Switchfoot's Foreman returns to indie roots

Switchfoot's Jon Foreman is returning to his indie roots by launching four solo EPs over the coming months, following the band's departure with Columbia Records.

The EPs, titled "Fall", "Winter", "Spring", and "Summer", will be released prior to the upcoming Switchfoot project in late 2008. The first, "Fall", was released Tuesday. The next, "Winter", will be released January 15.

"Because of the autobiographical nature of these songs, they became a self portrait that was far too personal for a band to release," says Foreman. "Tim, Chad and the rest of the band have been pushing me to get these types of songs out there for years. So I decided to let them go."

According to Foreman, the songwriting and production of these EPs were creatively intertwined.

"Most of these songs were written and recorded the same night," says the Switchfoot lead singer and guitarist. "I would sing and play my guitar late at night until I got a take that captured what the song meant to me.

"From there I would add instruments to the vocal to see what would be appropriate. It was a very therapeutic, lonely, cleansing process."

The frequent solo sets Foreman has recently been performing in many ways inspired these solo EPs.

"For the past few tours we've done as a band, I've made a habit of playing a set after the show. Many of these 'after shows' have been incredible experiences, a chance for spontaneous acoustic music that is completely juxtaposed to the rock band environment: no booking agent, no light show, no amps or guitar techs - just Dylan covers, some sing-a-longs, and honest stories," says Foreman.

"These projects are an attempt to create a musical conversation that mirrors that experience."

Switchfoot announced their plans to part ways with Columbia Records in August to pursue independent music.

The alternative rock band's latest album, Oh! Gravity., has been critically acclaimed worldwide, with the Associated Press calling it "an outstanding record in every sense." Their previous album, The Beautiful Letdown, went double-platinum in 2004.