Interviews: BIRDLORD

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band BIRDLORD from Switzerland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

It wasn’t easy to find a suitable band name. We wanted a single word – something that sounded nice to our ears, yet still had meaning and reflected who we are. In the end, it was Gaia, the drummer, who came up with the name. She’s in her final semester of a Master’s degree in biology and is very interested in ornithology, so it was a perfect fit. Instead of choosing a specific bird species, we’ve become the Lord of all birds. It’s also a beautiful symbolic image, as the bird can rise from the earth into the skies and see everything from a bird ’s-eye view, where everything looks smaller and insignificant. That’s what music is for us – it transports us to a kind of bird’s-eye view where we can look at our lives with greater humility.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Gaia and I (Lily) have been making music together for a very long time. Back when we started out in 2017, we were more influenced by the punk spirit, but even then, we were increasingly drawn towards a more alternative sound. We went to lots of stoner, hardcore, and post-rock gigs. That certainly had an influence on our playing. It was always clear to us that it had to be rock. We never had to discuss that. The fact that it would later evolve into a more progressive, psychedelic, and instrumental style with BIRDLORD wasn’t planned. We think it came about because we were getting better and better on our instruments, and the interplay flowed so naturally that very long jams could give rise to more complex pieces that had long since outgrown the early days of punk. Köbi, the bassist, certainly played a part in this, too. He’s been playing in various sludge/stoner bands since he was 16, and when he joined us in the summer of 2025, he brought all his gear with him and had a major influence on the creation of our sound. His motto from the very start was: More fuzz! And that’s exactly what happened.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yes, Gaia and I (Lily) have been best friends for over 10 years; more than that, we’re like sisters. We met Köbi in the summer of 2025 when we were looking for a new bass player. Since then, we’ve all become friends.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Can we only choose one? That's tough. Can we choose two? haha

Köbi: Wind Hand, Truckfighters

Gaia: HENGE, All Them Witches

Lily: Naxatras, Tower of Power (yep I looooove some good funk/soul music)

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Lily is the main songwriter. She usually brings finished lyrics and a basic song structure—whether it’s a specific key, chords, and/or a main pattern that runs throughout the song. I (Gaia) will work with Köbi to create a groovy drum and bass part to go with it and gradually add in the details. So we can say that Lily inspires us. She, in turn, is inspired by what she experiences in her life. Most of the moments described are sad and destructive. Lily: Exactly, it’s usually about negative feelings, but they end up transforming into something beautiful because they become a song. Personally, I also draw inspiration from my faith in God. My faith is very important to me and gives me a sense of stability in my life. I always make room for God in my songs. But this is something very personal, and while the band respects that, they aren’t religious themselves.

6. Where was your last gig?

(depends on when they will publish it) Our last gig was at KIFF in Aarau, Switzerland (14.03.26).  Our last gig was in our hometown in Bern at Brasserie Lorraine (17.04.26).

7. Where would you like to act?

Festivals: At Z7 (Pratteln) at Up In Smoke Festival, at Azkena Rock-Festival in Vitoria Gasteiz, and at Desertfest in Berlin or London. Some venues: at Les Caves du Manoir in Martigny (CH), at Wurlitzer Ballroom in Madrid, and at Dababa in San Sebastián, and ofc many many more... :)

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

To be honest, we've never asked ourselves that. Lily: As a guitarist, I'd love to have a collab with one of my favorite guitarists: Lari Basilio. But this is a collaboration that has nothing to do with the band; it’s just about me as a musician and guitarist. Köbi: There are a lot of great bands I could see myself playing gigs with or even writing a song with, like Wind Hand, Truckfighters, Mars Red Sky, Monolord, and many more. Gaia: We haven’t actually planned any featurings, but we are thinking about a small tour. It’s my dream to go on tour someday. We’re pretty open-minded when it comes to bands, as long as we get along and the genre is a good fit. My personal little dream would be a small tour of Japan with bands like Minami Deutsch or WEITE. But I could also name plenty of other bands for tours in Europe.

9. Whom not?

No fascist bands.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

We’re always nervous. But it’s got a lot more relaxed over the years. In our opinion, the only two things that help are 1) playing live a lot, and 2) plan your set as thoroughly as possible, including all transitions and announcements, and running through it repeatedly in the rehearsal room until it’s perfect. This gives you confidence and, over time, allows for plenty of freedom and improvisation. To be honest, we’re still in the process of figuring it out. We haven’t yet found a live performance we’re 100% happy with – but we’re constantly working on it.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Many of the bands we’ve seen live have inspired us in one way or another and given us fresh ideas. Not just well-known bands, but also fellow bands we’ve played gigs with.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Haha, I think we’d need a bigger fan base for that first. Then you might get these odd questions. So far, we’ve only received very encouraging and positive feedback.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Every band always starts out with its own circle of friends and acquaintances as fans. We will always feel endless gratitude towards them, as it would be very lonely on stage without their support. We’re always delighted to welcome new listeners and new people who follow us on social media, as it always means that our music has touched them in some way. We’re working on our live shows so that we can give people coming to one of our concerts for the first time the best possible experience. We also try to give all that back by supporting other artists, musicians, and bands, going to their gigs, and buying their records. It’s a case of give and take.

14. What do you think of our site?

Eskerrik asko for your work!!! What you do is so important for the alternative music scene. You offer a space to those who don’t write conventional music. These days, if you want to make a living as an artist, you have to commit to the mainstream; of course, there are other ways, but it takes a lot of luck, connections, and perseverance. Of course, all of that is needed in the mainstream too. But we think it’s tougher in the alternative scene. You act as a link between the fans of this music and the musicians, who are also fans themselves. We also admire the organisation behind it all for keeping up to date with all the releases and reporting on them. It takes a lot of work.

15. Something to add?

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be interviewed; we are very grateful.

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