Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Nick Betschart

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

One of my earliest strong memories connected to music goes back to when I was around 12 years old. I first took xylophone lessons and later keyboard lessons with a music teacher. That was one of the first times music became something I did myself and not just something I listened to.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

My passion for creating music began through writing lyrics for other people. While I was writing, I often tested lines and rhymes in my head to hear how they might sound in a real song. One day I wrote “Written in Blood Ink”, and I liked the text so much that I almost wanted to keep it for myself. The song was released last year and performed by my collaboration partner and good friend Dyeana. It was also the first time I was directly heard in one of our songs, because I sang in the pre-chorus. That moment made the whole process feel much more personal and real to me.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

My current music project is built around strong imagery, emotional impact, and songs that do not feel predictable. I want lyrics that create clear pictures in the listener’s mind, beats that bring twists and surprises instead of just repeating the same loop, and performances that are fully matched to the theme and feeling of the track. For me, every release should feel like its own world.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

My sound moves across different worlds. It can go from aggressive, unfiltered hip-hop and rap with difficult themes to modern emotional pop, and then into country or southern rock with a feeling of freedom and power. I usually do not focus on generic love songs or safe topics. Most of my releases are built around one specific theme. These themes can range from travel and addiction to politics, current world issues, loss, and inner conflict.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

At the beginning I made some mistakes. For example, I had songs that were over five minutes long, I thought I had to do everything on my own, and I believed that the bigger and more extreme the audio file was, the better the result would be. Today I understand things very differently. I know that songs around three minutes are often much more radio-friendly, I know I can trust the team at R3cords Three instead of trying to control every detail myself, and I have also learned that streaming platforms compress audio heavily anyway. So sending massive WAV files with extreme settings does not automatically mean a better listening experience.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

The most essential things in my creative process are the team, strong ideas, and the right tools to turn those ideas into something real. On the technical side, I work with a laptop and programs like Ableton Live, Reaper, and Audacity. I also use a RODE NT1 5th Generation microphone, which is an important part of my setup.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

Right now, the indie artist I appreciate the most is Dyeana. I work with her a lot, and vocally she is a real inspiration to me. She has presence, emotion, and strength, and that is something I value a lot in music.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

My personal experiences have influenced my music very strongly. My political views, my own emotions, and also my past struggles with addiction all play a role in how I write and how I see music. I do not want to create songs that feel empty. I want the music to come from something real, even if that reality is sometimes uncomfortable.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

Whether the feeling is uplifting or dark, I want listeners to feel understood. I want them to feel the power of the music not only with their ears, but mentally and almost physically, as if it reaches every part of them. If a song can make somebody feel seen, charged, shaken, or strengthened, then it has done something meaningful.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

The most important lesson music has taught me so far is that good music alone is not always enough to reach people. Talent and quality matter, but so do timing, visibility, consistency, and the ability to connect with an audience beyond the song itself.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

A dream for me would be to perform on a major festival stage in Switzerland one day. Reaching people in my home country on that level would mean a lot to me, especially because building a stronger audience there is one of my long-term goals.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with Bon Jovi or with Skillet. Both represent strong identity, energy, and songs that carry real power. I admire artists who can combine emotion, force, and recognizability in a way that people remember instantly, and that is something both of them have done very well.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?

Listeners can follow and support my music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, MX3, Shazam, Musixmatch, Genius, MusicBrainz, and through my official artist page on the R3cords Three Studios website. Every stream, save, playlist add, and share means a lot and helps independent music grow.

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

Looking ahead, one of my biggest dreams is to create a complete and truly strong album that feels consistent from beginning to end. At the same time, I want to build a broader fanbase in my home country, Switzerland, and keep growing as an artist with a clear identity.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope listeners discover that there is real intention behind what I do. I want them to understand that I am not just releasing random songs, but creating tracks with specific themes, strong imagery, and emotional purpose. I hope they discover both the intensity and the honesty behind my music.

Representative YouTube video: