Urban Walrus - probably the most boring band in the world - was formed in January 2021 by Swiss-born multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Fabian Koerber. Boring, thats because the Urban Walrus is a very lazy creature that loves to keep a low profile and hardly ever appears on social media. Instead, the focus is on writing and recording songs and sharing them with the world. Honestly, there's not much you need to know about Urban Walrus - the music and lyrics literarily speak for themselves. August Rain is a beautiful, well produced laid back song with some outstanding vocals and instrumental arrangements. The Song tells about the finitude of being, sudden changes in life, unexpected twists and turns and strokes of fate. About helplessness in the face of our own transience.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Urban Walrus, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
I started with an old classic-guitar, and a bunch of Cat Stevens Songs, learning my first chords. Soon after I felt confident enough to form my first band when I was like 14. Being loud was our prime goal, and we were damn good at it. However, the Band soon split-up, new Bands were formed just to split up again to reunite… The usual, I guess.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Not sure I can call “family” a hobby… However, I have an 8-year-old son who means the world to me. He often comes down to my studio, takes the mic and fools around with the sound-effects. The delay and the robotic voice are his favorites…
Your latest song is 'August Rain'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
It’s a song that really took a lot of time to write and record. It absorbed a lot of energy too. It’s based on a personal life-changing experience, a tragic loss that turned everything upside down. However, I am glad I made it over the finish line with it and the reviews and receptions are overwhelming.
Can you reveal the recipe for a musical hit?
I wish I had a recipe. Sometimes I feel, the Song is already somewhere out there in the spheres, just waiting for me to be found, which of course is silly. In the end of the day, music is based on logic and theory, chord progressions, harmonies, and notes. On a lucky day, you manage to put it together in way, that it all makes sense, including the lyrics. And even then, you can still mess it up, while performing, producing, and eventually recording it.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
Honestly, I’m not thinking much about that. I do as I go and try to enjoy every minute of it. As an independent Artist, I enjoy the luxury of not chasing after any trends or concepts. I do what I like and don’t care much about genres, styles, or such. But I do pay a lot of attention to details. I strive for quality and always try to give the best I can.
What inspires you as an artist? Could it be the sea, the weather or something else?
I never really thought about that. I guess, it’s life in general, experiences, people, places, thoughts.
Just like I do my lyrics. It often just starts with some scraps of words that fly to me and when I find them interesting, they will stay with me and resonate. More words come to it, and I start thinking of what story I could tell with it. It’s mostly about personal experiences, observations, wrapped in metaphors and symbols. I’m not giving advise nor do I lecture about anything.
How do you spend your free time? What makes you feel relaxed?
I consume a lot of TV – CNN is like on all the time. And I do love comedy a lot. Anything from Ricky Gervais, Jimmy O. Yang or Jim Gaffigan. I really look up to them. Good comedy is as valuable as any other form of Art.
Do you have a mentor or coach?
The first person that gets to hear any new song or song idea, is my wife.
She is straight forward and very often her judgment just nails it.
Then of course my good friend and producer Jeannot Steck, the genius behind the keys and the mixer. He really lifts my songs to a height, where I couldn’t go alone. He has worked with many international top artists, such as Eddie Harris or Lee “Scratch” Perry, a true pro and I am humble and grateful he is part of it.
Do you think it's easy to become established in the music world, or is it difficult?
There are two sides to look at it. The industry has changes fundamentally over the last decade. Independent Artist may complain about not being fairly paid by streaming platforms. But how was it before Spotify and the likes? The gatekeepers of the international record companies wouldn’t have even let you hear. Now anyone can get their songs released and find their audience. In my opinion, the times have never been better for independent artists. It takes some skills and out of the box ideas, to get streams up. There are so many great bloggers, music enthusiasts and they are all on our side. Its not all down to Spotify. For example, just look at the guys from bandcamp – What a great platform!
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
I want to grow as an artist, grow my audience, grow my streams, grow the number of songs – yeah… and maybe grow up as well…