TYLER HENRY

HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE MEDIUM HAS A NEW SHOW

BY STEVE GOTTFRIED

TYLER HENRY HAD HIS FIRST PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE BY AGE 10. By 19, he had his own reality TV series Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry which ran four seasons on E! Entertainment and put him on the map as the go-to medium for an eclectic assortment of celebrities that would include actors, rock stars, rappers, and Olympic athletes, many of them from the LGBTQ community. Part of the charm of the show was watching this decidedly un-Hollywood neophyte paired with celebrities whose work he often had no familiarity. It was a humbling reality check for celebrities accustomed to being recognized and fawned over, having to explain who they are. As Tyler would begin his trademark scribbling - a process which helps him connect with spirit - messages would come through from their loved ones.

It wasn’t long before jaws were dropping, tears flowing and skeptics turning into believers. Think what you will about mediums, it’s hard to argue with the level of success he’s had with two reality TV series, a live tour, two national best-selling books and a waiting list of 300,000 for private one-on-one readings. I had the opportunity to sit down for a Zoom chat with the spirit world’s favorite millennial to discuss a wide range of topics from his new TV show dropping in early 2022, for an as-yet-to-be-disclosed streaming service, the bombshell discovery about his own family, a recent health scare which required emergency surgery, and other cosmic quandaries like who he’d like to play him on Saturday Night Live.

My new show is very different from Hollywood Medium. This one really shows the ins and outs of my everyday life, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep at night. It’s caught me in some of the most vulnerable moments of my life. Because of COVID, we had been doing it virtually which was interesting. I was able to do readings for people across the country, just everyday people, not celebrities like I’d done on Hollywood Medium. And that was really gratifying, to be able to read people who really needed it from different parts of the world. Once it was safe, I was able to travel and knock on people’s doors and surprise them and have meaningful moments.

Do you miss reading celebrities?

I don’t miss it a single bit. There’s a lot less ego involved. It’s a lot easier for me to read everyday people, and I just enjoy it more. It’s where I started and where my passion has always been.

Tyler also revealed that he got some unexpected revelations about his own life while shooting his new show.

I discovered that my mom was taken as a child from her biological parents. So, the show documented how this kind of happened as I figured out who my real family was. The woman who took my mom ended up being a convicted murderer who killed two people and went to prison for 30 years. It has been a very interesting journey to say the least. I had a feeling that it was very possible that the woman wasn’t my mom’s biological mother. But anytime I would mention it to her, she would say, “Oh no, but we look too much alike, so we have to be related.” But I had gut feelings throughout my childhood that something was kind of off. It wasn’t until we took a 23andMe test and got the genetic results, where I came back Italian and realized “uh oh, I thought I was French.” So, it just goes to show, mediums don’t know everything. There are still blind spots where it can be difficult to read ourselves.

Speaking of blind spots, while Tyler also is a medical intuitive, meaning he’s able to detect health issues in people he’s reading, his own health scare in early 2020, took him completely by surprise.

I was getting ready to do a live show and was actually lying in bed and I felt some chest pain and very quickly realized it was not the result of a spirit coming through. It was a medical thing. I was rushed to the hospital, went into emergency surgery and they found that my lung had basically been resting near my heart. I was in bad shape. They told me I had the lungs of a 70-year-old. Which was not reassuring. But I suspect that I had COVID very early on and that might have been why my lung collapsed in the first place. Even to this day, I’m still kind of healing and processing all that, and I still get shortness of breath.

How is the taping schedule for your show? Is that wearing on you?

It’s been good. We finished up a few months ago, but it was a very intensive schedule. They really packed in as many readings as they could in a short period. The readings do take a lot out of me, so I’ve had to pace myself. When I must do seven in a week, by the seventh one I’m ready to tap out. But I do think it makes me better at what I do, and I find that growth is on the other side of my comfort zone. Not knowing who I’m reading entails handling a certain level of discomfort on a regular basis. So that’s been a big part of my job - just trusting that what will happen will happen.

Seeing as how Tyler was only 19 when he started his first TV show and from a conservative background, I was curious to find out how his sexual orientation was addressed.

Being gay was acknowledged from the get-go on the show in scenes with my mom and Charlie (the driver), however it was never much of a focus because Hollywood Medium was 95% readings and celebrity stories. Producers always encouraged me to be myself. Everyone involved insisted on keeping everything real, and with that convey the honest reality of a person new to Hollywood with a unique talent who just happens to be gay. Though not everyone can relate to being a medium, everyone can relate to feeling like an outsider at some point. To embrace what makes us different requires courage to be who we are despite those who don’t understand us. Sticking true to that individuality allowed me to share four seasons of an incredible show that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible if I stayed in the psychic closet. Being able to convey who I was in my orientation made sharing that vulnerability even more meaningful.

