For people who might not know M.O.T.H.E.R. yet, how did it all begin?

Lenny: It really started back in 2019. I had just ended my fencing career after 14 years and suddenly found myself with a lot of free time. I was a bit lost, to be honest. Then I had a pretty bad bike accident, and that really hit me: life can be short, and you’d better spend it doing what you love. Around that time, I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and it completely reignited my passion for music. I picked up my guitar again after seven years without playing a note. I could barely form a chord, but the spark was back.
Adams: I started playing bass when I was 15 and never stopped. I played in school bands, local bands, you name it. Music was always there. When I joined M.O.T.H.E.R., it gave everything a new sense of purpose.

So how did you two actually meet?

Lenny: I met Ivo, our drummer, through a friend. He sent me a video of Ivo playing, and I was blown away. I thought, “Wow, that guy’s tight.” We met for a beer and jammed, and it just clicked. From the very first jam, we knew we had something.
Adams: I met Lenny completely by chance. I was walking to a jam session with my bass, and he passed me on his bike. About twenty seconds later he turned around, stopped, and asked, “Do you play bass?” He invited me to check out the band. At the time I was busy with another project, but after a few jams with them, I knew I had to join.
We started out rehearsing in one of those classic Swiss bunkers before finally getting our own space.
Lenny: The current lineup officially started in 2024. Our first show was in March at Eldorado, and the crowd reaction blew us away.
Adams: From the start, our mindset was simple: go big or go home.
Lenny: Exactly.

And what does the name M.O.T.H.E.R. mean to you?

Lenny: It stands for Mythical Organization That Honours Epic Rock. The name came first, kind of randomly, and later Ivo came up with the meaning. We all loved it, so it stayed.

Who or what inspired you to start making music?

Adams: I listened to a lot of The White Stripes and Nirvana growing up. I played in many different bands with all sorts of people, and each one influenced me in some way.
Lenny: My dad had a massive CD collection. When I was younger, I’d flip through it for hours. There was ZZ Top, AC/DC, Gary Moore… all the classics. My older brother played guitar, so I tried too, even though I was terrible at first. AC/DC was always playing at home. I loved Malcolm Young’s percussive rhythm playing. It taught me that groove is everything.

Are there any artists you really look up to, either in Switzerland or abroad?

Lenny: Definitely Gotthard. My dad was obsessed with them, and the Lipservice album pretty much defined hard rock for me. It was always blasting at home, and that sound stuck. It was my first real encounter with a great vocalist, and the guitar work definitely shaped my sound.
Adams: For me, it’s Züri West and Mani Matter. Mani is like the Swiss Bob Dylan in my eyes.

If you had to describe your music in three words, what would they be?

Lenny: The vibe dealers of Biel.
Adams: Diversity, good vibes, and rock and roll.
Lenny: Good music doesn’t have to be different to matter. If it’s good, it’s good. That should be enough.

What’s happening for the band right now? Any new releases or recordings coming up?

Adams: The big plan is to record our new album next spring. We’re thinking of calling it God’s Business.
Lenny: We’ve decided to stay fully independent. We don’t want a label interfering with the creative process. We’ve written around twelve songs so far and we’re still working on a few more. We’ll probably choose ten for the album.

How has this year been for you, both creatively and personally?

Lenny: Honestly, it’s been amazing. We hit the goals we set for ourselves. We played several festivals, met great people, got incredible feedback, and toured across Switzerland with a US band. Playing outside our home region and connecting with new audiences really meant a lot to us.

How do you feel about the Swiss music scene right now?

Adams: It’s alive and full of energy. There are so many cool bands and live shows happening all the time. Ivo is super active, always going to gigs and discovering new acts. Everyone we meet is friendly, passionate, and dedicated to their craft. It’s a good time to be part of it.

Do you think it’s easier or harder now to stand out as a Swiss artist?

Adams: I’d say harder. There’s more music out there than ever. The tools are accessible, and anyone can record something at home and upload it to Spotify in a day. That’s great for creativity, but it also means the scene is saturated. The global stage is tougher to reach, but locally it’s thriving. There’s more diversity, more passion, and more people doing it for the love of music.

What do you think the future holds for Swiss music?

Lenny: I see a shift back to authenticity. There are amazing bands right now (Basement Saints, Voltage Arc, and others) and they’re real. We live in a world full of fake stuff, but the craft of making something genuine is coming back. People are starting to crave that again.

What’s next for M.O.T.H.E.R.? Any projects or plans fans should know about?

Adams: We’re building this for the long run. In ten years, we want to be living off our music and growing a real community around it. Not just in Switzerland, but across Europe.

When are we finally getting an unplugged live recording of M.O.T.H.E.R.?

Lenny: Funny you ask. We actually already did one! We played an acoustic session at Radio Rabe for Lipstick.

Stay tuned for more Strings Attached interviews!