Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Astral Rocks

Astral Rocks - Bring Back Hope

Astral Rocks is the cinematic rock project of Swiss-based British artist Milli Schweizer, whose journey from pain to power echoes through every note she writes. Blending emotional alt-rock with orchestral landscapes, her music transforms lived experience into stories of courage, resilience, and rebirth. With songs like "Bring Back Hope" and "Gotthard Massiv – Heartbeat of the Mountains," Astral Rocks channels both the wild beauty of the Alps and the strength of the human spirit.

Interview with Astral Rocks

(º)> What inspired you to create Astral Rocks and merge cinematic rock, folk, and emotional alt-rock into your signature sound?

Astral Rocks was born from a deep need to turn emotion into energy. After a long period of personal struggle and recovery, I sought to create music that evoked both a heartbeat and a horizon, something cinematic, raw, and authentic. I’ve always been drawn to soundtracks and storytelling, so blending cinematic rock with emotional alt-rock and touches of folk felt completely natural. It’s where vulnerability meets strength.

(º)> How do your personal experiences of courage and resilience shape the storytelling in your songs

They shape everything, because each of my songs is about me. I grew up in a brutal environment, and those early years left deep marks that I later explored in my memoir Raised by Cold Hands. Then, after a horrific car accident in Surrey in March 2017, I was left in excruciating pain and had to rebuild myself again, body and soul. Out of that darkness, I began to turn pain into artistry. Writing, singing, and composing became my means of transforming trauma into beauty. Every Astral Rocks song carries a piece of that journey, from survival to strength, from silence to sound.

(º)> Can you share the story behind “The Flame in Me” and what it represents for you emotionally and creatively?

The Flame in Me is about resilience, that inner fire that refuses to go out, no matter how many storms we face. For me, it was also an act of defiance. I grew up in a world of control, fear, and suppression, and this song became my voice, a way to stand up to my parents’ legacy and reclaim my strength. Writing it was like setting my spirit free from everything that once silenced me. Emotionally, it’s a declaration: even when everything else falls away, the flame within remains.

(º)> How has your British-Swiss background and Austrian musical heritage influenced your sound and artistic vision?

My roots are beautifully mixed; my mother is Austrian, my father Hungarian. I grew up in England, and now I live in Switzerland. That blend of cultures shaped my sound in every way. From Britain, I took the storytelling and lyrical honesty; from Austria, the classical discipline and emotional intensity; from Hungary, the rhythm and soul; and from Switzerland, the serenity of the mountains and the sense of belonging to nature. Together, they form the heart of Astral Rocks — music that bridges countries, emotions, and generations.

(º)> What was the creative process like when crafting “Gotthard Massif – Heartbeat of the Mountains,” which blends Swiss tradition with modern rock?

Creating Gotthard Massiv Heartbeat of the Mountains was a journey into the very soul of Switzerland, the place where the Water Castle of Europe emerges. From the Gotthard Massif, rivers flow in all four directions across the continent, reaching the North Sea, the Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea. Water commissioned me to write a song that would express this natural phenomenon, the living pulse of water flowing down from the heart of the Alps. Together with alphorn player Peter Baumann, we blended authentic Alpine sounds with mighty modern rock to bring the mountain itself to life. It became both a tribute and an anthem to Switzerland’s spirit, symbolising how water, like music, connects us all.

(º)> How do you balance your work as a musician, songwriter, and author while keeping your creative energy flowing?

To me, they all stem from the same source: storytelling. Whether I’m writing a song or a novel, it’s about emotion and truth. Switching between music and writing actually keeps me balanced; when one world feels too heavy, I step into the other. It’s like breathing, inhale through words, exhale through sound.

(º)> Your songs often explore themes of hope and healing. How do you channel those emotions into your music?

I write from real emotion; I don’t plan or calculate it. When I sit at the piano or start a lyric, I let whatever needs to speak come through. Hope and healing aren’t abstract ideas for me; they’re survival. Writing about them keeps me connected to life and reminds others that they’re not alone in their struggles.

(º)> What do you hope listeners feel or take away when they experience Astral Rocks for the first time?

I hope they feel seen, that my songs give them a sense of connection and inspire them with courage. I want them to walk away feeling that no matter how dark things get, there’s always a spark inside worth protecting. That’s what Astral Rocks stands for: emotion, transformation, and light through the storm.

(º)> How did writing your novel and memoir influence the way you tell stories through music?

Writing books taught me patience and attention to detail, to delve deeper into the layers of emotion. It also taught me that silence and space can be just as powerful as sound. When I write songs now, I think in chapters, not just verses; every track becomes part of a larger story.

(º)> What’s next for you and Astral Rocks as you continue to evolve artistically into 2026 and beyond?

I’m continuing to release songs that connect the human and the cinematic, including my latest Christmas single, 'Bring Back Hope,' which carries a message of hope after loss. In 2026, I’m planning a new concept project built around transformation, When Ice Turns to Fire. It’s about resilience, identity, and rebirth. Beyond that, I want to keep creating art that unites people across borders, music that feels like both a confession and a celebration.

Milli / Astral Rocks

www.astralrocks.com

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Astral Rocks on the Pigeon Spins Playlist