As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
On The Table Read, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, singer-songwriter Börni talks about her music career and her new single, I’m Alive.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Börni about her life and career, what inspires her music, and the creative process that went into her new single, I’m Alive.
I am Börni, an artist hailing from Zurich, Switzerland. I was gone from being discovered on a TV casting show to recording double platinum records, having countless shows and tours, as well as successful brand collaborations with G-Shock and Adidas under my belt. I am an artist that loves to express myself musically and visually depending on my mood and inspiration.
Torn between “tomboy” and “female”, I also live my facets to the full in terms of styling and diversity, continuously exploring boundaries. Releasing music til my heats content – honest and authentic – with all expressions of my passion and personality, without decisions for one or the other music genre – expressing both truths – that’s what I want and do.
I think I actually started writing melodies very early. Be it with the violin, with the piano and vocal accompaniment or later with the guitar. The words were not yet important but it was more about the emotion. I am also very glad that I got involved with classical music at such an early age, because in my opinion it broadened my horizons extremely.
Writing words was much more difficult for me. On the one hand it was because of the language barrier, on the other hand I wasn’t sure what to write about. I didn’t want to bore people with my relationship problems. However, thanks to my relationship with God and the self-discovery that came with it, I became intensely involved with the world, life and myself.
Today I’m very good at picking up a topic, thinking about it intensively and carefully writing down my concerns and wishes that I hope will also help others in my songs. With my first band “Evergreen” I consciously began the first real beginnings of songwriting, but over the years I have developed an intense passion for it and love this new horizon that has opened up to me here.
We already published the songs from our Garageband when we were 15 years old – just with the tools that were available to us at that time. I honestly can’t say anymore which song we published first. Mostly it was songs about good times with my friends or about love. With my participation in a Swiss TV show I was able to release a whole album called Fighter with Sony Music.
The last song I released is called, I’m Alive, and it was written in the most difficult time of my life, when I didn’t see any sense in anything and I didn’t have any hope. The song “I’m Alive” is about when you have no reason to live anymore and even think about suicide.
At the same time, it celebrates life and the gratitude of being alive and finding your way back to life in small steps. A topic that is addressed far too little or not honestly. Phil Merk a very good producer friend of mine and I created the music for this together.
Talking about such an intimate topic in public. I am very well today but I have a difficult time behind me where I suffered from sleeping and eating disorders, cried all night long and even had suicidal thoughts. However, thanks to faith and a professional center, I have found my way out and thanks to this time I have been given a deep peace and gratitude. And that is a wonderful gift, which I hope I can help to bring back to other people with this song again.
To be honest, I don’t even know anymore. I write and produce for many other artists and myself in parallel on different projects. There are some ideas that are started and then finished at the appropriate time.
When I write for myself I always have a concept or a message that I want to convey. When I write for other artists, I try to convey their thoughts as well as possible. Here it can happen that sometimes there is one or the other twist.
I think there are several. Mostly the ones that convey my heartfelt messages. When both the music and the lyrics mean an incredible amount to me. One of them, for example, is Fight for Love, which advocates staying in a relationship because love is a mutual choice in my opinion. So many run away when it’s difficult, I wish people would fight for it more again. Or “I’m Alive” also has such an incredibly important message. When I can trigger a movement with the song like now, the song always means a lot to me.
Definitely! I love Coldplay especially for their songwriting! Such good messages, very beautifully implemented. Or worship songs.
I very often produce the whole song myself and also play all the instruments. But the most fun is to produce with my friends.
I started playing the violin when I was 3 years old. This was followed by piano, guitar and drums.
At the age of seven I was already regularly on stage at the Zurich Opera House. Now I have been singing long live shows almost every weekend for 12 years. It still brings me incredible joy and I always have happy and grateful listeners who celebrate these moments with me.
Go and look for Börni in all stores or go to my website boernimusic.com. @boernimusic is the username for my social media accounts. I would also regularly stop by, because there is now new music to be released every few weeks!
I could only make music. But I like to work as an entrepreneur from the bottom of my heart and push other projects forward as well.
My friends and family are my rock and support me wherever they can. I am so grateful to them.
That I have such a beautiful opportunity with it to influence other people in a positive way with emotions, words and thoughts across generations and layers.
Especially now with I’m Alive I was able to have incredibly wonderful conversations and I believe I also motivated many people by speaking openly about this topic of suicide and depression.
YES! This Friday I already double up with my next indie pop single “Ghost” and the video is coming out soon. To see the beauty in the beast of life again, you have to have the courage to take breaks and time outs for yourself, “ghost” the world, have fun and come back with new energy.
Be authentic, talk about the truth, talk about stuff you care about, not what other people would like!
I think the achievements are less important than the journey. I love this journey (again) and that counts! If I achieve something from time to time, then that’s certainly a nice confirmation that I’m on the right track.
Website www.boernimusic.com
Instagram @boernimusic
Facebook @boernimusic
Tiktok @boernimusic
Youtube @boernimusic
Soundcloud @boernimusic
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", David Parker's memoir, Confessions…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Mike Smallman's "Chocolate-Coated Piranha"…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Dr. Macie Smith's A…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Apollon Sower, the demigod,…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", in A Twist Of…
On The Table Read Magazine, "the best entertainment eBook magazine UK", Hugo Woolley's The Wasp…