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Described as "experimental band of experimental bands" by The New York Press , Changing Modes is one of the most innovative and difficult-to-categorize bands currently on the NYC scene. Inspired by bands from the '70s such as Sparks, Stranglers, and Blondie, Changing Modes explores a variety of musical styles including progressive-pop, punk-rock, funk, and experimental. This idiosyncratic approach, combined with the band's desire to create a unique and organic sound, makes Changing Modes an exciting band to follow.

Seasoned with some Brooklyn bravado, the band's live performances showcase their stylistic melting pot served "piping hot." Perhaps this is why many consider CM's live shows a much better representation of their high energy sound than the studio recordings. Never performing the same set of songs more than once, they are always in motion, never predictable, and highly entertaining.

Changing Modes began quietly in the mid-90’s when classically trained musician Wendy Griffiths (keyboards, vocals) started creating her “bedroom tapes." Griffiths had no intention of making these sonic ideas public until she met Yuzuru Sadashige (guitar, bass) through a mutual friend. Sadashige, who had recently received his Masters in composition from the Manhattan School of Music, was interested in collaborating. After attending some amazing rock shows at CBGBs, Sadashige helped Griffiths decide to change modes.

Her new pieces "were like art songs with very unusual rock beats,” Sadashige recalls. “She programmed complex layers of accompaniment into her Yamaha SY77, then used a $30 Sears tape recorder for overdubbing --very LoFi, you would hear house noise and car horns in the background, but they were very interesting and unique...”

Griffiths and Sadashige began playing out with the Music Under Construction electronic music concert series under the name, “The Wednesdays”. They added guitarist Chris Woltmann and drummer Jay Mack to produce the first Changing Modes EPs. Eventually they recruited drummer Jonathan Mele and singer Heather Laurel Feldman and began performing at local colleges and clubs.

In 2003, David Oromaner (drums, vocals) replaced Mele on drums. Oromaner had moved back to NYC from Atlanta, where he’d started the band Everyday People, which enjoyed regional success. He worked and toured with a variety of singer-songwriters in New York, including PJ Loughran, and was eager to start writing and collaborating again with a band. When Mele moved to Ireland, he recommended Oromaner as his replacement. "The Modes were angular, energetic, and had most of their pieces written out in Finale..How could I say no?" the drummer recalls. With Oromaner in the band, Changing Modes was able to start broadening their geographical reach of live shows.

In 2002 Camille Atkinson (lead vocalist) returned to NYC from points west to continue her career in the gay and fetish nightclub scenes. In addition to her multiple theater arts degrees, she worked in costume design, nightclub event production, and on stage in roles as varied as Juliet, Frank N Furter and hostess of the legendary Xena Night. Her acrobatic voice and peculiar charisma found her niche with Changing Modes in 2006.

Changing Modes has released three full-length albums: A Perfect Day (2003), Aeroplane (2005), and "Down and Out in Shangri-La (2008)."