Pascal Gamboni, Maker of Honey

“everybody wants the honey” is the title of the new album by Rumantsch singer/songwriter Pascal Gamboni.

The album title is somewhat misleading. Misleading, not, because the music it contains doesn’t fulfil the title’s promise, but misleading because it’s in the wrong language. Yes, Pascal’s songs are catchy enough to mark him out as a special singer with something to say. What makes him truly different, however, is the fact that he sings in his native tongue Rumantsch much more often than in English.

Born in the mountains of canton Grisons, Gamboni discovered music in general and guitar in particular at the ripe old age of eleven. Attending music school in Austria as a teenager, he soon joined the obligatory rock band. Trying their luck in the UK, the band were astonishingly quickly signed up by a record label. First in Bristol, later in London, Gamboni stayed in Britain for a full decade before returning to Switzerland to live in Berne. Re-immersing himself in his native tongue, he has released several records, more and more often singing in Rumantsch. It doesn’t really matter that only the other 59’999 people speaking the language will immediately understand the lyrics. What matters much more is the spirit that comes through in the music. Having for a long time operated in a duo, Gamboni has now formed a band. With hints of Jack Johnson or Manu Chao, his reputation has been spreading way beyond the borders of Switzerland of late. In January, he will be part of the Swiss delegation at the Eurosonic festival in Groningen, Netherlands.

“everybody wants the honey” was released in October on Waterfall of Colours.

Pascal Gamboni
Waterfall of Colours