Featuring Fredrik and Dominik Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl Date:15 april 2009 From: Menschdefekt
Greetings Fredrik and Dominik could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project Menschdefekt?
Of course , I'll be glad to. Menschdefekt is a EBM band with the main focus on great stomping beats and melodies and with aggressive vocals and lyrics about criticism towards society and more personal feelings and emotions
Please fill also a biographical resume about how, when and where.
Fredrik: Menschdefekt was founded in 2004 as solo-project by Dominik R. In 2006 the album “ Realitaetsverlust” was released and this was followed by “Degeneration” in 2007 and “Psych[a]otica” in 2008. And now we are releasing “Projekt Tremor” in 2009.That is in short words what Menschdefekt has released in the last years , but it was not until February 09 that I joined forces with Dom and became Menschdefekt's lead vocalist.
Dominik: Right. In February 2009 I started a lyrics/vocals competition for the song "Trigger". Fredrik was the first one who sent in his version and I just loved it. We started to talk about our opinions and goals and it turned out quickly that Fredrik would fit in to Menschdefekt perfectly. I asked him to become permanent member of the project and he immediately agreed without batting an eye.
What and who are some of your influences in music
Fredrik: I have a long list of influences but my main ones are from my “metal” period and those are Pantera and Cannibal Corpse , those two bands were the ones that got me into singing/growling. When it comes to electronic music a big influence of mine is Suicide commando.
Dominik: Well I listen to all kinds of music and there are thousands of bands out there that inspire me but i would say that they don't affect my songwriting deliberately.
Tell one secret about Menschdefekt that you have never told to anyone?
Fredrik: We don't really have any secret, exept that Dom and I have never met in person.
Dominik: ...And that fredrik proposed marriage to me... No, just kidding ;-)
So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
Fredrik: I started with music when I was 18 which was about 7 years ago now. My first band was called Azazel and it consisted mostly of covers of Kiss, Black sabbath etc. Then in 04 I started a death metal band with a couple of friends and we released a demo in 05. Then after that I more or less turned over to electronic music instead , it's less stressful to make and you don't need to sit in someones garage to make it hehe.
Dominik: Well, like Fredrik said before I started Menschdefekt in 2004. I had no idea of making music and of couse the first Songs i did sounded like that! I wanted to create music that would keep people dancing. I succeeded first in 2007 with some songs of the second Album "Degeneration". Now 2 years later, much more experienced and with Fredriks Vocals it seems that things are rolling ahead for us and all the work is finally paying off.
Tell me more about compilations “Interbreeding X” (BLC Productions) and “Endzeit Bunkertracks Act IV” (Alfa Matrix Label Group)?
Menschdefekt is part of this compilations with the song "Staliingrad", a collaboration with Stahlnebel & Black Selket. That was the biggest success for Menschdefekt so far. Oh, and by the way... We will be part of Interbreeding X Vol. 2, too. It will feature the first two songs which I did together with Fredrik, "Trigger" and "Scum". Check it out!
How and why did you come about starting Menschdefekt? what else inspires you to create?
Fredrik: What inspires me is everything around and inside of me. My lyrics are often very personal and cryptic and sometimes very straight forward. One thing all my texts have in common is that I put a lot of emotions into it.
What are your top ten favorite EBM / Industrial Club Songs of all time?
Fredrik:
Grendel – Harsh generation
Suicide commando – Hellraiser
Icon of coil – Shelter
Covenant – We want revolution
Hocico – Poltergeist
Vnv nation – Electronaut
And one – Technoman
Combichrist – Get your bodybeat
Neuroticfish – Don't wake me up
Laibach – Tanz mit laibach.
(Not in that order thought)
Dominik:
:WUMPSCUT: - Soylent Green
Covenant - Der Leiermann
Suicide Commando - Hellraiser
VNV Nation - Chrome
Combichrist - Blut Royale
Aesthetic Perfection - Sacrifice
Das Ich - Destillat (VNV Nation Remix)
Amduscia - Absolution
Terminal Choice - Totes Fleisch
Agonoize - Glaubenskrieger
Ok tell me a few things about Menschdefekt. How did you decide to form this project, give us a more background information.
Dominik: In the beginning it was just one big bad sounding experiment and I never thought it would grow to something like it is now. I started to play around with synths and effects as a pastime only. It was fun to twist knobs and push buttons and see how it turned out. Some close friends liked it and so I learned more about making music and continued. Today I'm glad I did that.
Let's talk about your debut album "Realitaetsverlust (2006) where did the concept come from?
Dominik: Well, there's no concept. It's just a couple of songs I wrote. All they have in common is the fact that I used movie quotes that deal with the abysses of human psyche.
Whats planned now that your E.P. is finished?
Dominik: We don't plan anything. We also don't stress ourselves to write new material. You can't be creative under pressure. It would never turn out good then.
anything else you're working on?
Dominik: Not right now. I'm focusing on vacation with family this days ;)
Tell me why this title "Realitaetsverlust "? Tell us a few words about the concept of this album?