Tyler tells me that it is important to be true to himself and to honor what makes him different from the people around him, and that the same sentiment applies to being a medium as it does to being gay.

I had to honor who I was and what I felt organically despite criticism, despite people not being supportive. If anything, being gay was a good trial run for some of the difficulties I would deal with coming out of the psychic closet. If anything, it’s just made me more of an individual, more myself, and I love that. When we can honor who we are, there’s great power in that. Similarly, with being gay and being a medium, these were things I was bullied for. Yet today those are the very things people applaud me for. That was only the result of having the courage to embrace those things.

It seems only natural that, after all the work Tyler has done delivering messages from the spirit world that the dearly departed would show their appreciation. Tyler explains that’s how he met his soul mate, Clint Godwin.

Clint’s grandfather had passed away tragically shortly before we met. Clint contacted me. I gave him a reading and relayed why his grandfather had passed away. He sadly took his own life. I just shared the reasoning that came through with him and he validated that had been what his family had long suspected. And from there we just had an immediate bond. I knew the second I saw him. I

was like, this is my person. And that’s only grown stronger every day over five years now. I think it’s very necessary with the nature of my job to have a strong support system when I come home. My boyfriend has just been the best human being on the planet. I am very lucky.

Tyler goes on to explain their dynamic and what makes the relationship work.

I would say, if anything he very much is not Hollywood. He’s not about fame. He’s not interested in attention. He likes to fly under the radar. Which is good, especially because so much attention, both good and bad, gets placed on me, he very much is just kind of quietly supportive, which is really helpful. We’re both very similar in a lot of ways. We’re very quiet, we like our alone time. We don’t have a big social circle. I think it does help to be intuitive in any relationship. And for me, it really has served me throughout my life to get a sense of who is going to resonate in the long run and maybe who isn’t. I certainly don’t get any shortcuts because I’m a medium. But with our relationship, it has been very helpful.

In terms of the afterlife, are there consequences for people who do bad things?

I would say everyone who’s ever come through seems to acknowledge they’ve gone through a process. I call this process a life review. I believe every consciousness sees the ripple effect of how their actions and inactions affect the greater collective. Whether you lived in this life with a conscience or not, I believe when we transition, we see the impact that we’ve had for better or for worse. And we must come to terms with it. I don’t believe it comes from a place of punishment from a judgmental God. I just really believe it’s the result of learning and the result of consciousness expanding in its awareness. So, you can think of it in this life like a drop of water and then when we transition, we kind of become like a vast ocean of consciousness. I think that ultimately lends some degree of acceptance about how we lived and how we died. And through that acceptance they find peace on the other side. But I believe it’s really through that process of understanding

that they get there. When we think of punishment or justice, I do think it’s a little more complicated and nuanced than heaven or hell. But there certainly is an accountability that seems to come through resoundingly. And I’ve brought through a lot of people – and some people who maybe didn’t live the best lives or did things that were not kind – and I do believe they reckon with that when they pass away.

Does Tyler filter what comes through on his readings?

There are definitely times where I have a hard time conveying what I need to say. I liken my job to that of a mailman in the sense that I don’t write the letters, I just deliver the message. So, I view it as a responsibility not only to the living person but also the departed person to deliver what I’m getting in a way that’s going to click with the person I’m reading. In a way that will do the message justice, so to speak. And so, with that, I have to kind of not filter myself, but simultaneously be diplomatic and considerate of people’s emotions and feelings and what they might be going through. It is a fine line, and I am always learning and growing and figuring out how to do that better. I think I kind of got thrust into a situation very early on as a teenager, being 19 years old and then getting a TV show where I was put in situations where I had to navigate some very serious topics that required a lot of diplomacy. I don’t think I had the maturity to the extent that I will 10 or 20 years from now. But I do my best.

In 2016, Tyler read Matt Lauer, and was aware of what was coming. For those unfamiliar with the story, Matt Lauer was fired as the anchor of NBC’s Today amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

I said to Matt that his father was coming through, saying he would need to step away from his current job. And then I gave the month in which he needed to step away. And I said, you know, this is just necessary. So that’s kind of the inside scoop. In all honesty, I didn’t fully know why. I was just kind of relaying this change that I saw happening and around the time in which it would. And we obviously know the rest of that story. It’s also not my job to judge the person I’m reading. What I’ve learned is that everybody is human. Everybody has things they’re not proud of, everybody has things they can do better. And when I’m reading somebody, I must come from a place of compassion despite what’s going on in that person’s life. And that can be the most challenging part – not applying judgment to what I might be seeing or feeling.

Do you get recognized a lot when you’re out in public?

A good amount. Even with a mask on, I think my voice is so “up here,” people are like “oh it’s you!” And then you know I’m very smiley, you know I smile with my eyes. So, people recognize that a lot. But I love it and it’s nice to see the impact the E! show [Hollywood Medium] had on people. It’s so much more than just like “oh, I’m a fan.” It’s more about what the work represents.

Being a public figure in anything ideological – be it politics or religion – is very polarizing. What I do falls into the religious category for a lot of people. And so, I’ve had to deal with a lot of criticism. And that can be very painful. Being under a microscope. But I have to remember why I do the work, why I started when I was 16. I was graduating early and trying to become a hospice nurse. For me, it has always been about leaving people better than I found them. And that’s never changed. I try to focus on that, but it can be very difficult.

The grieving process when someone dies is a natural process of mourning a person’s physical absence. But it can certainly be a very hard process for many.

I think it’s normal to grieve the physical absence of a person. I always say readings are never a replacement for the loved one being here. They may substantiate the idea that there’s a continuation of consciousness. Grief is a natural part of life and sadly suffering is a very real part of life. In my own life I have experienced great grief – physical loss. I have not wanted to get out of bed in the morning because I’ve lost someone or an animal. And that’s coming from a medium. I think grief is a natural process of mourning that physical absence – even if you know that there’s a spiritual connection. It may dampen the blow a little bit, but it certainly doesn’t act as a replacement for their presence.

Tyler’s interview with the one and only Larry King, was like a tennis match. I remember watching that interview and feeling like I was on the edge of my seat because the questions kept coming, one after another. Tyler seemed unflappable.

We got off on a very interesting foot. I went into the restroom right before my interview. I open the door and see this shadowy figure standing there, holding something … and he turns around and it’s Larry King peeing. I looked at him, he looked at me, and we both screamed. Then he said, “Tyler, I thought you were psychic. You should know I was in here.” Not only did I have to see Larry in that position, but then I had to go into an interview with him. That was how we met, and it will forever be seared into my consciousness. Obviously, he’s an icon and skepticism was an important part of his life just by virtue of being a journalist. And I didn’t mind that one bit. I think he asked some great questions that a lot of people never did. He was supposed to be a guest on my show during Season 4, but Larry passed away before we got the chance to do it unfortunately. He was a lovely man. He spent his whole life pursuing answers. And so, I hope wherever he is at, he got them.

After some weighty topics, I decided to end things on a light note by asking Tyler if he’s ever been parodied on Saturday Night Live. He replied that he hadn’t, but that he’d consider it an honor. When I asked which cast member he’d like to impersonate him, he didn’t hesitate.

Oh Kate McKinnon, absolutely. She’s got the hair. ■

BODY

GET INTO THE HOLIDAY GROOMING GROOVE

HOLIDAY GIFT SETS

TO PAMPER YOURSELF OR YOUR FRIENDS

BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US AND IF GROOMING GIFTS AREN’T ON YOUR RADAR, IT’S TIME TO PAY ATTENTION. While the Zooms of 2021 are ending, that blue light has really done a number on us. We’ve investigated a wide range of kits, sets, duos, and even a variety of Advent calendars to not only get you holiday spirit, but pamper you along the way. Regardless of whether you’re shopping for friends, family, lovers, or yourself, we’ve got you covered. BULLDOG SKINCARE TRIO SET

www.us.bulldogskincare.com $19.99

Step up your skincare game this holiday season with Bulldog’s Skincare Trio set. Bulldog is known for their fresh products that help you to feel healthy and get clean without much effort. Lather up their Original Face Wash and get up close and personal with the Original Shave Gel before finishing off with the Original Moisturizer that will leave your skin ready to trim the tree, fire up the Yule Log, or head out for some caroling with family and friends. These products are great for normal skin, and include aloe vera, camelina oil, and green tea.

CEYLON SKINCARE SET

www.ceylonskincare.com $85.00

Patrick Boateng II, Founder, Ceylon by Anim Labs created the Ceylon (named after Ceylon tea, one of the original ingredients) as a company dedicated to providing the best possible skincare products for men of color worldwide. Ceylon’s skin regimen, perfect for pigmented skin and those struggling with common skin problems, includes their facial wash, facial toner, and facial moisturizer. This gift set is a wonderful starter package, intended as a skin regimen for twice-daily usage.

