Featuring Markus from Stahlfrequenz Interview by Ruud Dreessen aka ebm-industrial.nl 14-03-2010 19:05
For the first question will be - do you know the netherland?
Markus: I do! When I was young, I lived near the dutch border, about 25 km away from arnhem. And I started to play tennis in S`Heerenberg.
Do you follow the electronic music scene, do you have any other favourite bands?
Not as much as I used to. Once in a while I get some recommendations or I stumble across a good band while surfing the internet, but that’s about it.
Greetings Markus could you please shortly introduce our readers your music project Stahlfrequenz Please fill also a biographical resume about how,when and where...give us a more background information?
Markus: Some information about Stahlfrequenz...- That`s a short story! Klaus and I got in touch ,say about 9 years ago on a party in cologne. We found out that we both have similar interests in music and just decided to start an own project, in order to see in how far we would be able to realize our own ideas. So we began to arrange some throbbing noises, uploaded some songs on mp3.com and finally released our first album on "dark wings". 2 years later, after some problems with dark wings, we got in touch with "pronoize" and released "coma themes".Meanwhile Klaus moved to berlin and I live in stuttgart, which means, that it`s pretty difficult to work on new material.
How did you start to make Industrial / Electro / Experimental and what is Industrial / Electro / Experimental for you?
Markus: We were sitting in front of the computer, wondering what would happen to a piece of sound when it is being processed with several effects. Often the results were amazing, leaving us just gaping at the speakers.
What and who are some of your influences in Industrial / Electro / Experimental ?
Markus: My first indusrial song I`ve ever heared was "SPK`s slogun". I just liked this harsh noises and rhythems.
What are your top ten favorite Industrial / Electro / Experimental Club Songs of all time? Who are you influenced by? What would you consider your favorite cd's?
Markus: For me this would be:
SPK: slogun
Esplendor Geometrico: Sinaya
Haus Arafna: sex u mas
.....
Do you have a favourite track and album?
Markus: This varies from time to time and it depends on my mood. But I guess it`s something from above.
So tell me a bit more about yourself, such as musical?
Markus: I used to play drums when I was 16. I played in several bands, from hardcore to gothic ones, of which the most popular should be "whispers in the shadow" from austria.Later I moved to Augsburg, where I lived in my first own flat and other things became much more interesting. So I stopped playing drums. Then it took 2 years, till I met Klaus.
By the way do you like my questions? tell me what you think about it! ;-)
Markus: I just love that your english is just as great as mine:)
What is the main idea, the message you want to leave to people who listens to you? What is your motto?
Markus: I don`t won`t to express my opinion in our music. And we don`t have a kind of motto. If someone listens to us and likes it - great! If not....burn:)
What’s the name of your band? What’s the origin of that name? Have you changed the band’s name before?
Markus: Well, our "band" is called stahlfrequenz. This means - nothing! We just thought that it sounds nice!
nice numbers have you where did the concept come from? and whats planned now that your album is finished? or anything else you're working on?
Markus:There was no concept. We`ve just been inspired by sounds.
When's the new album coming out?
Markus: It`s not finished up to now, so it`s hard to say.
What do you think of a modern Industrial / Electro / Experimental and about Industrial / Electro / Experimental scene?
Markus: I think this kind of music has changed a lot over the last years, but I don’t consider this a bad thing. Some people may not like the growing influence of techno elements, but others might just have been waiting for it. I think it is okay that a musical style changes from time to time. It would be pretty boring otherwise. I cannot judge the industrial scene in general because I’m not involved in it that much. I’m mainly into nice people, that is why I basically don’t care what the scene looks like in general.
Our usual question - what is Industrial / Electro / Experimental for you?
Markus: Merely a possibility to express oneself.
What was your best live experience so far?
Markus: A concert by Winterkälte, ten years ago somewhere in Southern Germany.
What are your views on the current state of this Industrial / Electro / Experimental scene in Germany.in terms of creativity and audiences? And the scene in other countries?
Markus: The scene seems to be alive. There are many good bands and a large audience. As much as I can judge it, this seems to be similar in other countries.
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?
Markus: Our music creation process.... In the beginning, there is a sound which we elaborate on until we like it. Then we try to implement a kind of dramaturgy. Again, we try and try until we are satisfied with the result, or until we have tinkered it to death. Then we recommence with a new song.
What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Markus: I’m being more or less influenced by everything which surrounds me. Music, mood, stomach problems J
Since the music industry is more open now to purely electronic music has this made things easier for you?
Markus: Hmh… I think it has become much harder to establish oneself on the market as there is quite a number of good bands nowadays. Concerning us, I can’t see any real difference.
So what are their main influences as a band at the moment?
Markus: Same as I already stated above.
Do you think that people from the music press didn't expect you to grow up musically?
Markus: No idea. I never thought about that and I think I’ll stick to that. J
what is the key to making music from Stahlfrequenz and what inspires you to keep growing as a musician?
Markus: As I said, we do not pursue any special concept and we do not want to spread any kind of message across the world. I think that in the end we hardly do anything different than others do. Except that maybe others are doing it better than us.
How do you see the future of download / Copyright in area of goth-Industrial / Electro / Experimental music ? What are the best ways to develop it in your mind ?
Markus: Online distribution channels are there already and a lot of them have established themselves well. However, I think that the CD will never be totally pushed aside, because with it you still have something you can hold in your hand – a kind of trophy. I think that online business will grow with the same rate as the internet or private use of computers in our lives does.
If there was one thing you want people to know about your band what would that be?
Markus: We sleep stark naked. J
Please let us know about your upcoming plans, some new releases you like to confirm here
Markus: Yes!
It has been a pleasure to interview you on your musical activity,Well,any last words to your ebm-industrial fans?
Markus: Should we ever happen to meet any of you, we will tell you with a cool beer.
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?
Markus: Take a look on myspace.
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