Can you tell us about this track?
“Angel’s Throat” was initially composed for a theatre piece that explored themes of doomed youth, forbidden love, and the struggles of adolescence. It is a reflection on isolation, yearning, and gradual vanishing. The title pays tribute to Belgian artist Berlinde de Bruyckere's sculptures of archangels. During my time working in an art gallery, I spent countless hours alone in the showroom, sitting between two of these angel sculptures, forming a connection with them over time. In De Bruyckere’s description, the archangels are trapped under heavy fabric, unable to fully extend their wings, their posture suggesting either a descent or an ascent, with only their toes touching the pedestals they rest upon.That is a sensation I can relate a lot to. It also is the first single of my upcoming album Danse des Larmes that will be released at the end of March on Heat Crimes.
What's your process?
My composition process is intuitive, especially with my solo project VÍZ, where I aim to draw from a place of emptiness, free from the influence of trends or specific genres. Still sometimes it also happens that I am guided by an atmosphere, an image, or a sound. It’s only after I’ve gone through the creative journey that the piece I’ve been working on reveals itself to me and begins to communicate its meaning. My solo project is a very personal endeavor, born from the desire to write a requiem for my father, who passed away a few years ago. It was a time in my life when I felt a strong need to reconnect with my Hungarian heritage, to confront my fragmented identity, and the ongoing sensation of being in a liminal space—having grown up as a refugee in Vienna. My family belongs to the oppressed Hungarian subgroup, the Székelys, who reside in Transylvania, the land beyond the forest. Because of this, the one constant in my process is drawing inspiration from Székely folklore singing. Essentially, I try to turn my own nightmares into friends and walk with them hand in hand.
Tell us about being a musician in Switzerland.
Switzerland is an amazing place for artists, offering a supportive environment to develop projects and ideas without facing significant struggle. The robust funding system enables a lot of possibilities and provides support across all music genres, which I truly admire and appreciate. A project like VÍZ, which exists within a niche music scene, wouldn't thrive as it does without this funding. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I’m fully aware that it’s a rare privilege. However, there’s another side to this privileged artistic scene. I often feel there’s a lack of depth or emotion in many of the music projects, despite the great talent and abundance of technically skilled musicians. Through the development of my solo project, I’ve noticed that audiences struggle to connect with uncomfortable or darker themes in art. For someone like me, who aims to confront the uncanny and play with my shadows, this is especially apparent. Perhaps it’s because most people grow up in comfort, without any real struggles. In general I believe that art needs a certain level of friction; it has to touch the core of the beast to transform it. I also believe that the concept of "safe spaces" would stifle art.
Who are your favourite Swiss artists?
Zurich hosts many beautiful creatives, such as IOKOI, MiMi at Capricious, Hora Lunga, Junge Eko, and one of my personal favorites, the voice artist Sadet Türköz. In Ticino, you can witness the rise of avant-garde pop starlet and dear friend Concetta Spaziale. From the Romandie region, I adore the lo-fi romanticism of Elvis Aloys, and Geneva boasts a vibrant contemporary music scene, with ensembles like NEC and Vortex, featuring talented composers such as John Menoud and Daniel Zea.
Who would you like to see perform in Switzerland?
The only icon I truly wish I could see perform is Nico, but since she is not roaming our Earth anymore, I continue to visit her in my dreams.
Any shoutouts?
Shoutout to the captivating artist CECILIA, with whom I will soon share the stage in London, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Zurich and Basel and to what I am really looking forward to! <3
