What was once considered ‘the boy’s club,’ the world of Heavy Metal has seen a massive movement with more and more ladies getting the attention they deserve, not only as vocalists, but also as bassists, drummers, and guitarists in bands. While iconic pioneers like Doro (first with her band Warlock and then as a solo artist), Lita Ford (first with The Runaways and then on her own), and Angela Gossow (who revolutionized the idea of a harsh female vocalist with Arch Enemy) blazed a trail, bands like Burning Witches continue to carry the torch.
An all-female Heavy Metal band out of Switzerland led by Guitarist Romana Kalkuhl, Burning Witches has been building a reputation for itself at a breakneck speed, putting out six studio albums in the last eight years.
Most recently releasing the powerful Inquisition in August 2025, Burning Witches have solidified that they are Heavy Metal Warriors who are loud, fast, melodic, but most of all, full of fire and passion. Providing insight into the life and time of the band, original Bassist Jay Grobe sat down to chat about how she became a part of Burning Witches, life experiences earned from touring, plus a whole lot more.
Cryptic Rock – It has been roughly a decade since Burning Witches began. Since that time, the band has remained very active, releasing albums and touring extensively. There have been changes in the lineup along the way, but the core remains very strong. How would you describe the journey of Burning Witches to this point?
Jay Grobe – I would say we have grown more together because of all the experiences we have had in the rehearsals and on tours. We have grown musically and become more familiar with each other. We are not just a band that meets on stage; we have grown together as individuals.
When we are all in Switzerland, we have barbecues, we go shopping, and to the cinema. Courtney and Laura don’t live in Switzerland, so when they are not here. However, Lala, Romana, and I still meet up. When we are on tour and have a day off, we spend time together looking around the country and going shopping. We love shopping, especially in the USA. We love Walmart! (Laughs) I think we have grown a lot together. We have had many experiences.
Cryptic Rock – So you have not only grown as a band and musicians, but you have grown as friends. That is a very good thing. These bonds make the music better.
Jay Grobe – Yes, I think you can also see that on stage. We are not only going on stage and playing a song, but we also have fun. We run to each other, joke around, and laugh with each other. When you’re like a family on stage, it’s a lot more fun.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. As mentioned, there have been changes in the lineup. You and Romana are the original members of Burning Witches. Is it difficult when members come and go?
Jay Grobe – It’s more sad than difficult. People come and people go. It’s not easy as a female to tour around the world. You need to be strong. You have less sleep. You have stress sometimes. It’s unfortunate, but everyone who wants to go can, and we wish them the best.
As I said, it’s more sad than difficult because when you are like a family and then someone leaves, but there’s nothing you can do. We have had the same lineup for a while now, and it’s pretty cool.
Cryptic Rock – It is a big commitment to want to be a touring musician. It’s a lot of work and can be exhausting.
Jay Grobe – That’s right, sometimes it’s exhausting. People only see you on stage performing the show, but a lot more happens behind the scenes. There is a lot you have to do as a musician for all that. For example, some weeks ago, Laura and I wanted to fly back to Zurich. We were in Frankfurt, and they informed us that the flight had been cancelled. We told them, “We need to go home; some of us have to work tomorrow.” So, they told us, “Ok, you can go by train.” So, three people traveled with seven pieces of luggage, and we had to change trains three or four times to get home. It’s really exhausting. We arrived home after midnight. Those are the things people don’t see behind the scenes.
However, that is life as a musician. All the traveling is life, and I like that. I see many different countries. People who have a regular job and go to work often don’t have the opportunity to travel and see a lot of the world. That is the gift. You work a lot before you go on stage, but you see all the nice things and meet all the nice people.
Cryptic Rock – Right. Traveling also gives different perspectives because people are different everywhere you go. As you mentioned, being a touring musician requires strength. How do you build that mental strength?
Jay Grobe – Because we love what we do, and that gives us strength. As I mentioned earlier, we love traveling. At the end, I can go on stage and show the people our music that we love. After our show at the merch stand, meeting people gives us the power.
Cryptic Rock – That is very positive. Burning Witches recently released the new album Inquisition. What was it like going into making this album?
Jay Grobe – It’s always a bit the same. Romana is the main songwriter. I always say to her after every album, “When is the next album?” because she has thousands of ideas.
With every album, Romona has riffs and ideas. She goes with Lala to the rehearsal room, tries them out, and we also try them out a bit with the bass. Then she sends what she recorded with the phone to Laura and Courtney, and Laura brings her ideas. Then Courtney brings her solo parts, or what she could do.
As a team, we are all interested in historical stuff. We also have Romana’s husband, Damir Eskić, who is knowledgeable about history. Laura also enjoys history and Fantasy. Yeah. They came up with the idea of the Inquisition, and we went a little bit deeper, and it fits.
