Interview with Piri of the Band CHALBÄRÄ (Switzerland)

July 08, 2024

Interview with Piri of the Band CHALBÄRÄ (Switzerland)

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
CHALBÄRÄ: No, I don't think so. It is certainly the case that the cultures are different and so is the "exuberance" of the fans.

CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
CHALBÄRÄ: Metal is real. It’s authentic. And I think that's why the fans like this music. The lyrics mostly deal with real life, with real scenarios and this triggers emotions.

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
CHALBÄRÄ: I don't think there are too many genres. It's great that something new is always being created and fans can filter very well with today's media so that they can find exactly what they enjoy.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
CHALBÄRÄ: Everyone moaned during the pandemic "there are no concerts” I want to go to concerts and so on".

Unfortunately, the pandemic hasn't changed that much in the long term. I would have liked a little more… in terms of music having a value. As soon as the pandemic was over, there were clubs in Switzerland that offered a show for 15 bucks again. That's simply not enough. My father paid 10 bucks to get in 50 years ago. Think about that.

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
CHALBÄRÄ: Thanks for the auto-generated interview. CHALBÄRÄ is a solo project by me, Piri. I am alone. With CHALBÄRÄ I can be 100% (yes I mean 100%) myself. All decisions come from me. This is good, of course also because the subject matter of CHALBÄRÄ (the suicide of my father) is a very emotional & intimate topic.

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
CHALBÄRÄ: There is not a single band in the world that mixes shamanic music with Muotathal (old Swiss dialect) lyrics. I know this because this language is only spoken in 1 small village of 3000 souls & I know all the musicians in this village ;-)

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
CHALBÄRÄ: I don't think so. It is still possible to create something new. Of course you are influenced and that's a good thing. But it is possible to create something new and unique. Otherwise, please show me a nordic-ritual folk formation that sings in Muotathaler German ;-)

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
CHALBÄRÄ: I think, love. Of course, that also exists elsewhere. But 99% of the musicians I know are all very dear people, very nice souls & that connects them extremely.

CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
CHALBÄRÄ: For me, a rock star is someone who emotionally pleases at least one person with a song (and not mom and brother - but a real fan) and then continues to create music and have fun with it.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
CHALBÄRÄ: More new songs will follow. And then the long-awaited album. Fans can look forward to captivating, Shamanic Swiss dialect songs.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
CHALBÄRÄ: Thank you too & thanks for every reader, for every follow & for every listen of my music. Thanks!

Check out CHALBÄRÄ at:

Official: https://chalbara.ch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chalbara_official/

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.