Featuring marty from Pseudokrupp Project | Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl | 19 januari 2010 22:42
Thanks marty that you have found time to give answers to these questions,
1- For the first question will be - do you know the netherland?
You're the guys with the orange football shirts, aren't you? Yes, of course. ;)
2- Do you follow the electronic music scene, do you have any other favourite bands?
Yes of course I follow the scene. It's really exciting to see how some bands evolve.
It's hard to name a favorite band. I'm listening to a lot of stuff from Hocico, Leater Strip, Trial
to softer bands like VNV Nation or De/Vision.
3- Greetings marty could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project Pseudokrupp Project Please fill also a biographical resume about how,when and where...give us a more background information?
The project exists since 2000 but I didn't do anything between 2002 and 2008 because I've been very busy, due to my job. PP is my way to handle sorrow, fears or difficult situations and happenings. I recorded the first demo cd "Hirntod" on my own initiative, which includes 5 full tracks and an intro. We sold that one on concerts or via internet. The first cd called "2009 vor unserer Zeit" has finally been released in December 2009. Everything that has been recorded before has just been passed to friends and can be considered as some kind of self-discovery. For quite a time my wife joined on a couple of tracks because she has a truly enchanting voice. But since the songs became harder and harder, I found that not to be appropriate anymore. In October 2006, we had our first concert on which we only could play old songs because I wasn't active at all in the electronic sector at this time. Since October 2008 we're playing live again - with new songs only. ;)
4- How did you start to make Electro / Industrial and what is Electro / Industrial for you?
I'm listening to electronic music since the early 90s, starting with bands like Front 242, Project Pitchfork or Leather Strip. Electronic music has always been very important for me because (especially in the past) it was versatile and claimed a very special harshness for itself.
The experiment with electronic tone generators can't really be exhausted.
5- What and who are some of your influences in Electro / Industrial ?
Very clearly bands from the harsh corner but also German-speaking bands like Steinkind, which are putting the main attention to their lyrics, just as I do, and are really fantastic therein.
6- What are your top ten favorite Electro / Industrial Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
I think I'd need weeks to answer this question. ;)
7- Do you have a favorite track and album?
No, there is no particular favorite song or album. You can discover new things on a cd over and over, if you're listening carefully and that can be really exciting. But to name one, "Alpha/Omega" by Project Pitchfork was a milestone in the electronic music scene, at least to me. Fantastic sounds, awesome drums - very varied and never boring!
8- So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
Hehe, you'd like that, mh? ;) Okay! Private: I'm happily married since 6 years and we have a 4-year-aged daughter, which is all my pride, and we live in a big 4-room-flat in Berlin! That should be enough. ;) Musically… What am I supposed to tell you? I'm practically in the early stages of development and keep on developing - hopefully. I like to experiment while making music and I try out new things, which surely doesn't make it easier. But if I once started, it's hard to make me stop again. I often can't take my hands off 'till the early morning.
9- By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
There are a lot of questions I never thought of before - I think that's quite productive.
10- What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
People should finally start to use their own brains and not act like sheep to slaughter.
To me, it's really important that people actually think about if consume slavery and re-education through media is really what's showing them the meaning of life or if they maybe should better listen to their heart and follow the call of freedom. And if they're having fun and can dance - then I've done everything right.
11- What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
The name of the band has always been the current one. I made musical experiences before with other people but always under a different name. Pseudokrupp is an inflammation under the voice box which causes loud coughing, almost some kind of barking. Since I like to send my messages out aloud, I think it's very appropriate. Furthermore, it sounds really strong and expresses a decent harshness.
12- "2009 vor unserer zeit" where did the concept come from? and whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on? Tell me why this title,"2009 vor unserer zeit" Tell us a few words about the concept of this?
There was no concept at all. I'm writing about what's concerning me or about what's worth to write about. Surely this has a lot to do with the system we're living in and also the avolition of the people. But there are also songs about private experiences, e.g. "Kaltes Herz". The title of the album fits to the current events in this world. I'm often having the impression that this isn't our time at all, yet. As long as the people spend their evenings lazy and bloated with food in front of their TV, they can't be off that badly. But there will come a time when the people are going out on the streets to demonstrate for their own interests and a better life. I'm of course working on new songs and I have already finished a few songs but I can't tell right now what might be released when and where.
13- tell me about tobi from Mortal Void and the remix in you new cd "eiszeit"?
Tobi has become a very close friend over the years and I appreciate him very much. He's making really good stuff and has experienced an enormous development. I know him for almost ten years and we already did our first live gig together in 2006. In 2008 I recorded my new stuff with him at his place and from then, we're working together. I'm supporting him on Mortal Void live gigs, doing keyboards and background vocals and he's doing the same thing on PP gigs. He's also the second voice on PP and did the mixing and mastering of the songs. He really fell for the music and the lyrics when I recorded Eiszeit back then and he asked me if he could make a remix of that song. Of course I said "yes" and the remix became very good, so he had to find his place on the album.
14-How is the current promotional tour going for supporting this album?
Haha…tell me when you know somebody who'd organize that for us! No, really, as I told you: we're in an early stage of development and we first have to gain a certain level of awareness. There's absolutely no thought on a complete tour these days! But if anyone has a possibility for us to play a gig - please tell us! Playing live and being really very to the people is exciting and a lot of fun every time.
