Normally, music producer Georg Schlunegger writes pop songs and award-winning advertising songs for the successful Zurich studio Hitmill in Zurich's Kreis 5 district. With his eleven-member male choir Heimweh, he landed a turbo surprise success after an appearance on the TV show "Samschtig-Jass".
The album "Heimweh" achieved gold status within a month, although it was only available to buy in the choir's own online store. Songs such as "Rosmarie" and "Bueb us de Bärge" are well on their way to becoming Swiss national hits. We spoke to Georg Schlunegger about his great success.
event: Hello Georg. Congratulations on your great success! Are you surprised?
Yes, we were all very surprised. We just wanted to record beautiful Swiss songs, and then our album became a huge success overnight. Our families helped to send out the CDs in the evenings.
You usually produce mainly pop music, has the Alpine sound been dormant in you for a long time?
Yes, it did. I grew up in Grindelwald and was in a children's choir myself as a boy between the ages of 10 and 14. We sang songs by the Bossbuebe and country songs. Even back then, I lived in a field of tension between traditional folk music and pop music.
Why did you start a men's choir?
I was fascinated by the idea of creating a mixture of pop and Swiss male choir singing. This had never been done before.
How do you explain the alpine rock megatrend?
"Switzerland has a beautiful and broad musical tradition. We want to show this with our songs."
I think there really is a trend in the Alpine countries to go back to their roots. Switzerland has a beautiful and broad musical tradition. We want to show this with our songs.
You wear smart traditional costumes. Does folk music have sex appeal?
I think so. The image of the dusty country bumpkins must finally be corrected. We all grew up listening to pop music - even though most of us come from the mountains.
SCHLUNEGGER'S HOMESICKNESS
18.3.-29.12.17 Das Zelt, various venues
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