CHAPSTICK 12 DAYS CALENDAR

www.chapstick.com $14.99

Pucker up, ChapStick’s 12 Days Holiday Advent Calendar includes twelve assorted flavors of both classic and holiday favorites to countdown to the holiday of your choice. This lip balm advent calendar allows you to get in the holiday spirit with Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Pumpkin Pie, Holiday Cocoa, and more. Each holiday lip balm tube is perfect for stashing in your coat pocket, backpack, desk drawer, or man purse so you have it ready whenever your lips feel dry. Tuck this fun Christmas-themed box right under the tree with a big bow or let it make a stocking pop this holiday season.

EVERY MAN JACK CEDARWOOD BODY KIT

www.everymanjack.com $15

Every Man Jack’s 2021 body kits come in several different sets including Cedarwood, Crimson Oak, and Sandalwood. Their Cedarwood includes outdoor-inspired scents for an “awesome clean” with notes of cedarwood, rosemary, and sage. The Cedarwood Body Kit includes a full-size body wash, 2-in-1 shampoo, and aluminum-free deodorant. Need to update your dopp kit? Every Man Jack is also offering $15 Dopp Body kits in Aged Bourbon, Sea Salt, Cedarwood, and Sandalwood. DR. BARBARA STURM’S ADVENT CALENDAR 2021

www.drsturm.com $495.00

Why not dabble in excess this holiday season? Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Advent Calendar for 2021 features a selection of Dr. Sturm’s most loved products including their cleanser, lip balm, face cream, face mask, eye cream, brightening serum, night cleanser, glow drops, and more. Inspired by her mother’s advent calendars, each door opens to reveal a skincare surprise for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas Day.

FREDERICK BENJAMIN THE HAIR REGIMEN

www.shop.frederickbenjamin.com $30

Stock up on Frederick Benjamin’s 3-step best-selling routine, the Hair Regimen. This set includes an invigorating Shampoo, Conditioner, and Daily Hydrator Styling Creme. What’s that great smell? Products in this set smells incredible because they feature spearmint oil, clove oil, nettle oil, and hemp seed oil. Say goodbye to that itchy scalp in the new year!

GAGE FOR MEN GREENER AND CLEANER SET

www.gageformen.com $36

This set includes the GAGE for Men Daily Shampoo and Conditioner plus a free travel kit with a neoprene bag, two refillable 2 fl. oz. bottles, and a marker. Planning on traveling after the holidays? This set has you covered. GAGE for Men founder Bennie Pollard’s product line features easy-to-use hair care products which can create any look in a jiffy.

J.R. WATKINS AWAKEN BATH REGIMEN

www.jrwatkins.com $59.96

J.R. Watkins has delivered potent, plant-based home and body remedies, crafted with North American ingredients since 1868. Their Awaken Bath Regimen, crafted to stimulate and awaken the senses, is a real treat for the winter months. Wake up from the cold with their Creamy Body Wash, Aromatherapy In-Shower Mist, Bath Elixir, and dry off before lathering on their nourishing Sugar Body Polish. High-quality ingredients include bergamot, coriander, jojoba, cactus water, and more! Upgrade your pampering this holiday season. JACK BLACK THE BEST OF JACK

www.getjackblack.com $20

Jack Black upped their holiday game this season with a whopping ten limited edition gift sets to fill your loved one’s stockings. “Keep cool and carry on” this holiday season with the best of Jack Black holiday gift set. This collection includes Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser (their best-selling body wash), Cool Moisture Body Lotion, and the award-winning Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25. Just open the box and feel energized, clean, protected, and greatly appreciated through the new year. For more lip attention, The Balm Squad ($25) is a well-rounded collection of four lip balms including Natural Mint & Shea Butter, Limited Edition Mango & Mandarin, Limited Edition Lavender Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25, & NightMode Lip Therapy. Start 2022 off with perfectly moisturized lips!

GENTLEMEN’S HARDWARE BEARD SURVIVAL KIT

www.gentlemenshardware.com $27

Ready to tame your mane? The Beard Survival Kit from Gentlemen’s Hardware is a quality way to cleanse, tame, and nourish your facial hair. Packaged in a stylish reusable tin (perfect for small holiday ornaments), this set contains a Beard Wash, Beard Oil, and a unique angled wooden Beard Comb. Wash away everyday dirt as you smooth and detangle the beard and finish off with a nourishing and high-quality Beard Oil. This kit is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, with recyclable metal tubes and packaging. Hitting the road for the holidays? These travel-friendly products will fit perfectly in your carry-on.

