Hush makes noise with new album

Hush are preparing for a Swiss tour after releasing their debut album. Hush

Hush, a band based in Fribourg, has entered Switzerland's noisy-rock scene with the debut album "head's warning".

The 11 tracks focus mainly on the lead singer and guitarist, Phillippe de Weck, who named the album while he was feeling down.

“One night, I was in my bed and many things were turning in my head because I wasn’t in very high spirits at that time,” de Weck explained. “It just came out – head’s warning – because my head was just about to explode.”

De Weck said he tried to preserve a certain band identity, and to show what Hush was capable of doing.

The group, which has opened for Reef in Switzerland, has been following in the footsteps of British heavyweights such as Radiohead, Stereophonics, Muse and Ash.

Composing songs

De Weck, who composes Hush’s songs, said Sasha Ruffieux (bass) and Gregg Wenger (drums) helped in the creative process. However, the singer said he seldom accepts any songs composed by either of his friends.

“It’s quite rare because I’m quite egocentric,” he explained. “Sasha sometimes comes to me with new chords, but it just doesn’t inspire me.”

Hush’s debut album was a low budget production. Sasha, a sound engineer with his own studio, mixed and mastered the album. De Weck said this was a great advantage, since his friend knew what result the band wanted.

Hush only had to pay for the album cover, but despite this financial advantage, de Weck said it would be difficult to make a living from his music in Switzerland.

A young talent

De Weck’s musical career began at the age of 16.

“A classmate who was playing drums asked me if I wanted to play music with him,” de Weck said. “After buying a bass guitar, I realised for the first time in my life that I could produce the same music I was hearing on the radio.”

However, he gave up the bass guitar because he found it monotonous. He also found it hard to sing and play a rhythmical instrument at the same time.

De Weck’s apprenticeship was marked by experimentation, practice with other musicians, and an absence of formal lessons.

“I don’t say that it’s better to learn on your own, but it allows you to establish your own personality.”

Hush’s history

Hush was founded in 1994, but it wasn’t until 1998 that the bass player, Sasha Ruffieux, joined the band.

“I need someone who drags me forward, and Sasha’s doing just that.”

De Weck initially sang in French, but gave it up for English. He found it easier to express himself in that language, and thought it would be an asset when playing abroad.

by Jeff Nottage