Baum

Spotlight by Severine, We7 PR Guru

If you think Pearl Jam are an awesome band and the singer has just an amazing voice, let's have a listen to baum, one of our best solo songwriter/guitarists. Coming from Switzerland, baum has played live at several festivals and is currently recording his first studio album. His live album, Live at Kongresshaus Zurich, is simply fantastic, the melodies and the acoustic guitar take you off track and his voice...mmmh...I'm losing my words! ;) Anyway, back to earth, there is nothing more to say, just enjoy!

The interview

Hi baum! How are you feeling today?
Hi Severine, I'm feeling great, thank you. I just left the studio where we've been working on a new song. Unfortunately, the radiators didn't work, so it was about as cold as outside, bloody freezing. But hey, I'm Swiss, that's f-f-f-f-fine with me.

Your Live at Kongresshaus is just uplifting for anybody who listens to it: how was it for you? As good as it was for us? ;)
Well, if it was your plan to nonplus me, you've got 10 points now. I'm really glad you like it! It was never meant to be a CD in the end, but after having done a few shows opening for Van Morrison before, I just felt like, well, what the hell am I doing here all alone in front of 3000 people? How does this all sound like? I enjoyed playing all these openings, but was it good enough? So, I asked one of the guys at the F.O.H. if there was any chance to have this gig recorded on MD, plus I had my own small MD recorder with me, and a small stereo microphone that I placed on the balcony. That was it. After that, I asked a friend who has a small studio, what he thought about it. One week later, he gave me a buzz, telling me that the guys in the studio have done everything for getting this on a CD, and I've been really surprised at the sound quality. And, honestly, the applause, I never noticed this on stage at all.

How different is it to play solo when you used to play as a member of a band?
Singing, playing rhythm guitar, solo guitar, bass, and drums, altogether on one guitar? That's easy, ha, ha! No, seriously, it took about three years to discover and enjoy this kind of musical freedom. I just felt a bit fed up with this rock band thing and started to write songs solo on acoustic guitars, without having any idea where this would end up. But then came Teitur, Van Morrison, and The John Butler Trio, and there was me, sitting on stages, and playing songs in front of a huge audience. I adore music, I love playing live, and I like people. So, it's like being part of the crowd, but I'm the only one with a guitar. Mostly.

Which musicians are your influences?
There are so many great musicians, it's really frightening and hard to cope with their abilities! I wouldn't say that there's anyone in particular, but there are some who show me why I have to practice every single day. You want names, eh? John Butler, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Ben Harper, as guitar players, Peter Gabriel, Björk, Johnny Cash, and Steward Copeland as musicians. But when it comes to writing songs, I try to avoid as many influences as possible.

If you could, which band/artist would you like to play with?
Definitely, The John Butler Trio again! As I said on tour: I'm able to see them every night, I don't have to pay any entrance, so I'm damn privileged. Who el

You are currently recording your first studio album: how different it is to live shows? When will it be launched?
When I listen to my live recordings, I'm let's say, pretty happy; but the songs I'm currently recording with Chris Heule on keyboards, and Orlando Ribar on drums just give me goosebumps all over my body. We're combining clean and amplified acoustic guitars, Hammond B3, Mini Moog, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Harmonium, Fender Rhodes, church organ, drums, timbal, harps

What is your secret habit before going on stage?
Smoking a fag, drinking Peppermint Tea with honey, and good Vodka, if there is any. But as I said before, I love playing live, so I don't need anything especially to calm me down or push me up. I love to walk through the audience before the show, because it helps me to get the dimensions, which affects my songs and the way I play them.

Any gig soon?
I just got an offer for a small US tour in early spring, and because I don't have management or booking agents, I should really take care of it now, but the recordings are so time consuming as you know, so I first want to finish the album. I'd desperately love to play in London again! It's probably the most suicidal act there is for a non-UK musician, but it is always great experience.

You have been in the music industry for several years now. What do you think about new ways of promoting your music online?
I think I'd be able to sell you a banana for ten Pounds, but I'm half-assed when I get to promote myself and my music. But we all have to do it. I'm a bit picky, and I prefer platforms where the online community can listen to and share songs, easy and fast, like We7 or MySpace. I don't like the idea of being everywhere, the philosophy behind all platforms has to be right.

Any message for our users and new artists?
Try to separate good from bad music, spread the word, learn to play an instrument even if it's just a triangle, dress up for concerts, invite me, protect our planet, have fun, and make babies, or at least pretend making them.