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 LIMITED EDITION HOLIDAY ADVENT CALENDAR

www.kiehls.com $99

Kiehl’s Since 1851 is celebrating its 170th holiday season with a collection of the brand’s most beloved skincare products encased in whimsical, limited-edition packaging designed by partnering artist Marylou Faure. The collection houses iconic Kiehl’s formulas including cleanser, face masks, facial serums, moisturizers, and more. Open a door from December 1st through December 24th to reveal a small gift hidden inside. This set is literally chock full of goodies to tackle the most comprehensive skincare holiday list including Kiehl’s newest products like the popular Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Microdose Serum. It’s literally $250 worth of products for just $99. NATURA 12 DAYS OF CARE ADVENT CALENDAR

www.naturabrasil.com $78

Natura, established in 1969, is a Brazilian global cosmetics and personal care company that is devoted to conserving the Amazon rainforest and believes in caring for people and the planet. This festive decorative box with 12 days of haircare, skincare, and body care is a wonderful surprise for the season. Pop a little gift out each day for 12 wonderful selections of body care products made from ethically sourced ingredients from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. Products include their Acai Hand Cream, Patauá Strengthening Shampoo, Chronos Firming and Radiance Face Cream, and Murumuru Restoring Conditioner.

LA CHATELAINE SOAP SUPPLY FOR MEN

www.lachatelainebeauty.com $78

We gasped and clutched our fake pearls when opening this soap set, perfect for the man in your life who could use a little pampering. La Chatelaine’s soaps are 100% pure vegetable-based soaps crafted in Provence with ethically sourced natural and organic ingredients. Blended with porganic shea butter, organic calendula, organic argan oil, and vitamin E, these soaps will protect and nourish the skin. Fragrances include Deep Blue Sea, Sandalwood, Citrus Zest, Moroccan Mint, Vetiver Cedar, and Bourgon Vanilla for any kind of mood. Lather up, boys!

PAYOT PARIS BLUE TECHNI LISS SET

www.us.payot.com $110

Is Zoom fatigue getting you down? PAYOT Paris understands that blue light exposure is an important matter to take seriously. The PAYOT Paris Blue Techni Liss collection shields skin from blue light and repairs any damage that’s been done. Included in the sleek holiday pouch is Blue Techni Liss Jour Day Cream, Blue Techni Liss Regard Eye Gel, and a soothing Blue Techni Liss Chromo Peeling Mask. Speed up cell regeneration with this set that responds to our skincare needs so you can log into your next video meeting with confidence.

PAYOT PARIS ADVENT CALENDAR

www.us.payot.com $90

The stars have aligned with the 2021 PAYOT Paris Advent Calendar. The pale-blue gift box is adorned with twinkling stars, a crescent moon, and a gilded sun. After this year we all could use a little blessing, and this gift, an homage to our solar system and all its magical possibilities, gets everything right. Open the adorable, dated doors to find twenty-four mini PAYOT surprises nestled inside the calendar, including a Bubble Mask for peeling, Masque Blue Techni Liss WeekEnd, Pâte Grise Blotting Papers, and travel-sizes of bestsellers like My Payot Crème Glow and Eau Micellaire Express. With over $260 worth of products for just $90 this calendar is one that will move quickly! NATURA BISSÉ DIAMOND WELL-LIVING DUO

www.naturabisse.com $110

Need a reset? Turn a page on a whole new you with the transformative Diamond Well-Living duo this holiday season. Check into the spa in the comfort of your home with the vibrant ginger fragrance of Diamond WellLiving The Body Scrub paired with Diamond Well-Living The Dry Oil Detox - a wonderful body oil that intensely nourishes the skin while restoring. Exfoliate with Dead Sea salt crystals to remineralize the skin then follow up with a seaweed blended with chia seed, grape seed, and sunflower oils for intense hydration. If you’re looking to really shake up your routine, the Natura Bissé Essential Shock Intense Line set is just the right kit. This special combo set will help reveal a hydrated, firm, and revitalized complexion for you to reveal on New Year’s Eve. Fortified with natural collagen and elastin amino acids, this pair includes the Essential Shock Intense Cream and Essential Shock Intense Eye & Lip, a specific eye and lip contour cream to help minimize the appearance of signs of aging in this delicate area.

