‘Cep’ Ceppi (Powerhill)

Interview by Woody

Switzerland’s Powerhill have recently released their hard rocking debut album Generation X! I spoke to mastermind and tractor driver Cep about the album, bovine mascots, Gen X and just what the hell is Farm Metal?

Generation X is POWERHILL’s debut album. I’m curious about how the band got together and what your initial ideas were for the band and its sound.

As a young teenager and novice guitar player, I wasn’t interested in making a few sporadic appearances in a local cover band. So, I took it upon myself to find some musicians who were interested in my idea, which, in some ways, was unconventional. And that’s how I founded Powerhill exactly twenty five years ago, on June 1, 2000, to be precise. Having grown up musically in the Eighties and Nineties my desire was simply to create a band that had the pure hard rock spirit of those times, with a sound that was solid, aggressive, and melodic at the same time, but without the characteristic and classic look of those times and that carried on its own roots and traditions. Something completely unusual. Having been born and raised in the countryside, this led to the idea of creating a rural rock band. This is also specified in the band’s name, which is nothing less than the combination of two words: ‘Power’, which needs no explanation, and ‘Hill’, which I used as a compromise to refer to our countryside and mountains.

The term ‘Farm Metal’ is thrown around a lot. What exactly is it? And what does it mean to the band?

It all started when I combined my two great passions: heavy metal and cows. This led to a style based on metal music but with rural references and settings. What could be more fun than playing metal in a dirty, dusty barn? As soon as we finish our hard, sweaty daily work in the fields or pastures, we retreat to the barn and has anyone ever said that a farmer can’t play metal? No, I don’t think so, so that’s how this particular musical style was created. The whole thing is also seasoned with a lot of irony. It’s basically our trademark. I can fully claim credit for the creation of ‘Farm Metal’.

You have a mascot, Clotilde! What inspired her, and how did she come to be the band’s mascot?

It’s basically the same idea as ‘Farm Metal’. Think of our beloved heavy metal and its most active fan, an iconic metalhead cow. The result? Simple, here’s Clotilde. For us, she’s now an untouchable and indisputable part of the band, not just our icon, but our trademark. She’s our most loyal and devoted fan. She never misses a concert, but I must also say that she is a bit lazy. Furthermore, she doesn’t help us much in the fields; in fact, she mostly grazes while ignoring us, but we adore her. And I might add, she makes a lot of mess, if you know what I mean.

Generation X is your first full-length release. Has it turned out as you hoped and as initially envisioned?

The challenge was much tougher than I expected, as I had decided to be the producer. From the outset, I already had a clear idea of how it should sound and what direction it should take. I managed to achieve that, relatively speaking, and I’m happy with the result. Obviously, I made mistakes, which I promptly listed to avoid in the future, and I’ve already noted down all the possible improvements. I set out to create an album that would have impact, warmth, and exude the warmth of the golden years, but with a contemporary sound. Well, I think I succeeded. I also paid close attention to many special effects that I’ll leave you to discover as you listen. Not everyone can record a barbecue and mix it into an album. And remember, this is the first ‘Farm Metal’ album ever, so I have to set an example.

The band has a slight tongue-in-cheek feel to it. Was having a little bit of light-heartedness to your sound always part of the plan or a natural progression of the band? Or is not taking yourselves too seriously just part of who Powerhill is naturally?

The ironic part has been part of the project from the beginning. I have always wanted to create a certain positive, joyful, and carefree mood in my songs. Probably only “That’s Fine” is a little outside the box or serious, if you will, but even that song leaves room for interpretation. But to be honest, we take ourselves seriously; otherwise, what impact would it have if we weren’t 100% focused? The themes I deal with in my lyrics, even if with irony, always have a well-defined goal and subject, and therefore, the basis of it must necessarily be serious. No fantasy, everything is real. Take “Fat Side” as an example. In it, we teach you the true art of grilling, and even if in a joking way, it’s a very important subject; not everyone is capable of it.

