Interview by Angela Croudace
For Burning Witches bassist Jay Grob, the path to heavy metal thunder began with a red guitar—and a little persuasion. “Romana (Burning Witches’ guitarist) gave it to me and said, ‘It fits your hair,’” Jay laughs. “But I thought, every idiot plays guitar! Then she handed me a bass, and I was like—yeah, that’s more me.”
Now a cornerstone of the Swiss all-female metal powerhouse, Jay’s bass playing has become a defining force behind their sound. Guided by Romana Kalkuhl and her husband, she’s never stopped learning. “You have to play continuously, even in your free time,” she says. “It never ends.”
With their first-ever Australian tour about to ignite, Jay is buzzing with anticipation. “I’m so curious about the fans there,” she says. “Every country’s different. We’ll meet fans at VIP events, and I hope I can explore the food and culture too—maybe see a kangaroo!”
Despite their fierce stage presence, the band’s bond is grounded in friendship. “Off stage, we’re like family,” Jay shares. “We BBQ in Switzerland, go shopping together on tour days off—it’s real.”
When it comes to songwriting, Jay jumps in after the drums are locked in. “Romana and Lala (drummer) get the riffs down first. Then vocals. Then I come in with the bass.”
Live, it’s the fans that fuel her fire. “Whether it’s Wacken or a tiny club, when fans sing every lyric, that’s the most beautiful thing.” But the real challenge? “Finding a washing machine on tour,” she jokes.
As Burning Witches’ fan base grows globally, Jay stays grounded. “We’re just five crazy chicks spreading our love for metal. I hope Aussie fans feel the magic when they see us live. Real heavy metal. Real energy.”
Australia, get ready—Burning Witches are about to set the stage ablaze.