SUSANNE KAUFMANN 2021 ADVENT CALENDAR

www.susannekaufmann.com $586

Susanne Kaufmann have been pioneers in sustainable, natural skincare since 2003. The brand combines Founder Susanne Kaufmann’s expertise in natural ingredients and skincare philosophy with her values for innovation and sustainable living. This year’s advent calendar features a broad array of best-selling, award-winning skincare paired with a selection of body and bath products that are curated and ready to be opened in anticipation of Santa’s arrival. Some selections in the calendar include the Hyaluron Serum Moisturizing, Body Oil, Warming Foot Cream, Mineral Body Lotion, Eye Rescue Stick and Eye Cream Line T feature in full-size. The calendar is luxurious, recyclable, with products packaged in recyclable glass, sourced in Germany. Go ahead and splurge this holiday season, you and your loved ones deserve some extra cheer to close out the year.

A PLACE IN THE CLOUDS

THIS QUAINT SWISS DESTINATION KNOWN FOR ITS SKI SLOPES AND WINE MAKING HAS A FEW OTHER CULTURAL TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE DURING THE OFF-SEASON BY MEGAN VENZIN

Valais Blacknose sheep in Valais on a rainy summer day. Photo by Schame

Bisse Du Ro. Photo by David Carlier THE AIR JUST TASTES BETTER IN THE ALPS. THERE IS A DISTINCT CRISPNESS THAT LINGERS ON THE TONGUE AND AWAKENS THE NOSE. Each bite is a bit more savory. Every scent’s a bit sweeter. Surely elevation plays a role in that sterling quality - a few days spent among the jagged vistas are invigorating in ways that feel foreign to city folk like ourselves. A few hours after we’ve touched down in Europe and it’s clear: we’re far too accustomed to trudging down bustling avenues packed with taxi cabs and freight trucks. Why do we accept that the smog we inhale is simply an accessory to the metropolitan lifestyle? Really, that’s just how it is? Maybe it doesn’t have to be. In Valais, a municipality located two hours outside of Geneva, Switzerland by train, these gas-guzzling vehicles are few and far between. In the bucolic resort town of Crans-Montana, commuting is as simple as popping into a bubble lift and hopping off at a designated plateau along the tree-lined gradient that overlooks rows of quaint, low-rise structures below. Make sure to watch your step - these globe-shaped transporters never make complete stops, but some would say that’s half the fun of riding (the other half is peering upon frosty peaks that pierce clear, blue skies.) Lovers of snow sports, French-inspired gastronomy and designer shopping will be hard pressed to find a better vacation spot than this lake set village, which also happens to be just a short journey away from the sustainable pastures of Colombier. In this preserved society, tourists can stay over in traditional chalets and watch Swiss farmers herd the very livestock that produce the

Lee Burridge at Caprices. Photo by David Holderbach

Colombire. Photo by Retouchées

creamy foundations of the region’s signature raclette. On these grounds, massive wheels age patiently in humble cheese caves until hungry visitors come back to indulge in a hearty, post-hike meal.

We do eventually embark on one of those outings, and don’t worry, we’ll revel in that lactose-laced experience later. But to start, Metrosource descends upon the lesser-known Swiss hideaway Crans-Montana for louder reasons.

For the past 18 years, music lovers have traveled across the globe to experience Caprices Festival, and even as the planet fights its way out of a lengthy pandemic, that tradition lives on. And now, we’re a part of it.

This one-of-a-kind gathering started as a haven for live music nearly two decades ago, and as tastes and trends transformed, so did the beloved event’s sonic offerings. Today, Caprices is for the house heads of the world - fans of all things deep, soulful, minimal, and disco-tinged. Techno’s a vibe, too. Audiophiles who enjoy the opposite side of that stylistic spectrum are the same beat-seekers who spend long weekends losing themselves in the queer parties and hedonistic halls of the hallowed Berghain nightclub. In fact, many of the artists on this year’s lineup - among them Ben Klock, Apollonia and Marco Bailey - grace the decks at the salacious Berlin nightlife monolith.

This week the surroundings are a bit softer, but don’t be fooled. The drilling claps and lighting fast BPMs are still mercilessly satisfying.

Playing tunes geared toward the former ilk is Modernity Events resident Giorgio Maulini, an artist and Crans-Montana transport known for his vinylonly sets and dreamy lounge-house productions.

