In the TV series "Tschugger" she is a convincing actress. Five months ago she became a mother. And now her sixth album is being released: Anna Rossinelli has a lot going on. In this interview, the Basel native looks back and forward - and reveals what her playlist "Badass Women" is all about.
Interview: Christoph Soltmannowski.
Interview: Christoph Soltmannowski
Photo: Sophia Lavater
Anna Rossinelli, there's a lot going on with you. Your new album is coming out soon - and soon you'll finally be back on tour with your band. You've also become a mother. Your album is called "Mother" - a look back?
Anna: Exactly. But the album isn't just called "Mother" because I became a mother - but because birth is the beginning of everything, so to speak. Back to the roots. With the question: What are my roots?
Anna Rossinelli: Born in Basel on April 20, 1987, Anna Rossinelli loved singing and performing in front of an audience even as a child. After attending jazz school, she began touring with Manuel Meisel and Georg Dillier in 2008. What began with street music culminated in several albums and numerous award nominations, including the Swiss Music Award and the Prix Walo. In the TV series "Tschugger", Anna Rossinelli plays the role of federal policewoman Annette Brotz.
Your song lyrics are also about your father, whom you lost when you were six years old.
Anna: That's what music is for me. I process certain things with it. And because I've just become a mother, such topics - also from my childhood - come up again. How will my child grow up? What do my partner and I want to pass on to our child? How do we parents deal with our role?
The title song is a thank you to your mother. How did she react to the song?
Anna: She cried. It really touched her. On the earlier albums, I often wrote about my father's death. But never actually about what my mother did. I think that becoming a mother myself has changed my relationship with my own mother. So the circle closes. And it was super important to tell my mother what she did for us, how strong she was when my father died.
Life changes with a child. Priorities change. For you too?
Anna: I've been a mother for five months and experience unconditional love. That is something very beautiful. But music, my profession, is my passion. I want to show my child that it's important that I'm happy - then he'll be happy too.
Musically, your new album is fresh, clear, direct, no effects?
Anna: We have returned to our roots. It all started with street music. No frills, just guitar, bass and vocals.
You can hear thisparticularly well in the last song "Too Scared to Stay".
Anna: Yes, we didn't record each instrument individually and one after the other as usual, but simply put the microphone in the middle - it's so organic, you can even hear when the chair squeaks.
You've had an interesting side job for a while now: "Part Time Federal Agent" is written on your Instagram profile.
Anna: You mean my role in "Tschugger".
Exactly! Did you always want to be an actress?
Anna: It was always a hobby. When I was little, I once played one of the seven dwarfs in a children's theater. I never thought I would do it professionally. I was approached during Corona - perfect timing.
The start of a second career?
Anna: It was very spontaneous and not planned. Music is my first mainstay and always will be. "Tschugger" is a mega cool series. I think it's hilarious.
You're well received as the actress playing federal policewoman Annette Brotz.
Anna: I have no training as an actress. They just got the best out of me. I think David Constantin, the lead actor and director, knows exactly what he wants. The atmosphere during filming is very informal. I'm proud to be part of this cult series.
Something completely different. I discovered the "Badass Women" playlist you put together on Spotify. With songs by musicians such as Kings Elliot, To Athena, Pilar Vega, Danitsa, Gina Été, Joya Marleen and many more - especially from brand new female Swiss music talents.
Anna: I'm fighting for more support for women. That's why we have the BadassWomen playlist. We women need to support each other more - and give and take more space. It's worth fighting for. Women often have self-doubt - I know that about myself too. Men are often much more relaxed - they just go for it. I would like to see women assert themselves more, more women on stage.
So women should be given more space?
Anna: I don't want to play at a festival because I'm a woman. I want to play at a festival because I make good music and belong on stage. I don't feel at all pitiful as a woman. I feel great. I don't want to be a man. I'm super happy to be a woman. And I love men. I have two really great bandmates in Georg and Manu. We're like siblings. I like them a lot.
A lot has happened recently. Many new musicians have joined the band.
Anna: We still have a long way to go! In the statistics published by "Helvetia rocks", the ratio of men to women at festivals is still far from balanced (current: stage presence of women: 11%, men 89%). But the Gurtenfestival, for example, proves that it is possible. I often have the feeling that we women are simply given the four o'clock slot: We play when the people come - and then in the evening the men are allowed on stage. The battle is not over yet. There are a lot of good female musicians and also a lot of new talent.
