Hiya, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a cuppa and take a seat. What was life like for you before you got into music?
Before I fully stepped immersed myself in music, life revolved around survival. I grew up in Yorkshire and later in Fulham, London, in a household dominated by fear, silence, and control. I endured a traumatic childhood, and later, I suffered a serious car accident that changed everything. Music became my lifeline, enabling me to process pain and find my voice.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
It wasn’t a decision; it was a rescue. After years of holding everything in, I began to write songs in 2023 that reflected my story, and something inside me awaken. When I wrote ‘In the Dark’ about my near-fatal accident, it was the first time I felt heard, even if it was just by myself.
Introduce us to you all and tell us a bit about your musical history?
I perform under the name Astral Rocks. I’m a British-Swiss singer-songwriter based in Aargau, Switzerland. I’ve been writing songs that blend raw emotion with cinematic rock, folk, and gospel influences. I will be releasing tracks like ‘Distant Memory’ and ‘The Flame in Me’ based on real events from my life. My music explores truth, survival, and turning wounds into sound.
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
It was ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen. I was mesmerised. It wasn’t just a song – it was theatre, pain, drama, and beauty all in one. That song taught me that music can be storytelling at its most powerful.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, how do you feel you are doing?
It’s tough, especially as an independent artist without a major label supporting me. However, I’ve seen genuine people respond to my songs, messages from strangers saying who tell they cried or finally felt seen. That’s progress to me. Emotional impact is my currency.
How do you write your songs?
Every song begins with real emotion. Sometimes I write lyrics first, while at other times as I’m walking by the Rhine. I work with producers like Ian Hardwick and Dyhard Productions to bring the arrangements to life. My songs often start with a piano or vocal sketch and evolve into an entirely productions tacks.
What’s the live music scene like in Switzerland right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you of course)
I live in a small village by the Rhine, making the local scene intimate and emotional. I’ve performed at the Lörracher Weihnachtscircus, bars in Murten, and local clubs. Switzerland isn’t known for massive rock gigs, but it’s rich in heart and support. I focus on connection rather than crowds.
What would you say is the difference between a good song and a great song?
A good song is technically solid. A great song opens you up. It evokes something real – whether joy, grief, or hope. If a song can reach into your heart and linger there, that’s greatness.
Tell us about your recent release and how it came about?
‘A Father’s Cry’ is deeply personal. It gives voice to fathers who feel powerless, unseen, and silenced by systems that take their children yet ignoring their pain. I’ve spoken to men who broke down while telling me their stories. This song is for them. It was written with honesty and heartbreak and it’s more than music; it’s a message.
What’s your biggest achievement as a band/artist so far?
Releasing songs that reflect my truth and hearing that they’ve helped others is fulfilling Securing airplay on Swiss radio, being interviewed, and performing live again after years of healing those moments matter. However, the significant achievements simply not giving up.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
Brad Grobler, from Big production in Rotterdam, Holland who mastered this song, reminded me: ‘No tears in the singer, no tears in the audience.’ Quote from Berklee. That stuck with me. If I’m not honest, the song won’t connect. Authenticity is everything.
What are your plans for the year ahead?
More releases, more truth. I want to release an album in early 2026, preform more live shows, and continue sharing stories through music that dares to say the quiet things out loud. I’m also finishing my memoir, because some stories need more than one medium.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Yes. If you’re going through something heavy, please know you’re not alone. Pain doesn’t mean you’re broken – it means you feel deeply. ‘A Father’s Cry’ is for anyone who has been silenced, shamed, or dismissed. I hope it gives you strength. I’m also the author of two books: *Whispers of the Deep*, a mystery set in Switzerland, and *Raised by Cold Hands*, a memoir about trauma, survival, and reclaiming your voice, the same themes that echo through my music, due to be released in Autumn 2025 and 2026
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