24. April 2025
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Spotlight - Flyctory.com Interviews

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Sid Bader (April 2025)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

At the 2025 Country To Country in Berlin, Sid Bader has been one of the very few European acts, who brought country music on stage. On top of that, the Swiss country and folk artist was the only one, who is a native German speaker. Thus, speaking with him about the experience definitely felt like a must-do. Good timing for this interview release: he just released a new EP, Not A Poet, last week.

 

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Sid Bader

FLYC: Sidney, thanks for joining for an interview. You have been one of the few European acts at the Country To Country 2025 in Berlin. How was that experience for you?

Sid: It was beautiful! The sun was out, the people were great and the festival had outstanding artists. I really enjoyed it a lot and had a great time. On the stage as well as before and after the gigs.

FLYC: On each of the three festival days, you played at the Town Square Stage, which is open at Uber Plaza and could also attract people who were just passing by for other reasons. Did you feel that was advantageous for you, especially as you have been the only German-speaking artist out there?

Sid: I definitely was lucky to be put on the Town Square Stage. But even more lucky that the sun shone. The town square was pretty packed, but I can’t say if it was because of me or because people were passing by and joining the crowd. Or if it was the food stands on the town square.

FLYC: I guess you also had the opportunity to watch some other artists. Are there any you especially remember from these three days in Berlin?

Sid: C2C 2025 had an awesome lineup through and through. That being said. If I had to choose, some of the most memorable performances for me were probably 49 Winchester, who put on a hell of a show, Lainey Wilson, who really knows how to keep the audience on their toes. Dylan Gosset, who also was one of the nicest people I’ve ever talked to.

FLYC: Coming to your first steps into music. I read that you had your first gig at the age of eleven. How did you get into music and how did you get on stage?

Sid: Cliche enough, I grew up with music all around me. Since my father was singing all the time, I assumed that’s the status quo, so I did it too. So naturally, when my best buddy joined a band and they needed a singer he asked the person who couldn’t stop singing either way – me. From there it all went pretty fast for us and we had our first few gigs at open airs and festivals. Which is even crazier now, when I think back.

FLYC: Your first major band was SMACK. What kind of music did you do there?

Sid: We started with the classics like Deep Purple, Foo Fighters, Queen and Green Day. As we started to write our own stuff, it became more and more alternative rock.

FLYC: And how did you run into country music?

Sid: I started listening to Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard when I was about 10, on some old cassette tapes I found and from there I went down the rabbit hole. Which I am happy I did.

FLYC: With festivals like the Country Night Gstaad, your home country Switzerland feels to be better “developed” in country music than Germany. How is it like in Switzerland to pursue that genre?

Sid: Switzerland definitely does have great festivals and a solid country scene. And great artist for that matter.
I actually haven’t been performing as much as I would like to on Swiss stages. But that’s something, that hopefully will change in the course of this year.

FLYC: What do you feel the genre has to do in Germany and Switzerland to grow bigger?

Sid: I think it’s actually already growing pretty big. There are countless young country artists on the rise. We just have to be open to new interpretations of the genre.

FLYC: What kind of other genres do you like?

Sid: I listen to rock, jazz, indie, reggae, funk, rap, blues, sea shanties, as well as classical music. As long as it has a groove, emotions or lyrics I can feel in my bones, I’ll listen to it.

FLYC: In 2022, you got popular when you were a contestant at The Voice of Germany. In the blind auditions, you chose the Jungle Book song I Wanna Be Like You. In the first ten seconds of your performance, three of the coaches turned around for you. How was that for you?

Sid: Of course that’s a treasured memory for me. To be applauded and appreciated for something so personal is simply beautiful.

FLYC: What have you learned from that TV appearance and being part of Mark Fosters team?

Sid: I did learn a lot about the business and how to present myself. I also learned that I really like seeing the audience face to face. But I’ll be forever grateful for that performance, because without it and without the people it reached, I would not be able to do what I am doing right now.

FLYC: Coming back to Sid Bader in 2025 – do the people still want you to perform I Wanna Be Like You on stage?

Sid: I think so, as far as I can tell. At least they sing and dance along when i play it, so that has to be a good sign.

FLYC: Has there been a song which worked especially well in Berlin?

Sid: These Days is an original song I just love to play. Especially because it gives me the opportunity to let the audience sing. Which they did and for me that was heart-warmingly beautiful.

FLYC: You just released a four track EP, Not A Poet. What are these songs about?

Sid: Three of four songs have their origin deep in my heart. They are about losing control, dealing with changing times and taking the step you’re afraid to take. The other one is about having one or two drinks to much.

FLYC: You just moved from Switzerland to Cologne. What have been the reasons for the transitions?

Sid: I could say, because Germany is bigger and therefore has more – not better, but more opportunities. I could also say, because I was on the voice of Germany, which also would make a lot of sense. But mainly it was because I needed to break my habit and create new ones.

FLYC: What are your plans for 2025? Will there be some more music – or maybe a tour?

Sid: There definitely will be new music. The next single is already planned for April 25th. It’s called Brutally Inclined and it’s one of my favorites so far.
A tour is not an easy target for an artist my size, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be trying to reach every stage they let me play on.

FLYC: A light question at the end of the chat: from the artists you saw or met in Berlin, with whom would you like to do a duet – and why?

Sid: I’m just going to list the lineup right here.
Jokes aside, I’d consider myself very grateful, if I was doing a duet with anyone of the artists at C2C 2025. But it’d had to be someone who has a similar style I guess, so maybe Sam Barber or Avery Anna or Dylan Gossett.

 

 

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Swiss Music

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Flyctory.com about Country To Country

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