A mountain of Swiss talent

"We’ve had a really full year, with concerts in the United Kingdom in front of several thousand spectators". Robin and Cyril from the Geneva-based group, Mama Rosin, still haven’t come back down to earth. Their album Bye Bye Bayou was produced in New York by the garage rock specialist, John Spencer, and sold like proverbial hotcakes during their British tour.

 

The UK event gave the “garage-rock-Cajun-Swiss” heroes a chance to discharge their explosive music in much bigger venues than usual, playing support act to trendy band Bellowhead. The surprises seem never-ending: “The BBC, Mojo and NME are talking about us. I found our latest album along with nearly all of the others at the HMV store in Cardiff, which knocked the wind out of me. So I bought it. We gave it a special makeover,” laughed Robin, who is also enjoying recognition in France thanks to the group Moriarty.

Their label Air Rythmo will market the French release of Bye Bye Bayou, a flagship album smacking of a multicultural Switzerland open to the world and sung in French (the Mamas take their inspiration from Cajun, creating a distinctive spoken song style with rolling r’s and a good dose of poetic licence). “Moriarty approached us one summer’s evening at a festival near Lausanne. We hit it off, and thanks to them we’re about to perform in France.” The group has the kind of hot potential of Louise Attaque or Lumineers/Mumford & Sons. The fact that they come from Switzerland makes them more attentive, patient and especially more mobile. They will do a tour of the United States when the moment is right. “The Louisiana label, Valcour, have shown an interest in our mix of garage rock and Cajun rock.”  

 

The offbeat, festive music cooked up by a trio that plugs their melodeon into a guitar amplifier cuts a keen contrast with the surprising sound of an artist from Zurich. The original timbre of Sophie Hunger’s folk voice, and her intense presence on stage and record have made their mark. After travelling to the United States (as Mama Rosin), the singer published the lovely Danger of Light on the Universal Jazz label in France and her Swiss label, Two Gentlemen. The album has attracted an impressive following and immediately shot to number two in the Swiss charts.

 

The contagion hit France with an album in the top 60 and concerts programmed in a dozen French towns, including La Cigale, along with some enthusiastic critical reviews in the music press. Hunger’s songs also appeal to the Anglo Saxon market, proving the international brio of Swiss musicians.

 

Another surprise product from watchmaker land is Bastian Baker from Lausanne, who’s set to become one of the biggest Swiss stars in France after Patrick Juvet and Stephan Eicher. His album Tomorrow may not be better made it to the top 100 after a few frontline TV appearances in programmes like Taratata and Danse avec les stars. His charisma both on stage and off, his James Dean good looks and a pleasing voice make for a winning combination. The ex hockey player has signed up with Belleville Music in France, and a number of French radio stations have made his new single Hallelujah a firm feature on their playlists, especially during the Christmas season.

 

Bastian is not the only one making a career in France. Another Swiss artist has been signed up by a French label after finding no takers at home: Célien Schneider. He’s now on the Mercury label, which has chosen him to feature in the Fontana catalogue alongside Lulu Gainsbourg and Alain Chamfort.

 

Like Bastian Baker, singing in English is obvious for a pop star like Célien. But the singer’s strongest asset as far as Fontana is concerned is undoubtedly his piano-vocals and pop songs with an Anglo Saxon edge. The young man’s admiration of the Beatles and American songwriters like Elliott Smith shines through. He’s also something of a good looker, which can’t do any harm. The future of the Swiss scene looks bright and full of happy shining people.

 

Sophie Hunger Danger of Light (Two Gentlemen/Universal Jazz) 2012