“After so much time [spent] not seeing our music industry buddies, it felt

A cable car at the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland in the sunset. Photo by Elizabeth Wirth great to all be together joking, having a couple of drinks, and listening to some of the finest artists in the game,” he shares with enthusiasm in his voice. He’s feeling optimistic after emerging from a lengthy lockdown that left many largescale events cancelled or limited the year prior. “It is awesome also to share this experience with fans, the public and everyone attending the festival because they charge the whole place with this beautiful energy demonstrating why electronic music events are so important in our culture.”

The festival’s three unique stages brim with the free-spirited folks Maulini mentions. Compared to those at other European bashes, this bunch possesses a certain lighthearted nature that we find irresistible. Caprices offers a welcome contrast to the sometimes moody, intense themes that permeate packed underground haunts in spots like Amsterdam and Paris - in other words, we feel amongst our silly flock here in the hills.

Perhaps, they’re driven by the unbridled joy that fellow festival goers emanate as they shimmy their way toward their first dancefloor back? Or maybe the Swiss locals are an inherently effervescent crew, dawning two-piece suits plastered in colorful all-over prints, tiny purple sombreros, and mile-wide smiles. We must say these are some of the most accepting new friends we’ve met as of late. We are in our zone.

The Yellow Heads at Caprices. Photo by David Holderbach

“People from all around the world, no matter their sexual orientation, color, class, religion, culture, origin, political thoughts are just getting together to dance under the same roof united by love,” Maulini says with pride as he describes the type of crowd one might find at the annual celebration. “Sincerely, the world needs way more of this. That’s what makes me have faith in the future of humanity and in a healthy, tolerant and inclusive society.”

Caprice runs for two consecutive weekends, and for the more than 2,500 attendees who make the tune-fueled pilgrimage it proves to be an airy, COVID-safe bash. Attendees must provide full proof of vaccination or take a rapid test before soaring 2,200 meters upwards toward the transparent Modernity Stage where internationally renowned artists like Lee Burridge, DJ Tennis and WhoMadeWho dazzle crowds with their unique discographies which range in style from party-ready breakbeats to playa-tinged live sets. A quick excursion beyond the tent’s seethrough walls offers unforgettable scenes of the range’s most famous summits, which kiss the clouds in plain view. Words simply cannot do this place justice, but Maulini gives it a shot.

“From our Modernity Stage you can see Zermatt, Mont-Blanc, Weisshorn and the glacier of The PlaineMort just to name a few,” he shares passionately. “We are so deep into nature that it makes it hard to believe that there is actually a music festival happening at this spot.” He’s not lying - tucked far above the pedestrian-filled sidewalks, only ticket holders can feel the telltale vibrations of bass beneath their boots. “I always believed that being surrounded by nature is how humans find their true selves,” Maulini goes on. “For artists and fans, it really becomes a one-ofa-kind experience because the connection you feel

Caprices Festival

Caprices Festival among nature has a direct impact on how you feel towards others and yourself. It is a positive energy recharging experience, and the music is the universal language through which we can all understand and communicate with each other.”

Maulini gives the impression that he’s a product of the mountains, but he spent his youth in his native country of Venezuela. His first visit to Crans-Montana 10 years ago proved to be a life-changing one, and he now serves as a ski guide during the high holiday season when Caprices typically takes place (in 2021 it took place in September due to COVID-19.) “Every year I still get surprised by the wonders of these snowy mountains,” he shares wistfully. “Don’t miss the April edition of Caprices if you want to witness this for yourself.” We second that recommendation.

Though we’re tempted to push ourselves at the Signal or Forest Stages which run until 5am and feature stage partners from festivals around the world such as Detroit Movement, TechnoV and Sunwaves, we make the reasonable choice to call it an early night on Friday.

When morning comes, we take breakfast at the aweinspiring Hotel Royale. The intricate wooden facade makes the outside of these luxury accommodations look almost like a toy model, like something that was painstakingly whittled in a worker’s shop. There are only a few minutes to admire the supreme craftsmanship before we start a winding drive that brings us to the town of Sion where we meet our tour guide Nathalie who gives us a lesson on the area’s present, past, and future.

We watch a herd of huge black cows and bulls scale the hillside with a grace unexpected of such large beasts. Massive bells on their necks rattle and echo across the landscape, generating an enchanting symphony that rings like a tribute to simpler times.

“They can recognize the sound of their own bells,” Nathalie explains. “And if they get lost, the bells help the farmers find them, and bring them home.” A cacophony builds as the animals enter trailers that will be used to transport them to lusher lowlands. “It’s the end of the season,” Nathalie continues. “So now, they must go somewhere else to eat.”

