Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with von.Tanell MC
von.Tanell MC is a queer artist, political activist and rapper from the countrysides of switzerland. In february he released his first EP “Dysthymie Tape”.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Its when i was around five years old i guess and my family was singing songs from swiss singer/songwriting legend Mani Matter
How did your passion for creating music begin?
In my late teenage years i was mostly unhappy with the existing music. I broke with the punk scene because the punk bands i knew back then, reproduced sexist stereotypes and their lyrics were mostly quite boring. Also the local punk scene was unaware of the discrimination within, mostly interested in unreflected hate against everyone and drinking as much alcohol as possible. I got interested in political german rap artists such as Anarchist Academy or Microphone Mafia, later Chaoze One or Kurzer Prozess and liked their way of bringing antiauthoritarian politics into music. I got reminded that also in the punk scene, music is a diy thing, so i started rhyming on hiphop-beats myself. I am also a political activist since i am a teenager, so i focused more on this work than my music. Which is probably why i never developed my own music making and never released anything outside my friends circle.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
In the beginning of last winter, i struggled much harder with depression than ever before. I needed a way to deal with my negative thoughts and let them out. My friend MC43, a rapper and producer from switzerland, send me some beats that stopped me from drowning and helped me a lot, releasing my thoughts and putting them into rhymes. I finished my EP “Dysthymie Tape” during my stay in a psychiatric clinic, therefore it shows my way coming out of my depression. Or at least getting slightly better.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Its quite simple rap on different kinds of hiphop beats. Some beats are a bit punky, others generally a bit weird and some go into a lofi direction. I rap in swiss german and the lyrics are much more important than flow or rap technics. The EP starts quite depressed and turns more hopefull during the seven songs. The lyrics are very personal, sometimes mixed with dark humour, rap references and always with a political touch.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Just not giving any fucks what other people think about my music. I make music for myself, if other people can relate to my lyrics or my music in general, then thats cool. If nobody cares about my output, i am also very fine with it.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
MC43 gave me instrumentals, i wrote lyrics to them, recorded them with MC43 and he mixed and mastered the songs.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
There are way too many inspiring artists to namedrop. But to come back to my breakup with punk, the band “Plagöri” is a huge reason why i am cool with punk again.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I come from the political diy scene that gave me the confidence to just do. My music is personal, honest and authentic, therefor my whole biography and believes are a huge part of it.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Various people contacted me after my release saying that i put thoughts of their own into words. They felt seen and understood. It made me sad, other people are struggeling with life as much as i do and thankful that they shared their emotions with me, showing all of us, that we are not alone.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music is diverse and doesnt have to follow any rules at all. It doesnt even require a rhythm. Just do what you feel like doing.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I dont have a dream venue or festival. I am happy to perform in a smelly basement with a shitty sound system in front of two people that appreciate what i am doing. If i am even able to share the stage with people i like, i am totally happy with the show.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I am happy i could already collaborate with MC43. I can imagine featuring other artists as well, as long as we feel each other and share the same values, no matter the genre.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
My music is widely spread and available on multiple plattforms, thanks to my label Stächpalm. I wanna make it possible for everyone to listen to my music and i hate the music industry (especially the ones supporting right wing assholes like Trump or invest in the military complex), so everyone can stream and download my music fully for free on bandcamp.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I wish for myself to not getting cought in the believes of the music industry and keeping my diy spirit, doing what ever the fuck i want, not getting stopped by comparisons or competition that is all around us and even inside ourselves.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I wish for all people to live a good, safe and free life. If my music can contribute to the healing of individuals and inspire them to do things, that make their and the lifes of everyone better, i am very happy about it.
