interview with Seraina Telli

Seraina Telli is a Swiss singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the genres of rock, hard rock, heavy metal and progressive rock. She was the singer of the band Rizon from 2010 to 2014, the lead singer of the band Surrillum (2011-2017) and the band Burning Witches (2015-2019). Since leaving Burning Witches in 2019, he has focused on his own band Dead Venus and a solo career. This year (2024) she performed three performances in the Czech Republic.
Alan – Hi Seraina, tell us a little about yourself.
Seraina – Hi Alan, hi everyone! I am a songwriter and singer from Switzerland who loves color and wants to bring happiness to the people who listen to my music.

Alan – Your first band was Rizon, followed by Surrillum and Burning Witches. What would you tell us about each of the bands and your time in them?
Seraina – All these bands are part of my life and my musical journey. I wouldn't miss any of the experiences I've had with them.

Alan – What has working in these three groups brought you to the present?
Seraina - I was looking for my own original sound and now, and also because of these experiences, I found where I really belong and what makes me and others around me happy.

Alan – You are known as a multi-instrumentalist. So what are you playing on? You probably like playing the electric guitar the most, right? Can you play on nerves? (Translators editorial: Czech phrase said when someone is annoying, haha)
Seraina – I play guitar the most right now but before I started playing the electric guitar I played a lot of piano and some kind of distorted organ sounds. I still use it in Dead Venus tho but since we are on the road with SERAINA TELLI the whole year I don't get a lot of time playing my keys which I miss a lot to be honest. I also like to play bass but I am not a good bass player haha. And of course the vocals are my main instrument. About being nervous: As long as I am prepared well for the show I am not really nervous. and I also take a lot of vitamins to be fit and calm on and of stage. :-)

Alan - Let's stay with the instruments and out of Dead Venus. Do you play alone or sometimes with someone? Or when you compose music, do you play different instruments?
Seraina – Sometimes I play solo with my acoustic guitar or together with Mike my drummer and I have various great musicians on tour with me for the "Rock Shows". When it comes to writing songs I usually am alone with acoustic or electric guitar or with the piano. As soon as the song is written I send it to my producer Rico H and we finalize the song together.

Alan – Which of the genres you play is your favorite? Or do you like them all? Why?
Seraina – I love music in general. The reason why I started with metal bands and what my music today still has, is this high level of energy. I love to bring full power on stage but I also love the quiet stuff. I love to bring soul, blues and jazz or even some rap into music because it makes it more colorful. Today I feel fulfilled with DEAD VENUS and my SERAINA TELLI band because I can live out all my creativity with music and art.

Alan – In this year 2024, you have been in the Czech Republic three times. Where was it, who did you play with and what did you learn from these performances?
Seraina – Yes! I was in Prague and Zlin together with Visions of Atlantis and Illumishade and most recently in Prachatice with Nazareth. All the shows were awesome and I loved the Czech crowd. It seems like they really love music and the emotions were high. I would love to come back very soon!

Alan – When performing in the Czech Republic, did you have any funny experiences?
Seraina – Haha yeah, I am just thinking of that one guy who came to my merch stand and offered me some of his potato chips. That was a bit strange but also very cute and funny.

Alan - Similar question. Funny experiences in general from playing anywhere at concerts or festivals?
Seraina – My Drummer Mike once ordered a cappuccino on a gas station we were making a break at. He was pouring some chocolate on it or at least he thought it was chocolate. I saw it and thought "well that chocolate powder has a strange color" looked around and found out he actually took the pepper and poured it over his coffee. We all were laughing so hard! It turned out that cappuccino and pepper isn't a very good fit hahaha.

Alan – Worst experiences from performances in the Czech Republic or elsewhere abroad?
Seraina – Not long ago we played a show and when we started my microphone was making that horrible noise over every monitor in the room. We first tried to go on playing but they couldn't figure out what it was. So we had to abord and I was talking to the people in the room without a microphone which made the situation kinda funny tho. In the end they found out it was the channel where the mic was plugged in. So I am happy that it wasn't my gear haha.

Alan – Where have you had the opportunity to perform? States?
Seraina – This year I could play in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, UK, Nederlands and of course in the beautiful Czech Republic. Playing in the USA is one of my goals for the next 2 years. Fingers crossed haha!

Alan – Top concert or festival that you remember fondly. There may well be more. And why?
Seraina – The most special concert of my career so far was the show with Bryan Adams at the BCF arena in Fribourg CH. It was by far the biggest show I've ever played and I felt so good performing on this huge stage in front of over 10 '000 ppl. It felt like this is where this music belongs and where I have to go. Work in progress ;-)

Alan – How do you manage to combine a solo project and Dead Venus. Aren't you very busy?
Seraina – I am very busy, yes. But when it comes to songwriting I always know to which band the song fits. Right now DEAD VENUS is not on the road but I am writing new songs for a next album. We don't have to rush anything there. I am on the road the whole year with SERAINA TELLI and we reach a lot of new fans every day. This way a lot of people also discover DV so it's a win for everyone.

Alan - Seraina Telli and Dead Venus Project. Which one are you more into right now?
Seraina – ST of course needs all the focus right now which totally makes sense. But when I am not on tour it really depends on my mood.

Alan – Are you working on a new album? The last one was released in 2023. In 2025, Seraina Telli's album and another tour of Europe heading to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Is something brewing? Or should I ask Klaus.
Seraina – I am working on a new album and of course I will bring these new songs to the stages of europe! Some tour dates in 2025 are already released and online on my website but we are also working on more tour dates, hopefully also in the Czech republic and Slovakia.

Alan – You will probably like to return to the Czech Republic for a concert, we have a grateful audience, I am sorry that my health did not allow me to visit you. Hopefully 2025 will be better. Thanks for the interview, and I assume it won't be the last one we do together.
Seraina – Thank you very much it was a pleasure to answer your questions. Stay colorful and see you on the road. :-)
https://serainatelli.com