fANNtastic vibes "Cha da Fö" in Waltensburg

Cha da Fö cooks again
Cha da Fö is on the road again. With his solo project, the songwriter, guitarist and singer Roland Vögtli, who grew up in the Engadin, returns to the roots of his musical path: to simple, honest songs "from the chest", as he says. Music without frills, which do not require a show and big stages, but rather the intimacy of the encounter on a small scale. Songs like you would play in the kitchen at home, Cha da Fö.


Cha da Fö has accompanied Roland Vögtli since the beginning of his career as his musical solo companion. Vögtli also celebrated success with bands AndaRojo and NAU, released albums and toured South America. In 2014, he released the debut album "Automatic" with Cha da Fö with percussionist and singer Maria Moling, guitarist Andi Schnoz, drummer Rolf Caflisch and bassist Rees Coray. With Maria Moling, Vögtli took the big leap under the name "Me + Marie". They released two albums – "One Eyed Love" (2016), "Double Purpose" (2018) – toured Europe and played on big stages. Then came the collapse. "What my head didn't want to see, my body made me feel: This is not my way," he says. The band is disbanded, Vögtli is drawn back to the mountains, away from the circus with the big stages and the bustling touring life. "I had to get my feet back on the ground." Silence, nature, seclusion. And no more music – "Making music caused me physical pain". It moves almost all instruments, amplifiers and devices.

The new chapter begins with a baritone ukulele that his wife Jelscha gives him for his 40th birthday. After 2 years, he has an instrument in his hands for the first time. Slowly the joy returns, melodies begin to play in his head again, while in the evenings he sits alone with guitar and amplifier in front of his caravan.
"There it was again, it felt good again for the first time in years." The melodies are followed by pictures, the pictures by scraps of lyrics and soon the first songs. With his friend Pascal Gamboni, Vögtli will record his song "Helicopterin" in 2023, which will be released in the summer of 2024.
And Vögtli is drawn back to the stage, to the small stage: Cha da Fö, only Vögtli, a bass drum, a guitar and amplifiers – "and much, far too much reverb". And his new songs, which were created last year.


It is not supposed to be a show, quite the opposite. His music should be something sacred, for him and the audience, an intimate encounter. An invitation to his musical world, to his kitchen, Cha da Fö.