We’ll also be going somewhere else before we can eat. Nathalie, who reveals with some reluctance that she serves as a police officer by day (“I never like to say,” she says with a laugh) reveals that this is her first time giving an English-speaking tour, and that this side hustle is one she pursues out of pure passion for the outdoors, and history as well.

Our trek follows an intricate path of man-made waterways, or “bisses” as they’ve been called for hundreds of years. Since the 14th century, these stone structures have served as valuable vehicles for irrigation. To this day, they play a role in the agricultural practices in Valais and are an attraction for those who prefer sustainable tourism attractions.

Colombire. Photo by Retouchées

Aerial view of Crans-Montana village center with many like chalet style hotel and residence in Valais, Switzerland. Photo by AsiaTravel

Château de Vaas in Flanthey

The bisses contribute to a verdant natural landscape which is good news for us - Nathalie also happens to be an expert forager, and that skill will make our lunch even more lovely. “The herbs on the trail are no good,” she warns. Shortly after she lends words of caution, we see a dog lift its leg in a familiar gesture. She points in its direction before adding, “See, that’s what I mean!” Good call, Nathalie.

We make our way down a less-traveled road. Not long after we pass a flowing waterfall, Nathalie spots some fresh thyme and a patch of Lady’s Mantle, a wild green that has therapeutic benefits and is known as a homeopathic remedy for cramps and other ailments. And bonus: it’s delicious!

We discover this for ourselves when we sit down for lunch at Le Relais, a critically acclaimed restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the nearby valley. It’s a perfect spot to take down a plate (or three) of freshly melted raclette, warmed by the wood-fired stove that sits outside of the main dining room.

We eagerly watch our server use a knife to coax the viscous cheese out of the wax wheel and onto our plates. It stretches, steams and lands before us - in that moment we achieve unadulterated, dairyinduced nirvana.

Raclette boasts a richer flavor than the standard Swiss one might remember from their childhood ham toasties. Each bite is perfectly salty, pungent, and subtly sweet on the backend and with a bit of a bite that makes it a perfect companion to all things crunchy and chewy.

And so, we enjoy our gooey lunch with our wild finds, as well as with fresh vegetables, cornichons, cured prosciutto, capicola, salami and freshly baked breads. “I promise Swiss people do not eat like this all the time,” Nathalie assures us. But what we’re really thinking is, “Why the hell not? This is fantastic!”

We partake in another serving of the hot cheese, not sure of when we’ll get to experience another experience quite as divine as this one (spoiler alert: we do fondue on Sunday, and it’s a close second). We take down a chilled bottle of Fendant - a Chasselas wine from the Valais region - as the raclette reappears before us. The vin, too, is so clean we manage to escape without the hint of a hangover. Now we know we must be dreaming.

“The Rhone River flowing down the valley gives this region a special soil perfect for vineyards,” explains Pierre-Henri Mainetti, Sales Manager for Crans-Montana Tourism & Congress. “You have seen how it is organized - with so many walls built with local stones assembled without cement, terraces all along the valley. Crans-Montana is south-facing, giving a lot of sun and heat to the fruits, and therefore, sugar.”

Ah, that makes good sense. A healthy earth produces healthier grapes! So that must be why we feel near invincible even after a couple of bottles? That’s what we tell ourselves anyway. The fendant is pleasing on the palate - this white variety is bright and fruity with an immaculate finish. Why yes, we will have another glass! Pierre lets us know, however, that there are other sips to explore in this part of the countryside.

“Château de Vaas in Flanthey or Chateau de Villa are places to visit to learn all about the history of winemaking in our region,” he suggests. “Of course, a stop at wine cellars is a must to taste cornalin, amigne, petite arvine, heida,

Sunrise and morning at Lake Tseuzier with barrage in Valais Switzerland in September. Photo by Martin Steiner

humagne rouge or the more common pinot noir or syrah.” If only we had more time…

Back in Crans-Montana we nap off our lunch and venture up to the late-night stages where we dance off our raclette reserves to the booming sounds of hard-techno. Inside this packed, warehouse room, it feels a bit more like a weekend we might have in our native New York.

We step outside to catch our breath and are quickly reminded of how nice it feels to be far away from those busy city streets. As the air hits our lungs with a nourishing infusion of vitality, we look around and see people laughing, connecting, and exuding a rare authenticity that only presents itself after dark. If we could, we’d bottle this unusual hint of clarity. But we can’t, so instead we’ll just attempt to carry the remnants of this feeling forever. ■