Louis Schild

A hyperactive force of sound

Louis Schild is a bassist, composer and performer. Born in Neuchâtel in 1991 and based in Lausanne, he blends improvisation, noise, rock and contemporary music. A hyperactive force of sound, he is always accompanied by his black Sadowsky electric bass.

He performs with, among others, Jacques Demierre, Louis Jucker and the Biel-based band Puts Marie and, as part of the quartet Straccia Mutande, shaped the independent scene. Beyond music, Schild collaborates with choreographer Cindy Van Acker and runs Espace Echallens 13 in Lausanne, a venue for concerts, exhibitions and talks. Upcoming projects include a collaboration with dancer Mélissa Guex, a tour with Remords and a new album with Le Recueil des Miracles.

His work oscillates between two poles: on the one hand, the explorations of sound phenomena and playing techniques; on the other, reflections on social issues.

Excerpt from the jury statement

As a boundless improviser and an artist of sound and space, Louis Schild resolutely defends another way of living and creating. This Swiss Music Prize recognizes the breadth of his experimental work, the determination of his sound research and his strong commitment to the collective.