Urban Walrus
... probably the most boring band in the world - was formed in January 2021 by Swiss-born multi-instrumentalist, Singer and songwriter Fabian Koerber. Boring, thats because Urban Walrus is a very lazy creature that loves to keep a low profile and hardly ever appears on social media.
Instead, the focus is on writing and recording songs and sharing them with the world. Honestly, there's not much you need to know about Urban Walrus - the music and lyrics literarily speak for themselve...
What's the story behind your stage name?
The name “Urban Walrus” doesn’t have any deeper meaning, really. It just sounds cool and makes people curious whether there is any story behind it... Well, yes, it is also a reference to some four lads from Liverpool.
How did you get into music, what were your first steps?
I started with an old classic-guitar, and a bunch of Cat Stevens Songs, learning my first chords. Soon after I felt confident enough form my first band when I was like 14. Being loud was our prime goal, and we we're damn good at it. Soon the Band split-up, new Bands were formed just to split up and reunite again… The usual I guess.
"August rain" sounds great, Classic Rock meets Soft Rock, I'd say, what or who was your inspiration?
Yes, it’s a very personal Song, really. A real-life story about a tragic loss that I have suffered as a child. There was an animated Video to the song as well, created by Animation-Genius “Fadel”, with whom I had already worked on “Pie in the Sky”. When I saw it for the first time, it was so overwhelming; it captured the Song and the story behind in way, I just could not handle it. So I decided to take it down from YouTube. I only allowed a short version of it on TikTok.
What do you prefer more .... stage or studio?
Since I can remember, I have always enjoyed the process of writing Songs, composing, and recording. Much more than going on Tour, giving live Gigs etc.
How would you describe your creative process and what's in your opinion the hardest part to finish a song?
Often times, it starts with just some scraps of words that fly to me and when I find them interesting, they will stay with me and resonate. More words come to it, and I start thinking of what story I could tell with it. My lyrics are about personal experiences, observations, or thoughts in general, wrapped in metaphors and symbolic. I’m not giving advice, nor do I want to be preachy about anything.
The hardest part to finish a Song for me is, to accept the result of the final mixdown. It’s just difficult to finally let the Song go and release, knowing there’s nothing you can change or adjust anymore.
You are from Zurich, how would you describe the music scene there?
There is not much a music scene in Zürich or Switzerland. Most serious artists try to get to out of here, mainly to Berlin/ Germany. Only a few Artists can make a living here and only if they are ready to bend and bow and deliver whatever is demanded. All is controlled by a few Radio stations and Swiss State TV. As an Independent Artists with an international audience, I’m glad I don’t depend on the Swiss Music Scene and its unwritten rules.
What's next for you?
Next Song will be released in January 2023. A laid-back Song with some slight touch of Reggae...
