Craigh is a swiss metal band which was founded in 2004 by all members who are still
part of the band. Craigh gathered their on stage experience from countless gigs in
Switzerland and Austria.
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
On twitter. We think it’s a good opportunity to get some interesting contacts and to share our music around the world.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to
become an artist?
We grew up in Switzerland. In a small town called “Weinfelden”. It was a typical situation: Daniel (Base), Cyril (Git) and Thomas (Drums) where sitting a in bar and drinking beer. It was some kind of a freaky idea: “let’s become a band”. But there was one problem: the only one who already played an instrument, was Thomas our drummer. So he laughed and said: “first you should learn some instrument playing before we become a band”. So Cyril and Daniel looked at each other and made a deal: “if you’re learn how to play guitar, I’ll learn to play bass”. No sooner said than done!
Because they were all novices, they need to have some real lead guitar to play some cool stuff. That was the point, where Michael becomes a part of that band. Now they just needed a singer to be complete. So Marc became a part of the band.
In this constellation CRAIGH played about 3 years and then Sebastian became a part of the band. After some years the first screams came into the repertoire of CRAIGH. 2012, we decided to make a cut and leave out all we’ve done before. So we started to create the songs for our first album. In 2014, just before album recording, Marc left the band. He could not identify his self with the music anymore. By good fortune, we left as friends and Marc helps us wherever he can (e.g. selling our band merch at the concerts).
End of 2014 we recorded our first album “of dreams and wishes” in Germany at the Kohlekeller Studio! This album will be released in March 2015. So – that’s the story.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Haha, the name CRAIGH, okay. It’s some Irish saying, like: “let’s have a craigh”. That means to stay with your friends and drink some delicious beer and just having a good time. This one comes surely from our friend Marc, because he has a big bond to Ireland (not only because of Guinness).
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Online music sharing is a good thing. But as musician, you may have to life from your music. So it would be cool if you’ll get paid for the work you’re doing.
With our new album, we will give some song for free. We think it’s important to give the people the opportunity to know, what they’re going to buy. So that’s the best way (even for new bands like us). Download some free songs – if you like, we’re happy if you buy our cd. Very simple 🙂
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists
looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
So we’re almost start-ups. We think the best way is: be yourself, like what you do and stay focused to you dreams. If you’re doing the stuff you like, with the rights persons – half of work is done. Just never give up and just have fun!
Pick up all the opportunities you’ll get and never be above doing something.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
They are lots of them. Just go through it, smile and do it better the next time 😉
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy
hearing about?
No, unfortunately not yet. But we hope touring will start soon.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your
usual songwriting process?
For our first album, we took our inspiration from the things we went through. All our experience as band, all the good and the bad things we had together. With this album, we tried some new policy. First we wrote a big mind map with all our ideas. Than we choose some stories we wanted to tell.
Normally, we’re doing the instrumental parts first and all the texting is coming on top of it. The longest part of our songwriting isgoing to all the stuff we did and perfecting all the stuff we did before. This is the most intensive part.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Yes, we have: www.craigh.ch
https://www.facebook.com/CraighMusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCei1_dostNHikBNntaZdKmw
We’re on all the other usual platforms a band should be 😛
Facebook, twitter, mx3 (a swiss music website), youtube and so on
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
EAV – Motorsäge
DJ Valentino – Suck my dick
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Fucking touring and a hell of a stage show – yea baby! Seriously, we think this would be not a really good idea.
We’re sure that we would lose our self’s in crazy things. ^^
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Now that we are nearly finished to release our first album, we’re working on new stuff for a new album.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Promotion is an ongoing process we’re currently in yet. So we do not have a best practice at this moment. Being in the right place at the right time 😉
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Hmm, the location doesn’t relay matters. As bigger as much better 😉
Never mind, it would be an honor to play with Bury Tomorrow, as I lay dying or Trivium several shows. These bands are our inspiration and really important for our lives (as band and as single persons).
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Releasing our album “of dreams and wishes” is currently one of the biggest things in 2015. To come back on stage goes hand in hand with this.
Next steps are doing new stuff for a new, amazing and fucking heavy album!
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Crying, drinking… maybe play football. We don’t know – but we don’t have to now. Our band is like a second family for us. We don’t like to think about the situation without each other.
Backstreet boys. Thanks for asking (crying in pain).
Bravo Hits 97
Bad Religion
Eminem
We don’t know, maybe a lot of hot air at this time.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
We’re doing the best we can. All of us having a normal job where we get our money to finance our second life as band.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
Our first album “Of dreams and wishes”, amazing live shows and a new video clip.
