Embark on the musical odyssey of Bärnserker, a one-man force forging a unique path in metal. From frustration-fueled beginnings to the intricacies of lyrical expression, delve into the mind behind the project, exploring influences, challenges, and the essence of independence in the evolving landscape of Bärnserker's sound.
1. The
journey of Bärnserker began as a solo project after your arrival in Germany.
Can you share more about the factors that led you to revive your musical
pursuits at the end of 2021, and why did you choose to embark on this solo
endeavor?
I was
actually looking for a band after I emigrated to Germany in 2007.
Unfortunately, apart from a short interlude in a hard rock band, nothing came
of it. Then at some point I hung up my bass in frustration and sold all my
equipment. In the fall of 2020 I realized that I would like to make music again
and found a band here in my city that was looking for a bass player. I still
had old riffs, wrote new riffs and wanted to bring my ideas into the band.
Somehow this didn't find favor within the band. After a few months I decided to
go my own way and set up my home studio at home and started shaping my riffs
and ideas into songs.
2. Having
started as a bassist in Bernese bands like Hypnosis and Moondawn, how did your
transition to guitar and singing shape the unique sound of Bärnserker? How did
your past experiences influence the musical direction of the project?
First of
all, thank you for the compliment on the unique sound. I am very pleased. I
think that's what sets Bärnserker apart. But maybe that's also the reason why
my ideas didn't reach the band...
The fact
that I started playing guitar and singing actually came about out of necessity.
Precisely because I couldn't find any musicians to accompany me. With all my
previous bands I always had the feeling that I wasn't good enough. A personal
problem of mine. In the long run, it's somehow detrimental. Even though it
wasn't like that in reality, I always had it in my head. And now, with
Bärnserker I can do whatever I want, I don't have to prove myself to anyone and
I can feel completely free. I'm not tied to any musical style, and in the end
it sounds like Bärnserker. For whatever reason. Maybe the singing style is a
crucial part. At first it was a struggle to sing something useful because I had
never sung before. The fact that it finally worked is also thanks to my wife,
who I think always showed me the right path and gave me honest feedback.
3. Your
debut album was a one-man effort, from composition to production. How did the
solitary creative process impact the thematic elements and emotions conveyed in
the music, especially considering the diverse range from love and friendship to
despair and death?
When I
started making my songs I didn't have a clear path in front of me. I simply put
my songs together, partly from riffs that I had already recorded for years,
partly from new things. When I felt like playing acoustic guitar I started with
that, other times with a bass line, and so the songs grew until they were
finished. I didn't write the lyrics until the music was finished recording. I
thought about what I wanted to do thematically. I quickly realized that I
didn't want to look far and write about what concerns me. There's always a lot
going on inside me because I hardly express feelings and emotions and a lot
goes on inside me. And so I found this way to express or process such things.
The texts ultimately became very personal. There is a different person behind
almost every song. People I love, people I miss, people I should love but
actually despise. Or simply about my emotional world, my fight against my dark
demons. Bärnserker is my own world in which I can be creative, process things
and open up in a way I can't otherwise. Just therapy for body and mind.
4. The
first album was released via online distribution Music-Hub and later on CD
under the Runa Productions label. How has the response been, and did the
reception influence the approach you took with the upcoming album,
"Schlüssu zum Liecht"?
Everything
just developed. I released my music online and then requests for CDs kept
coming through social media. A friend from Facebook then gave me the tip about
Runa Productions. For me, the biggest thing was signing my first contract. In
the end, the response was not outstanding. I think unfortunately it wasn't
promoted much. I just tried to sell as best I could on social media. But as a
one-man band without live performances it is difficult to get new people. I
sold the CDs I received relatively quickly, but I think the label stuck with
their share. I'm very sorry about that, but I think a little more advertising
and promotion could have been done. But I still have hope that perhaps with the
second album the demand will increase again. For this reason I decided to do
the whole thing alone. If I do the whole thing myself, I also know how and
where to promote it. Ultimately it is my decision, my problem with
communication and interpersonal relationships that ultimately made me a 1 man
band. I just feel better this way. as independent as possible.
5. Your
style is described as a wide spectrum in metal without blinders or boundaries.
How do you maintain this versatility while still keeping a cohesive sound? Are
there specific influences that contribute to this broad musical range?
Difficult
question. I just think that I'm not tied to one style of music. If I feel like
a slow song, I just do that. When I get home from work and have had a shitty
day and the whole world could shoot at the moon, things get a little rougher,
it just depends on my mood. And yet I think you can hear that it's really bad.
But I can't answer how and why. Maybe my not entirely clean and unprofessional
guitar work. And the singing style.
6. The
singles "Wurzlä" and "Grau u Schwarz" from your first
album, and the singles "Chaut" and "Dunkli Nacht" from
"Schlüssu zum Liecht," provide glimpses into the albums. How do these
singles encapsulate the essence of their respective albums, and what can fans
expect from the complete releases?
I always
released two different songs in advance. Simply to present the range that will
also be present on the album. The two songs represent one and the other end of
the spectrum on the albums, and everything that comes next lies in between for
me, maybe a little outside. I think with this range it is difficult to grab
listeners. Unless you are willing to think outside the box. I always find I can
hardly describe my style. Because what applies to one song no longer applies to
the next. Bärnserker… somewhere in metal.
7. Bärnserker's
lyrics are written in Bernese German and delve into the deep recesses of the
human soul. Can you elaborate on the decision to use Bernese dialect and how it
adds a unique dimension to the storytelling within your music?
At the
beginning I thought about looking for a singer for my project. But since the
texts are so personal, I rejected this idea and realized that I had to do it
myself. I don't speak English well, so this option is gone. It sounds strange
in German too. So only my mother tongue remained, Bernese German, a Swiss
dialect. And since the texts deal with my deepest inner self, I can also better
translate my feelings into my language.
8. You
chose to release "Schlüssu zum Liecht" without a label, opting for
self-promotion and distribution. What motivated this decision, and how has the
experience been navigating the independent route in the music industry?
As I
mentioned above, I just want to be as independent as possible. I got a fair
deal, but it still didn't feel good to me. I'm just more of a lone wolf who
likes to wander the world alone. Apart from my family, of course.
I don't
know whether the decision was a good one. I have more work now that keeps me
from being creative, so a label would be a relief. As long as this label stands
behind you 100%. I just try what I can, but it's not easy if you don't have the
right connections.
9. The
second album, "Schlüssu zum Liecht," promises further development
while retaining the essence of Bärnserker. Could you provide insights into the
evolution of your music and how it manifests in this latest release?
The biggest
development has come in production and singing. The new album simply sounds
clearer. I also used new drum software which gave me more songwriting options.
This means that my pace has also become more variable. And above all, the
singing has become more versatile. I brought in other singing styles.
10. As a
one-man project, how do you approach the live aspect of your music? Are there
plans for live performances, and how do you envision bringing the intensity and
emotion of your recordings to the stage?
I think
that I will never bring Bärnserker on stage. So I have no plans for live
performances. I think that Bärnserker has a very unique style and it would be
difficult to convey it the way it should be. And besides, I was always the bass
player in the background. As a singer and frontman of a band I would feel
uncomfortable. That's not me. That's why I just don't have the desire or
motivation to tackle it. Bärnserker is my world in which I can be whatever I
want, and it should stay that way. Even though it's so difficult for me to get
new listeners to my music. Bärnserker is and remains a pure studio
project.
Bärnserker (@barnserker) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
Musique | Bärnserker (bandcamp.com)
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