Slädu, your resume is diverse and exciting. Can you describe your career in one sentence?
One sentence is very difficult (to think). I always had the vision to make a career as a musician and I have had many experiences. I have worked with Swiss music greats like Bligg and DJ Bobo, toured with the German band Tangerine Dream and recently wrote the guitar parts for the Hollywood movie "Max Dagan". The will to make my musical dreams come true has guided and shaped me to this day.

You went to the USA at the beginning of your career, why?
When I arrived in Los Angeles in the late 1980s, the rock'n'roll scene was booming. Guns'N'Roses, Metallica, Bon Jovi and many others were creating a huge music scene. The energy and passion of Americans:inside for music influenced me a lot. There, a career in music was accepted regardless of education or studies, something I lacked in Switzerland at the time. Music was a "bread and butter" job.

How has being a musician:in in Switzerland changed since then?
The perception of music careers has changed positively. Today you can study pop music in Switzerland and get a diploma. The acceptance of the profession has increased and the structures are better, although the music market is very saturated.

In many places, however, there is not enough time to make and practice music. The filigree of music is not as appreciated as it used to be. It's not like it used to be when you needed a studio, spent a lot of money, and best of all, had a record deal. With YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and the like, anyone can have their "ten seconds of fame" and be in the spotlight. Today, sound, performance and appearance count.

Has Swiss music lost its quality?
On the contrary, the quality has increased. Swiss artists such as Joya Marleen, EZA or Lo&Leduc deliver first-class work. And we can hold our own in an international comparison. And of course we were able to prove early on with Gölä that dialect music can be even bigger in terms of sales than international acts.

You produced the hit "Schwan" with Gölä. How was that?
It was an exciting time. With friends I had a band at the time when Gölä came to us with his lyrics. He showed us his material and needed support with the realization and production. We produced the complete "Uf u Dervo" album under time and money pressure from the record company. They gave us 12,000 francs and we had to finish an album in three days. This was only possible with a lot of preparation before the recordings. And with the homework done, we went into the studio together. When we heard the song for the first time, we felt the magic. The audience loved 'Swan' and it was the cornerstone of our success.

What was it like to work with Swiss music greats like Bligg and Luca Hänni?
Each artist has his own subtleties and strengths. DJ Bobo is a workhorse, he is structured and has excellent business sense. Luca Hänni is a Duracell bunny. Going on tour with him was the most fun time. I put the band together for him and worked closely with him. Bligg is also very organized and creative. "0816" and "Bart aber herzlich" - you can see the creativity when you look at the covers. Each of these artists has influenced and inspired me in their own way.

You recently released your first original song. Is this your new role as a singer/songwriter?
Yes, I wrote and sang a song called "Hie Bi Üs". I have noticed that you have a completely different effect on stage when you "sing" yourself than when you "only" play the guitar. I'm not a master singer, but that's not what I'm about. I want to be myself, be authentic and tell a story. Personality is more important than perfection.

Thank you, Slädu, for this exciting interview.