Paleface Swiss

About

Paleface Swiss, born Marcello Bruggmann, is a Swiss-born, New York-based artist who has carved out a singular niche in the music world with his raw, genre-defying sound. Blending elements of folk, punk, and lo-fi indie, Paleface’s music is a visceral exploration of human emotion, delivered with an unpolished authenticity that feels both timeless and urgent. His gravelly voice and stripped-down instrumentation evoke the spirit of anti-folk pioneers like Daniel Johnston and The Moldy Peaches, while his lyrical storytelling resonates with the confessional intimacy of Leonard Cohen. Emerging in the late 1980s, Paleface gained traction in New York’s underground scene, where his DIY ethos and unfiltered performances earned him a cult following. His breakthrough came with the release of *Paleface and Mo* (1990), a collaboration with drummer Mo Tucker of The Velvet Underground, which cemented his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist. Over the years, he has continued to evolve, releasing albums like *The Show Is on the Road* (2002) and *One Big Party* (2012), each showcasing his ability to balance vulnerability with irreverence. Paleface’s cultural impact lies in his unwavering commitment to artistic freedom, inspiring a generation of musicians to embrace imperfection as a form of beauty. His collaborations with artists like Ben Kweller and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs further highlight his cross-genre appeal. Recently, he has been touring extensively and working on new material, proving that his creative fire burns as brightly as ever.