How would you classify your music?
I choose not to classify my music. If I do that, I feel like I am putting myself in a box.
Who are some of your top 5 musical influences?
French artists like : Brel, Piaf, Brassens, Aznavour & all traditional French songs. The 70’s: Aphrodite Child, The Who, Jefferson Airplane… The 80-90’s: The Pixies, Nirvana… Classical music, especially the Opéra: Verdi, Wagner, Haendel, Gerschwin, Gluck… And of course, all Blues & Gospel from the beginning of the 20th century.
What do you want fans to take away from your music?
I think we all have different ways of feeling and understanding music. I create music as I feel it and my fans understanding of it allows them to take from it what they each want to.
How is the music scene in your city, country?
In Sion, there are a lot of musicians and its a tight knit community. Switzerland is a small country but there are a lot of interesting venues to perform at.
What is the best concert you have ever been to that has truly inspired your live performances?
To be honest I haven’t seen a lot of concerts, but I have really good memories of a Simon & Garfunkel concert in Basel.
What do you enjoy most about performing to a live audience?
To be able to feel my audience and try to establish a true connection.
Is there a song on your latest CD release that stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
I don’t have a favorite song on my latest album, all songs capture moments of my life. I love them all.
How have you evolved as an artist over the last year during these challenging times?
I took time to be home in my record studio and write new songs. Before these strange times, I traveled all over the world to perform. It was actually a nice break and creative time for me.
If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, have a drink with any band or artist (dead or alive) who would it be?
Georges Brassens, Giuseppe Verdi, Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, Robert Johnson… it’s a hard question. There are a lot of artists who would be really interesting to talk with, dead of alive!
What are our future plans for your music career?
Keep my momentum going. Compose music television shows, albums & create works in different
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3NjZqJPGrQbjF0BAmB75Mm
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/johannarittinersermier/?hl=fr
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Johanna-Rittiner-Sermier-1892454494213869
YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUp7QEcOcnDghNp75PArX6g
End of Interview