Given the band’s sound, I assume you have a lot of love for ‘Gen X’ and the sounds of the seventies and eighties that generation grew up with. Do you remember or look back on that era fondly?

I belong to that generation, and therefore I’m fond of those sounds, especially those of the Eighties and Nineties which characterized my adolescence and musical growth. This album is dedicated to all of Generation X, that is, those born between 1965 and 1980. In other words, all those who were lucky enough to live and grow up in the unique, unrepeatable, and extraordinary musical era of the Eighties and Nineties. In the single and title track, we aim to transport listeners back in time and revive those magical emotions, as is evident in the details of the dedicated music video. The cover art and Clotilde’s look are reminiscent of all this. So, between a hint of melancholy and nostalgia, it means a great deal to me. The memories are still very much alive in my mind, and I look at the present with regret.

What is the songwriting process like for Powerhill?

There’s no real method or sequence. The inspiration or basic idea can come from a simple guitar riff or a whistled phrase. Occasionally, I imagine a finished chorus and then develop the melody from there. I try to give it a musical imprint based on the mood of the moment. Once I have the structure and a general length, I start thinking about what arrangements to include and/or what instruments could make a difference.

Tell us about some of the songs; do you have any personal favourites? Interesting stories behind them or ones you think would go down well live?

Excluding the title track, which I mentioned earlier, most of the others are quotes or hypothetical, imaginary scenarios. In “That’s Fine” and “Better Safe Than Sorry”, we refer to quotes or idioms, but with free interpretation by the listener, while in “Bonfire” and “Fat Side”, we give free rein to our imagination and various teachings. The most epic tracks on the album “Generation X” are “Mad Cow City” and the title track “Powerhill”. “My Mood” is very important to me because I wrote it entirely for my partner. Without her by my side, not only supporting me in this musical project but also in my everyday life, I would never have been able to get this far or achieve all that I have. It’s my dedication and a very personal acknowledgment, also for having to put up with me every single day. In the song itself, I accurately describe all her passions and dedication to her work, which she always does with a smile and a carefree attitude. However, in each song, you will find the right dose of irony and humor that now characterizes our style. Currently, depending on the set, we have already performed all the songs live, all of which fit nicely into our show, except for “My Mood” and “I Can Wait for You”, our previous ballad from 2023, for simple reasons related to the acoustic version.

Do you have any plans to perform in the UK? How important is it to you to perform live? I know some bands prefer creation over performance.

Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any performances planned in the UK, but we would very much like to perform there in the future. Performing live is essential, not only to present the product but also to connect with fans and interact with them. For us, getting on stage is always a special thrill and joy that we want to share with those attending the show. In fact, we describe this attitude in our ‘signature’ song “Powerhill”.

Who are your personal inspirations? I know you can pick up some influences in your sound, but do those match your inspirations?

Listening to all-around metal so that any band could inspire me for a single song or more. But when it comes to my true influences or favorite bands, I can’t help but mention Savatage, W.A.S.P., Steelheart, Skid Row, XYZ, and Running Wild above all others. Guitar-wise, my influences are many, but they all come from those golden years. But I’d like to put the readers of this interview to the test with this question: In our album, can you recognize facets reminiscent of Steelheart, XYZ, W.A.S.P., Dokken, Lynch Mob, Warrant, Ratt, Running Wild, Testament, Savatage, Skid Row, Firehouse, Tankard, Tigertailz, Saxon, Mötley Crüe, Loudness, Def Leppard, and Vixen?

Switzerland has produced some great rock bands over the years – Gotthard has been a personal favourite. How do you view the rock scene in your homeland?

There are many talented bands in our country, but due to a lack of media interest and/or exorbitant costs, most of them remain in the shadows. Here in the South, we live in almost another world. The music culture here is virtually non-existent. Getting noticed or even minimally considered is a difficult task.

Is there anything else you would like to add or say?

Now that you have discovered a new and exhilarating subgenre of our beloved metal, please support us as much as possible. We hope to bring our show to your part of the world soon.