Last Saturday, I made a rather spontaneous trip to Basel to host a panel discussion at the Swiss Live Music Marathon. After thoroughly enjoying the canapés at the aperitif, the programme moved on to some intimate showcases.
That’s how I ended up at the Atlantis, where the Graubünden-based singer-songwriter Mattiu was performing. His speciality: he sings in Romansh, Switzerland’s fourth and endangered national language. The language has a wonderful sound. Unspoilt, warm and—in a strange way—familiar.
In 2022, I featured Mattiu’s debut single Forza in the Weekly5:
The clouds disappear with each epochal swelling of the string orchestra. It’s almost cinematic how Forza starts, and almost tragic how the grand opening collapses to reveal a singer-songwriter tune. But then, this contrast is an allegory of the Alps—big, majestic, but also quiet and beautiful.
Whilst Forza really impressed me back then, I found the songs that followed a bit too polished, too soft. They’re harmonious, catchy tracks with no rough edges. Not really my cup of tea, and I realised that once again at Atlantis.
But then Mattiu suddenly stepped away from the microphone, flanked by his two sisters, and they sang, unamplified, a piece that Mattiu had composed for a choir. The room fell completely silent, filled only by their voices, which were at once delicate and overwhelming. Every hair on my body stood on end.
A magical moment. Unadulterated, unfiltered, genuine. Music in its purest form. Nothing, really nothing else, comes close to this power.
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