So, why the name “Yuri Cosmonaut” for a Swiss music project?
Yuri Cosmonaut: Well, you see, Yuri Gagarin was my childhood hero. I mean, can you think of a greater hero than him? The guy strapped himself onto a rocket and blasted into space when we didn’t even have color television. Plus, I’ve always had a soft spot for Russia… or the Soviet Union back then. I even cheered for Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. And, my dad was a trade union secretary, so socialism was kind of our jam. And it still is today!
Who or what is behind the project?
“Yuri Cosmonaut” is basically just me, tinkering away with electronic music. But I love getting my buddies involved. We used to be DJs, you know, spinning records and having a blast. Our main inspiration? Definitely Kraftwerk. And since we’re all from the house and techno scene, that ’80s and ’90s vibe is woven into our tunes.
What instruments do you mainly use?
I’m all about that raw sound of old Soviet synthesizers. My track “Living in Moscow” is a perfect example. I’m rocking the Formanta Polivoks and the Estradin 230. And for that classic beat, I’m all in with the TR-808. Lately, I’ve been playing around with Arturia’s “Pigments” plugin. It’s a blast!
Is Yuri Cosmonaut also available for live concerts?
Absolutely! Picture this: a multimedia extravaganza, with Soviet space footage and groovy beats. I’ve got tons of cool material from the archives. A live gig? Count me in! Maybe I’ll even launch my next project—a killer video show. Stay tuned! 😄🚀
What music do you listen to?
Ah, my taste is as diverse as the Milky Way. When I’m feeling nostalgic, it’s Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and Yello all the way. But for those quieter moments, I drift towards Federico Albanese’s compositions or the haunting melodies of Jóhann Jóhannsson. And for something fresh, I’m digging the vibe from Johnny Jewel’s projects like Desire, Chromatics, and Symmetry.
But hey, why take my word for it? Dive into the sonic cosmos yourself with my Spotify playlist:
