Ahead of a career-defining UK run and their Bloodstock main stage debut, Paleface Swiss break down their unstoppable rise, the emotional weight behind their sound, and why they’ll never stop being “just us, having fun.”
Words by Tanita Hingerty | June 30, 2025
As Paleface Swiss gear up for their bigggest UK tour and spot at this years Bloodstock Festival we took some time to catch up with vocalist Zelli and the rest of Paleface Swiss who opened up about the band’s rapid rise from DIY beginnings to international recognition. With their explosive energy, emotional honesty, and genre-defying approach, Paleface Swiss are carving out a space all their own in the global heavy music scene. Zelli reflected on standout tour moments, the creative process behind their deluxe album Cursed (The Complete Edition), and what it means to build something meaningful with their fans, one chaotic show at a time.
When asked about their highlight performances from recent headline shows, Zelli was quick to point to their hometown show in Zurich. The band hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming response from their Swiss supporters, describing the crowd as having gone “beyond their expectations.”
Another unforgettable night was their intimate show in Mexico City, which Zelli called “mind-blowing and incredible.” He recalled the intensity of a room packed with 300 to 400 fans singing “every single fucking word” so loudly it brought the entire band to tears on stage. They expressed deep gratitude to the fans and hope to return soon for a larger show.
Madrid and London were also marked as major moments. “Madrid was pure energy and pure singalongs,” Zelli said, noting how both cities delivered something truly special.
Looking ahead, Paleface Swiss have tour dates scheduled in Australia and Thailand, trips the band is eagerly anticipating. “We never got to travel when we were younger, with our families or whatever,” Zelli shared. “So it feels like a vacation, too. Getting to travel and see the world with your best friends is really sick.”
The band is also set to perform on the Ronnie James Dio Stage at the UK’s Bloodstock Festival this year, an exciting first. “It’s our first ever UK festival,” said Zelli. “Festival season is always my favourite season. I love going to festivals as well as performing. Bloodstock will be a big moment for us for sure.” (Since the interview, they’ve announced additional UK and Ireland tour dates, further expanding their reach).
Known for a live show that’s been described as “incomparable,” Zelli had a simple summary of what fans can expect: “Pure chaos, pure energy, and pure passion.”
Their deluxe record Cursed (The Complete Edition) is out now on all major streaming platforms, with physical copies releasing on July 18. When asked about the creative process behind it, Zelli reflected on the band’s first focused writing retreat. “It was the first time we flew somewhere and were only focusing on the music,” he said. “Before, we’d make music after our day jobs in the evening. This time we took a couple weeks off and the quality turned out so much better. We didn’t set any boundaries—we tried everything we thought might sound cool. We don’t care about genres.”
Yannick, guitarist and producer, added, “The whole vibe we experienced is now on the album. After Cursed was released, we put out three more singles and wanted them on a physical release too—so we re-released the album with the new songs.”
Zelli emphasized that the decision to include the singles was a response to fan demand. “People wanted to have the singles on vinyl, so we put it all together. It’s a celebration of the old and the new—it now feels really complete.”
Visually, the album is marked by striking floral artwork, with each song tied to a symbolic flower. “I love florals and things that aren’t symmetrical,” said Zelli. “I wanted something beautiful to look at, with a really deep and not-so-beautiful meaning. We were tired of gore and horror visuals, even though I still love that. We combined flowers with sad and dark meanings. People seem to love it, which makes me really happy, because I’ve loved it from the beginning.”
Cursed debuted at #17 worldwide, #3 in the US, and #1 in the UK on Spotify [all without label backing]. “It’s crazy,” Zelli admitted. “We never expected that, to be honest. Everything is still self-released and DIY. There’s no plan, no release strategy, we just put things out and hope people connect with the music. That’s what matters most.”
Reflecting on the band’s rapid rise from underground to global attention, Yannick shared, “It wasn’t a transition we planned. We work so hard, we don’t even feel the steps, we’re hustling every day.”
Zelli added, “I’m not the best at enjoying specific moments. In my head, I’m always 25 steps ahead. I’m not good at reminiscing—we’re always running.”
What hasn’t changed, though, is the spirit of the band. “The fun and being stupid all the time,” they laughed. “The passion is still there since day one. We’ll never change, that’s our goal.”
Lyrically, their music is known for tackling intense and vulnerable topics with fearless honesty. “I’m not good at poetic lyrics,” Zelli said. “I’m straightforward, even with friends. I have a nickname in German that basically means I’m terrible at emotions. So I write lyrics the same way—honest. If I talk about suicide, I just say it. I don’t say ‘a butterfly flew into a river.’ I’m not good at that.”
Zelli explained that much of their lyrical content comes from the real-life experiences of those close to them. “We write for our friends, for the people who’ve been through things. We want to help them tell their stories.”
Yannick added, “On Fear & Dagger, people shared stories with us for the record. Cursed is more personal, what we’ve been through the last few years.”
Zelli continued, “We also use our platform to speak on what’s going on in the world. We give a voice to the people who don’t have one.”
The song “I Am a Cursed One” is a heartfelt tribute to their fans. “It’s about our recent headline tours and the memories we’ve made,” Yannick explained. “It’s for the fans.” Zelli added, “They call themselves ‘the cursed ones.’ We celebrate each other—what we’ve achieved together with our fans, friends, and family. We just want to say thank you.”
The accompanying music video features footage from shows around the world. “It’s the highlights of the tour,” Zelli said. “We added to it after each show. We tried to include as many people, friends, and fans as possible, to give that feeling that you have a place where you’re safe, at home, and can be yourself. That’s the message: everyone is welcome.”
When asked which track they’re most excited to play live, both immediately agreed: “Love Burns.”
As for future plans, Zelli shared some final thoughts on fan culture and artistic direction. “We’re open. We don’t hide much online. We are who we are, and we want to keep doing what makes us happy. If the next album is a pop record, that’s what we’ll do, because we’ll have fun doing it. We don’t want to be distracted by things that don’t matter.”
When asked what the future holds for Paleface Swiss, both Zelli and Yannick responded with the same, resounding word: “Everything.”
Grab your tickets to Paleface Swiss’ biggest ever UK tour here.
“Cursed (The Complete Edition)” is out now:
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