Börni

Interview by Carol Wright - Photographer: Joe Sciacca

Born and raised in Zürich, Switzerland, Börni found her passion for music starting at age three when she began singing and playing the violin, soon after turning to the piano and guitar. Throughout her adolescence, Börni sang in gospel choirs, wrote and performed her own songs in her first garage rock band, and quickly learned how to perform and entertain an audience, including performing on stage at just six years old in the prestigious Zürich Opera House. After visiting New York City, she felt a connection to American culture and started creating music under the name Vava Voom. Before long, she realized that although she still embraced the American lifestyle and culture, she was growing into her own identity as a fresh, unique artist — still maintaining her roots in her home country of Switzerland — and thus Börni was born.

You’ve been interested in music since you were three. When did music go from a passion to something you wanted to do as a career?

A few years ago, I competed in the Swiss television show, “Musicstar,” where my performance led me to ink a record deal with Sony Music. This was definitely a course-setting experience in my life. Also, my first trip to NYC laid the groundwork for my love and aspirations to be in the American and world music scene.