Mala & FyrMoon press release June 2016

BIB editor's note: This is not a facsimile of the press release as received, and lacks the design and graphics of the original. However, the text is complete and unaltered.

Mala & FyrMoon: Carrying sounds from the Swiss Mountains to the Irish Island [June 2016]

Writing new songs and taking them to other countries are Mala & FyrMoon's two passions. This time it’s Ireland’s turn! Several shows are coming up with all original songs and instrumentals, brought to you right from the Swiss mountains:

June 22: Kilkenny, Ryan’s Bar, 9.30pm
June 24: Waterville, Tech Amergin Arts Centre, 8pm
June 25: Cork, Sin È, 10pm
June 26: Shanahoe, County Laois, house concert, 8pm

Composing On Bicycles

Mala & FyrMoon’s ”Celtic Americana” style is inspired from both sides of the Atlantic, by bands like Alison Krauss & Union Station or Lunasa. Their songs tell stories about snow-covered mountain peaks, travelling the world, matters of the heart and lonely cowboys...

For composing, they often ride their bicycles escaping to another world, the mind fixed on just one thing: climbing that distant mountain on two wheels. Memories and thoughts passing by. All of a sudden, that ultimate phrase enters the head. It already comes with a melody, free of charge. Don’t lose that idea! Go type it into a smartphone or on a piece of paper. Once the end of the road is reached, a new song is born.

Bio

Mala (vocals, fiddle, mandolin, guitar) grew up in a musical home, where every day there was playing and singing by her parents. She started her classical violin education at the age of 8, and trained her voice in regular singing lessons. Inspired by her mother’s record collection, she also fell in love with American and Irish folk music. At festivals, she participated in jams and sessions to learn about fiddle playing. Mala performed with various folk bands in Switzerland, choirs, orchestras and theatre projects. Recently, she opened up for the Kruger Brothers and shared the stage as a guest with Dale Ann Bradley and Steve Gulley. In 2014, she was awarded a workshop scholarship by the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA).

Stefan (vocals, guitar, dobro, mandolin, bass) was raised in northern Germany, where he learned about Bluegrass music by listening to a distant FM radio station in Hamburg. Leaving a deep impression, at age 15 he began to play 5-string banjo. With no teachers around, no Internet yet, just instructional books and records. He finally met like-minded musicians, and trained his musical skills at jams - and by using his ears. His former bands include bluegrass- und acoustic rock projects in Germany, Switzerland and San Francisco.

In 2015, they took their new album ”On The Run” to Ireland, this winter to Folk Alliance International (Kansas City) and to music city Austin TX. It’s a bucket full of fresh music with vocals and tight harmonies that will light a small ”fyr“ in your heart. A next recording project is already scheduled, album release planned for spring 2017. So who knows what new songs will come into their minds travelling - or cycling - the hills of Ireland? No commercial music, no big show, but unique to the core – don’t miss out!
In Short
Swiss band (Duo/Trio) - on the road since 2009
original ”Celtic Americana“ with vocals & harmonies, fiddle, guitar, dobro and mandolin
tours in Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, USA (Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, North Carolina, New York, Texas)
albums: ”Simply a Lotus“ (Mala 2011), ”On the Run“ (Mala&FyrMoon 2014), ”Woanders & Elsewhere“ (Stefan 2015)

Quotes

“…more than their individual contributions as singers, songwriters and instrumentalists, it is the musical interplay, the well-arranged original compositions and the interaction with their audience. They immediately won their audience’s hearts at their Folk in Heaven concert”
Stephen Ferron, Article in „Country Style” magazine

“...it’s music that overcomes you gently, and cheers you up, and whose melancholic gleam ensures you to stay connected to your roots. ... Three connoisseurs are at work who play brilliantly and pass on their joy about singing and about a good arranged song to the listener“
Pirmin Bossart, CD Review in „041 – Luzerner Kulturmagazin” (art magazine of Lucerne)

“Other bands play music – Mala & FyrMoon celebrate it“
Ruedi Antonietti, Swiss fan

“I was blown away! Great vocals and harmonies. You guys have it going on! Your originals are great. Well done!“
Rich Cormier, Canadian Fan