Behind the Scenes #22

Christoph «The Voice» Schwegler – the Voice of the Baloise Session

When Christoph Schwegler speaks, the hall falls silent. His distinctive baritone has shaped the Baloise Session for years as its off-voice. With his warm, sympathetic timbre, he has been setting the tone for countless legendary concerts and welcoming audiences for many years.

But the story of the Basel native has many more facets. In the new Backline Blog, the legendary radio host and passionate music lover looks back on his beginnings at Swiss Radio SRF, talks about spontaneous casting tests at Zurich’s «FERA,» and recalls how sound engineers were the first to notice that his voice was something special: «We don’t need a compressor or limiter for your voice — you do all of that yourself.»

Schwegler speaks about his mother’s jazz records, the rebellious spirit of rock music, and why, for him, the great song has always been at the center of everything. He remembers unforgettable Baloise Session moments with Ray Charles, Simply Red, and James Brown — who once asked him during soundcheck to announce his show on the spot, a true accolade for the man who has earned the nickname «The Voice» in Switzerland. At the same time, it becomes clear how critically Christoph Schwegler views streaming, playlists, and the loss of true musical curation—and why live music and analog concert experiences are more important to him today than ever before.

With its interview with Christoph Schwegler, the Backline Blog once again offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the Baloise Session and reveals the world of a man who, with passion, skill, and a big heart for music, has helped shape Switzerland’s radio, advertising, and event scene — including the Baloise Session itself.