"What do I have? Shaved calves?"

For him, the term "folk rock'n'roll" was invented, his records are sold millions of times. His name is Alpen-Elvis, sometimes Bauern-Bua. Media call him a male response to Helene Fischer or Lady Gaga of folk music. Andreas Gabalier himself, the 30-year-old Austrian musician, simply calls himself Andi. When he's not on stage in his deerskin trousers, and his fans are thrilled with hits like "I sing a Liad for di" or "Amoi seg ma uns wieder", he's campaigning for Müller Dairy. That's why ChroniquesDuVasteMonde editor Nicole Wehr gets a buttermilk bottle in the hand before she meets "the Andi" in a Hamburg hotel suite.

Andreas Gabalier comes to rest in the mountains.

Andi, your songs are all about love, also about the love of the homeland. What does home mean to you?

Home is the feeling of being at home. This feeling triggers the places of my childhood in me, the nature, but of course the people who are close to me. Certain dishes also taste like home for me. All the things that give me a feeling of security.

Styria is your home. What should visitors look at?

I love my hometown Graz, its beautiful old town, the river Mur, the Schloßberg. But also the community Ramsau am Dachstein is worth a visit. The best view is from the summit of Zirbitzkogel in the Seetal Alps. And wine fans I recommend the Südsteiermark, the Tuscany of Austria.

You are a much sought after man and constantly on the move. How do you get to rest?

On days off I go out into nature. Just last week I was on a glacier. This is my time out, my regeneration. I like to travel alone and climb one or the other mountain. But I also like to sit on a motorbike and cruise with friends through Austria, Italy or Croatia. That brings me down totally, those little bits of old life. I try to be the old Andi in addition to all the hype at home. I wash my clothes myself, hang them in the garden and wave to the neighbor's grandmother, then she is happy. I'll go over to her for a schnitzerl. At home, I continue my normal life, because at some point, the celebrations will certainly be over again. That's why I keep in touch with my family and friends.

A commonality have editor Nicole and alpine rocker Andi: The beautiful childhood memories of the Wörthersee.

You write all of your own songs. Who or what inspires you?

Simple and simple life. I like to travel, I travel on all mountain ranges in Europe, but also in South Africa, America or Singapore. You experience a lot. But not only what is currently happening, I process in songs. I also sing about the past, childhood memories.

For more than two years you have been together with the Austrian TV presenter Silvia Schneider. What's your recipe for a happy relationship?

I am not dr. Summer, the love counselor. I do not know if there really is a recipe. But when you find yourself and treat each other respectfully, chances are not bad. It suits us very well, we keep our relationship relatively successfully out of the public, do not give interviews. It's all about my music.

At concerts, you like it real, you emphasize your love of nature. But when it comes to hair you take it exactly: always pomade on the head, shaved shoulders and calves ...

... what do I have? Shaved calves? Oh god, no, I've never had that! I just do not have that much hair on my leg. I do not do it anywhere on the body.

What can not you do without in the bathroom?

Oh, the classics: toothbrush, shaving gel, shower gel - I like to shower or bathe extensively. I also sweat a lot - on stage, on the way the many handshakes and heartfelt ...

But pomade must be already?

Absolutely! Otherwise I do not see anything.

With gyms you can not inspire you. How do you stay fit anyway?

I just do a lot of sports in nature, so I grew up. Skiing, hiking - but I also played and boxed ice hockey for a long time. And of course football with the brothers and neighbor children. I have never sat in front of the TV. Before the concerts, I usually do a few push-ups and pull-ups, but that's about it.

You want to see Andreas Gabalier live? On Facebook, we are giving away 5x2 tickets for his concert in the Olympic Stadium. Tell us why you should travel to Munich in July 2016. The five most convincing reasons get the tickets. Good luck! Find out more about Andreas Gabalier and his mission as Buttermilkman here.

Should Guys Shave Or Trim Their Legs? You WON'T Believe What Women Say! (May 2024).