Fredrik: We are strictly a studio only project, It might change in the future but as of now we have to plans of touring.
Tell me about cooperation between Menschdefekt and Stahlnebel / Black Selket?
Dominik: We did 2 songs together which was really fun and resulted in big success for Menschdefekt. Ralph and Sander are great guys. Sander also did the Mastering on "Projekt Tremor".
What are your views on the current state of this electro scene in Gothenburg, Sweden Goldbach, Bayern Duitsland in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
Fredrik: The electro scene is very small in Gothenburg and Sweden overall , there are a lot of electrobands
but almost no place to play , specially not here in Gothenburg which is very sad.
Dominik: The electro scene here in Germany is growing and changing very fast. There are still older people in the scene but the music becomes more and more popular to the younger people. They are all different in style and clothing there's a wide range from simple black to bright neon colours. Also there are many different styles of electronic music played in the clubs. I like this manifoldness. It never gets boring.
You have very nice album..and many many more tell me about lyrical compositions what you can tell about the done work?
Fredrik: As stated before I create my lyrics by putting a lot of emotion and feelings into them, but most of the time I just start to write by myself without thinking and I don't even know how it turns out until its all done , it's like I'm possessed haha. When it comes to content it varies a lot , I'll give you some examples : Dekadenz is about addiction and Plastic is about shallow ebm/industrial girls. So as you can see its very varied.
How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song?
Dominik: It's very different. Sometimes I do the music first and Fredrik writes lyrics for it and sometimes he writes lyrics and i create the music for them. I would say mainly we inspire each other.
Out of all of your albums,which album would you say is your favorite album? Why?
Dominik: That's easy. It's "Projekt Tremor", because it contains lyrics and vocals - That was the missing part in the sound of Menschdefekt before Fredrik joined the project - and of course because we both evolved while working on the new stuff. You'll notice that when you compare "Projekt Tremor" with "Degeneration" for example.
What is currently inspiring your material as an artist?
Fredrik: New good music,people,feelings everything almost.
How did you come up with the name of your band,Menschdefekt?
Dominik: No need to explain. Just think about it!
what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
Fredrik: The people who love what we do , there is no greater feeling than when people give you compliments and when you see a crowded dance floor and your song comes on and people just dance like crazy.
If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
Fredrik: We love to see you dance to our music!
Dominik: Nothing more to say ;-)
Tell us a little bit more about Menschdefekt What do you do in your spare time?
Fredrik: What sparetime ;)? No but seriously , I don't do much myself besides going to the gym,writing lyrics and also writing for the e-zine me and a friends runs together. After work there isn't much time to do anything.
Dominik: Same here. I'm a male nurse, working very much and learning for exams. In my few sparetime I'm writing songs and spend time with my girlfriend and her kids.
while electro is your main musical pallet,what other music do you listen to?
Fredrik: It depends on the mood, gothic metal/rock, industrial metal , trance etc.
Dominik: I'm listening to everything I like except Hip Hop. Besides that there are no limits to my musical horizon.
How long have you been in the music industry and how has it changed over time?
Fredrik: Hmm I would guess 7 years for me.
Dominik: 5 years.
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
Fredrik: Projekt Tremor is the next thing for us as well as Interbreeding X vol.2 (We are the showcase artist this time)
Dominik: There will be some more compilations but it's too early to tell you now.
How and why did you begin to make music?
Fredrik: I've been listening to all kinds of music since I was about 12 years old. And I always liked singing and one day I was talking to an old friend of mine about wanting to try and sing in a band. And he offered me a spot in his band as the lead vocalist. And I guess that started it all.
Why various electronic styles?
Fredrik: Umm. I have done a lot more than just electronic styles so I can't answer that one really.
Dominik: Why always the same? :-P
tell us about your unique style of music and who are your major influences?
Fredrik: My influences comes from the corrupt humans that roam this earth and from personal experiences and feelings.
Are you currently working on or planning any new releases?
Fredrik: For now we have only got Projekt Tremor and IB X vol.2 in mind.
Are you working on any current or future projects?
Fredrik: No as of yet, I got another band I'm also working with and we are working hard on making a demo.
Dominik: Not yet. We take our time.
What is the future for your music?
Fredrik: Spread it wider and to more people. We want it to be all over the world and in all industrial/Ebm clubs.
Dominik: Nobody knows what will be in the future but I hope we will continue the way we started with "Projekt Tremor" and go the extra mile.
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Fredrik: We hope that you like the work we do and that you will buy our upcoming EP and that it will make you dance all night long.
Dominik: We want to see you dance... and all of your money, hahaha!
video created by LORD FRAGSHIP (Germany) of Stahlnebel vs. Black Selket's track "Stahlingrad (Violation of the Menschdefekt Mix)" featured on END: the DJ's first mix album The Chrome Elemental.
Please visit bands on:
© This page,and all contents,are © 2003 / 2009 permission by ebm-industrial.nl