15- What do you think of a modern Gothic and about Electro / Industrial scene?
I generally keep my nose out of topics like that. I accept every musical taste and I don't have a very high opinion of gossip. I'm just too old for that. ;)
16- Our usual question - what is music for you?
Music is a very important part of my life. It's my outlet when I'm angry or disappointed and it gives me the power to stay on track when I'm unmotivated and powerless. It is my megaphone, my input and my output.
17- tell me about this label codeline records?
I was very happy having found a label to release my cd. It's anything but easy nowadays because there are so many bands and the market is just vast. I'm really thankful and appreciate the work the people at Codeline Records do.
18- Please list the name, age, school, and respective instrument of each band member
Name: Marty
Age: 32 years
Occupation: asshole (but I'm just about to change the sector)
Tasks: lyrics, music, voice
19-What are your views on the current state of this Electro / Industrial scene in germany in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
In my opinion, the scene in Germany has come to crossroads. On the one side, there are those, who always have been there and who love an appreciate the straightness of electronic music. Then again, there are people that joined the scene, originally coming from the techno scene. They look a little ;) different than the EBM-heads 5 or 10 years ago and so is the new sound. It's become very techno-influenced, which I don't find to be very creative…but as I said, I don't really care because everyone should have their own freedom to live out as they want. But it has a big effect on the music in the clubs, where people often only want to dance the whole night on impulsive, monotone beats. Who doesn't dance at all is standing with the new digital camera at a concert, taking pictures. Less and less people are really deeply interested in the music and what the bands and artists want to express, that's a great pity! You also see that on concerts. If it's not smashing, blasting your ears off for at least one hour, it's considered to be crap. We've experienced that this is very different in Poland. Since there are not so many bands and concerts, the people there appreciate your work much more. You can get into conversion with the people much easier, there is an exchange. I miss that in Germany.
20- you have very nice numbers` tell me about lyrical compositions what you can tell about the done work? How does your music creation process work? How do you create a song?
Thanks, I'm glad you like my songs! At the beginning, there's always the idea, followed by the lyrics, which are mostly written at a stretch and rarely take me more than 30 minutes to write. I'm writing everywhere…in the train, at home or in a rest at work. If there's something that concerns me - I'm writing it down. The topic of the lyrics automatically transfers to the music - it belongs together.
21-What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
That's pretty hard for oneself but I think EBM/industrial hits it pretty good. The influence to me and my music is life!
22-Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
That's for sure. But then again, it's so easy to make music these days so it's much more difficult succeed on the market.
23-So what are their main influences as a band at the moment?
I like the song structures on the new VNV Nation cd a lot. It has also very clear sounds, simple melodies - which, in fact, is the reason they remain in mind for quite a while - and they have great drum structures. But as I said, I'm rather indirectly influenced by something like that, if at all. Much more it's pushing me. A lot of people say that you can easily recognize PP songs because they have their very own sound. This wouldn't be the case if I was too much influenced by other bands…
24-What is currently inspiring your material as an artist? tell me all about the Electro / Industrial scene of germany ?
Well, my defecation…no! But I really think I already answered that question. ;)
25-Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
I don't even know if the music press recognized me yet! Critics never expect anything, they're always searching for something they dislike - that's why they're critics. If they like it - nice! If they don't - that's okay as well! Everyone has their own taste and if you get a critic that prefers much different music, it's pretty clear what he's gonna write. Everyone should make their own impressions and just dare to have a listen to new bands! Thanks to the internet, that's possible in the time we live in. So who only counts on what critics write and does or does not buy a record because of their statements is throwing a lot of money down the drain - believe me, haha…
26-what is the key to making music from Pseudokrupp Project and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
Well, I don't only have PP as my project. I'm also writing and singing for the Berliner project Gleisbauer 33, which is going to a different direction in electronic music, and in addition to that, I'm playing guitar. The special thing on PP is that I can control everything from the first to the last sound, I can realize my own full potential and I am my own boss. Every song is a part of me and my life. Look at the street, watch the news, watch the people sharing your way to work every day. See how dull they're staring in their gossip rags while they're drinking their coffee and are trying to shield themselves from their environment by using their mp3 player! I think their resignation is my inspiration.
27-How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Electro / Industrial music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
I think it can hardly become any worse! Codeline Records invented a very great thing - a unique watermark on each cd. It's possible to identify the songs and their souce, even after they have been ripped and burned. That's an important step towards the safety of the copyrights. The music scene is getting lost in all these illegal downloads and everyone should start to think what they're doing to their favorite band while they're downloading their stuff instead of buying it.
28-If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
Use your brain, start to think and to move! You only live once so don't live your life bound in chains!
29-Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
I can't say anything detailed right now - but stay tuned and take pot luck.
30-It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Thanks, it has also been a pleasure to me!
31-and what is next on germany agenda?
Concerts! We'll try to play as many concerts as we can and that's our focus for this year!
32-thanks for your time! great work on the albums and good luck with everything.any How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
The easiest way is via my MySpace flaflla. But also via Traxxit.eu, Poponaut.de, Infratot.de and Codeline Records!
33-Were you asked to play or did you have to ask for a slot?
Well if you're referring to The Dark Place Festival this summer - we were asked to play. We already got a spot on the "Voices Of The Dark Place" compilation last year and that lead to the request for the festival gig. That's going to be hot!!!
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