Lingam, our in-house legend

Many legends have graced Moods over the past decades, but only one has a key: Ganeshalingam Sinnathurai. A tribute to our in-house luminary.

Moods was founded in 1992. It was first located in the Bahnhofbuffet Selnau before moving to its current location, the Schiffbau, in 2000. A lot has happened in all these years. Several changes of management, concerts en masse, countless glittering parties - the list could go on forever. But there has always been one constant during this time: the man behind the bar. Ganeshalingam Sinnathurai, Lingam for short, is practically part of the Moods inventory. Our bar manager has now decided to step down and give up this position, but fortunately he will still be with us as a bartender. Nevertheless, we think it's time to pay tribute to him - and ask him about his fondest memories. In this interview, Lingam looks back on over three decades at Moods.Dear Lingam, you've been behind the bar at Moods for over three decades - what does the place mean to you?For me, Moods is like a second home. Not a single day goes by when I don't think about Moods. I simply love being here. I appreciate the freedom I have here and am deeply connected to this place. I would never have had the heart to leave completely. I have experienced so many wonderful moments here, met great colleagues and made genuine friendships with guests and regular customers that I still cherish today. The management of Moods has changed so often, but I have always stayed. Every new manager has placed their full trust in me from the very beginning, which I really appreciate.What makes Moods such a special place for you?Definitely the atmosphere! For the life of me, I can't imagine working anywhere else. It's this mixture of the music, the dim lighting and the people who simply feel that this place has a soul. When the band is playing, the bar is on and everyone shares the same vibe, it's pure magic. The atmosphere here is so special and cool, there's no substitute for it anywhere else in the worldYou're handing over the bar management, but will remain at Moods as a bartender. Why don't you hang up the shaker altogether?After so many years, I just had to draw a line under it. I really enjoyed being a manager, but as you get older you realize that the job is also stressful. I worked through almost every weekend for 30 years, because as a manager you simply have to be present. Now I want to take a more relaxed approach to the weekends and spend more time with my family. But I love my roots at Moods and simply love being behind the bar. That's why there was no question for me that I would continue as a bar employee.In all those years behind the counter, you've experienced a lot. Is there a special moment that you will never forget?Yes and no. At Moods, I always received lots of compliments and even small gifts directly at the bar from guests as well as from my colleagues and managers. These are moments that I will never forget. That's why I can't pick out the one best moment. For me, every single compliment is a very special moment.But there must have been a special concert or encounter, right?There are countless evenings and encounters that I will never forget! But one moment in particular has stayed with me: I was totally amazed when a Tamil actor from India, who I usually only knew from movies, suddenly stood at the bar. He was on vacation in Switzerland and was having a great evening at Moods. Of course, I had to tell my family straight away! We then had a really nice chat, which was extremely cool.Is there a funny anecdote that comes to mind?It was always fun. Especially at the reggae nights, the guests often danced on the tables - and we from the bar team joined in straight away!When you look back over the years at Moods, what changes do you notice?I have the feeling that the younger generation is unfortunately no longer quite as interested in jazz. Concerts used to be sold out days in advance. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case so often. The development of smartphones has also changed the whole thing; you simply notice that people are consuming differently. I think that's a great shame because I personally think jazz is really cool.Last but not least: What do you think should never change at Moods?First and foremost: definitely the team and this family cohesion! Clubs change, music changes, but the heart of Moods is the people who work and run it. This team spirit, where everyone stands up for each other and you understand each other blindly, is priceless. In the end, that's what makes the guests feel so comfortable. But it's just as important to me that this certain old-school atmosphere is retained. This nostalgic, cozy vibe that you feel as soon as you walk in must never change.