That’s the cool thing with Burning Witches, because it’s a big spectrum. You can write so many lyrics about witches, ghosts, and history.
Cryptic Rock – History and Fantasy themes always add something to the music, especially in Heavy Metal. Inquisition seems a bit heavier and more furious than prior Burning Witches albums.
Jay Grobe – Yeah. I also feel that it’s a little bit heavier and darker, but maybe that’s also coming from the fact that Romana has been listening to darker bands now. Perhaps also because we are touring with other bands. Our influences are also a special reason why the album is now darker. When Romana wrote the songs, the riffs, we heard it’s a little bit darker.
Cryptic Rock – It works well. Now, when you recorded ‘Inquisition,’ did all of you get together or were you working remotely or together in the studio?
Jay Grobe – When I have a day off, because we all go work beside the music, I join the studio. I also want to see and listen, because it’s really interesting.
They add the drums, guitars, bass, and then the voice. You listen to the music in some weeks, and maybe something is missing. Then you go back and record some more stuff. The process is more like that.
Cryptic Rock – Understood. I think the production is fantastic. The songs are powerful, and that is attributed to everyone’s performances. Burning Witches first toured North America around three years ago. Now you are coming back to the United States for more touring?
Jay Grobe – Yes, next year, though. We were planning to come at the end of August, but we didn’t hear back regarding the visa, and we applied months ago. It’s the third time we applied for a visa, and we haven’t heard anything.
We had to reschedule the tour for next year, possibly in March or April. We hope everything works out. Our team is working day and night on that. We are looking forward to returning; we all love visiting the USA.
Cryptic Rock – Hopefully, everything works out. When you came to the USA with Burning Witches, was that your first experience in the country?
Jay Grobe – No, I had been there for vacations, but I was around 22 or something. I went to America, and on Romana’s birthday, we spent 10 days in LA and Las Vegas. So, it was not the first time I had been there, but it was the first time as a touring musician. In every country, people are nice, but in the USA, they are so different. At the merch stand, they are so interested in supporting you and buying your music. In today’s world, that is what helps the musician: when you buy the merchandise, such as CDs and vinyl. In the USA, they are so supportive and super friendly.
We do VIPs after the show, and it is really cool. We played Moro Bay, CA, twice, and it was my favorite place. It’s a small little town, but after the show, it’s like a party like never before.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like it was a great experience. Every place is different. Sometimes people forget how large the United States is. You can drive and drive and drive; it is a big country.
Jay Grobe – Yeah, because we are most of the time in vans and sleeping in hotels. Sometimes it’s hard to be stuck in a van for 13 hours. Otherwise, we see the country and see a lot. You can stop and go to the stores. The USA has so many stores that we don’t have here in Europe. It’s cool to go to the stores there and go shopping.
Cryptic Rock – There are certainly a lot of stores in the USA. Out of curiosity, what are you looking for when you shop?
Jay Grobe – I love Walmart! Lala and Romana also love it. It’s so funny because one time we were in the USA and everyone said, “What should we do?” We all said, “Walmart.” Courtney said, “I’m out” because she is from the USA. She said, “Why is Walmart so interesting?” (Laughs) For us, Walmart is so cool because you have everything in that store.
We also have huge stores in Switzerland, but we don’t have one store with everything. You can spend five hours in that store, and you always see new stuff. You also sometimes see funny people. TJ Maxx and Ross are also really cool. Sometimes in the USA, you find stuff you don’t find in Europe. You can find really cool leather jackets or other stuff that we love, and it’s harder to find in Europe.
I am not the type of person who likes to order clothes so much because I love to go in the store and try it on, and if it does fit, okay, I put it back or I buy it.
Cryptic Rock – Walmart is definitely a place you could spend a lot of time in.
Jay Grobe – Yes. Everything is huge. I mean, the hair shampoo, you have huge bottles. The makeup section is huge, too. We don’t have that in Europe.
Cryptic Rock – Do not underestimate Walmart. (Laughs) You brought up a good point earlier about supporting musicians. People indeed need to purchase merchandise to support the bands. With that said, there is also nothing better than owning the CD or record. What are your thoughts on that?
Jay Grobe – I also think it’s great to have a CD or a vinyl, because it’s not only the CD or record, it’s also the booklet around it. The booklet with us has pictures, thanks, and all the lyrics. When you buy that online, you make one click and you buy it, but that’s it. With a physical product, you have more.
When you have it on Spotify, you will forget that. I don’t like that so much. I don’t like the quality on Spotify. In my opinion, the quality is not as good as on a CD or vinyl record.
Cryptic Rock – Most certainly. Not to mention that Burning Witches have some really fantastic album covers. It is wonderful to have that in front of you and look at it, as opposed to viewing it on a computer screen or your phone.
