Then I discovered YouTube videos of my Dad in the group which I still find hilarious. It's a really niche, special thing.
What does your Dad say about your new job?
He's super proud. He remembers his time in the group fondly. I do remember when I got the job and called him and told him he just said, "Oh my God!" - he didn't know what to do. The first time he saw me in concert, I think he was just grinning a great deal.
There's a distinctive sound to The Swingles isn't there? It always evokes a 1960s feel to it. Is that because you're recreating the original sound world of the group do you think?
We talk a lot about how the group has gone through changes. They've all made different sounds over the years. But we still try and capture the original essence of the group. We're rooted in that sound from the 1960s.
Do you see yourself as bringing a new quality to the group or contributing to an existing sound world?
I think as I am quite new to the group I haven't seen a lot of change, but I've been told that when they're auditioning for a new person that they're looking for someone who can bring that new voice, because no one voice can be exactly replicated. But the deal-breaker is whether they can sing the iconic Bach track that The Swingles are famous for. So there is something to be said for capturing that original Swingles sound.
How is that sound produced?
A big factor of our sound is that we sing on microphones. We sing very quietly and close into the microphone. A lot of the sound is made from the sound-desk and mixer. The way we sing as a group - the way we rehearse - is much more intense than I imagined. We rehearse in a lot of detail. There's a lot of work that goes into creating that sound. The effect is that its actually quite simple.
It sounds like when you're all there in close harmony it's as though someone on stage is getting really really excited - is that the consequence of the sound mix? Is that what it's like on stage?
It is really exciting. When we create that sound and it rings as though one voice, it is the best thing. I love the way we perform and rehearse. It is incredible fun.
What will we hear in Live from London?
It's a whole mixture of the music we love to perform. We pick and choose music from each genre we sing - jazz, Bach, rock, plus there are new pieces too.