Jay Grobe – The last time we signed some vinyl of Inquisition, I was looking at it and saw more and more. Gyula Havancsák has done five of our albums, and he does a great job.
Cryptic Rock – Agreed. As stated, you are an original member of Burning Witches. Were you in another band before Bitching Witches?
Jay Grobe – No, I was not in another band. I was the first band member. I met Romana two to three years before she started the band at a show around our town, and we were partying hard. She said, “Hey, I have a red guitar at home. It fits your red hair.” And I was like, “Every second idiot plays guitar. Why should I play guitar?” And she was like, “Hey, I’m a teacher.” And I was like, “Okay. Let’s exchange numbers.”
I tried, but I never played guitar. I played flute and saxophone before. I went every week for two years, and she gave me lessons. She always told me she wanted to form an all-female band. I was always like, “Ah, I will be the merch girl.” And then I had the next lesson, and she gave me a bass and was like, “Hey, try the bass.” I thought it would be easier than playing the guitar, but it’s not. I tried the bass, and she was like, “Okay. Welcome. You’re the first member in my band. You’re the bass player. Do you want to do it?” And I was like, “Yes, but I’ve never been on a stage before.” And she was like, “Okay. Look, let’s try it. If it’s not working, then we will research another one, but Damir and I will give you lessons and help you. I will show you how to move.”
I’m still there! I really thought when she formed the band, we would have maybe six shows a year. I said yes because I wanted to be beside my best friend to headbang on stage. Of course, I love heavy metal, but I was not like, “Ah, I have to be on stage now.” I was more like, “Okay. Let’s do it without thinking.” Ten years later, I’m here.
Cryptic Rock – It’s incredible how it blossomed into what it has.
Jay Grobe – It’s amazing because we never thought it would become this because Romana had another band, Atlas and Axis, and she was the only girl. Then she said, “Okay. I want to have an all-female band because I was the only girl in the other band. I want to see how that is. I want to have fun.” Then she started it, and we didn’t expect that.
Cryptic Rock – The best things in life happen unexpectedly. At what point in life did you start to get into Heavy Metal? It is different for everyone; perhaps it is a song or an album that gets them into it.
Jay Grobe – I was around 17 or something. I was more like a lost child before. I listened to a little bit of everything. Then I met some new people, and they were goths. They took me to the Gothic scene. They were nice people, so I went a little bit out with them. But I felt like it’s not my scene, and it’s not my music. Then I met someone at the Gothic party, and he was a metalhead, and he told me, “Hey, I listen to Metal. Come with me and I will show you bands. Let’s go to the show.” Then I came into the whole Metal scene. I started to listen to Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Kreator, and all those bands. Then I never wanted to stop. (Laughs)
Cryptic Rock – There is a lot to dig into. You mentioned you enjoy learning about history. Is there a specific period you are interested in?
Jay Grobe – I like a lot of it. I like the Middle Ages. I also enjoy the history of Anna Göldi; she was the last witch from Switzerland. I also enjoy learning about the history of Elizabeth Bathory and the Hexenhammer. I go to YouTube and watch stuff about history.
Cryptic Rock – There is so much to learn about. What about film or television? Is there anything about Wiccan history, or history in general, you enjoy?
Jay Grobe – Honestly, I don’t have time at the moment to watch that many films. I really like Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I really enjoyed the cat because it can talk. I also liked Game of Thrones. Laura wrote “ ’Shame” about Game of Thrones. The chorus is inspired by ‘The Walk of Shame’ in Game of Thrones.
Cryptic Rock – Very cool! So with Inquisition out now and everything and with all the experiences you have had with Burning Witches over the last decade, what do you think are the most important things you have learned?
Jay Grobe – I learned to live with less sleep. (Laughs) I have learned to grow together with the drums. For me, that was not easy because Romana taught me a little bit of bass. Then we went to the rehearsal, and the guitar, drums, and the singer started playing. I was with the bass there, and I was like, “How should I play now?” (Laughs)
I went every week with my best friend, Stefan Hösli (who is also the drummer for Gomarra), and he taught me how to play the drums. Of course, I learned a lot about my band members. I know when someone is acting a certain way, it’s because they are stressed, and to let them be.
I have also learned to stay grounded because we all work beside the band. When you are touring, you get treated a little bit like a rock star. Then you go back home, go to work, and you have a hand in your face, slapping you to come back to reality. That’s the good thing. I like going back to work because that keeps me grounded. I don’t forget the normal life around. That’s also what the whole band wants and what Romana wants; that we don’t forget where we’re coming from. We also appreciate everything we get.
It’s really different when you’re touring one and a half months and then you come back home to work, and then you’re like, “Oh, okay. That’s normal life,” right?
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