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 Treibhaus interview: Electro-Metal Band TREIBHAUS from Hanover first hit the music world in 2005 with the release of Unsterblich, and put out Feindbild just one year later in 2006. The band wasted no time between albums, but this did not come with a price as it does for some bands, the music was excellent! Now, 3 years later and after much hard work, TREIBHAUS and their front man Curt Doernberg, have finally released "Alarmstufe Rot". The album shows the band fusing electronic and metal more than in any album before, and continuing to evolve as one of the best up and coming metal bands in Germany today. I sat down with Curt, who is never shy about talking to his fans, and we discussed the new album, the band, the past, the future, and even tattoos and football! Check it out! -Radio Nietzsche 2/09 Radio Nietzsche: First of all, thanks for taking the time to do this! Curt: You are always welcome! Radio Nietzsche: Prior to TREIBHAUS, you were a drummer in a few other bands such as: Rough Silk and Donnerkopf. You were originally a self taught drummer, but now you play guitar, did you also teach yourself guitar, or did you have any sort of formal training? Curt: I tought myself playing guitar many years ago. Meanwhile I used to play drums I started to play guitar because I aready did songwriting for the bands I played with at this time. The main diffrent to today is I wrote songs in the styles of these bands not in my own style. At the end that was the main reason for me to start with Treibhaus. Radio Nietzsche: Tell us about when and how TREIBHAUS started. Did you know any of the other members previously? Curt: Everytime I started to create something different for the old bands I got the same answer. “You play the drums – we do the music.” Someday in 2004 I decided to start with something different. With my own style and without any compromises. As the first songs became ready I asked my good friend Martin, who was and still is my tattoo artist, for some help in recording the guitars. I knew him for a long time and knew what a fantastic guitarplayer he is. Radio Nietzsche: Describe what the name TREIBHAUS means, and what sort of message it is meant to convey to the listener about the music? Curt: I don’t think it realy works in English. Treibhaus is a combination of two single German words. The meaning of these two single words gives you the meaning of my idea. It is a combination of beats, dancing, swetting, hunting and growing, just like my music. That is what I understand if I talk about Treibhaus. Radio Nietzsche: TREIBHAUS is the first band you have been lead vocalist in, and it seems you have found your calling! You seem to have a perfect sort of vioce for the type of music you play. Do you enjoy singing more than playing drums, and do you think you could ever go back to percussion and leave the vocals and lyrics to someone else? Curt: I decided to change from drums to vocals in that time I wrote the first songs. Even before I asked Martin to help me out. I had some good instumental songs without any vocals. I asked myself what’s to do. Should I look for an arrogant, ignorant and crazy guy who called himself a leadsinger? Somebody who defenetly doesn’t have the same understanding of music? No!!!!!!!!!!! After doing the vocals for the first songs I was a little sceptical with myself but all my friends told me to go on. So I started to work on it and it became better and better. To be honest there is still much space left before I will be satisfied. But you are absoltly right, my voice sounds perfect to the style of Treibhaus. At the moment there is no time to play the drums in an other band next to Treibhaus. So I don’t have to think about it. Often I get asked why I don’t play drums anymore. I don’t miss it and as long it stays like this i don’t care. Some month ago my brother asked me to help him out with the drums on his new studioalbum. I asked: What??? I havn’t play for 4 years now! But OK, I will try. So I visited him and played the complete recording in two days. After 5 minutes it felt like I never stopped playing drums. Sometimes I think about what comes after Treibhaus. Maybe something back at the drumset? Who knows? But don’t worry, I don’t plan to stop with Treibhaus. I have so many ideas left and all of them need to be done before I can quit Radio Nietzsche: You seem to really interact with the fans. Whether it be replying to letters on MySpace, sending out signed Cd's or handling merchandise orders, you get up close and personal with the people who enjoy your music. Have you always done this, and has it been a good experience/what has the fan reaction been like?
Curt: Yes, there are a lot of good reactions from the fans. Most of them tell me it is very special to receive an answer from the artist himself. I thought it is normal and most of the musician doing it simular. But I was wrong and this is what I don’t understand. Anyway, for me it is very important to get up close and personal with the people who love my music. This is the best medizine I can get. I always say I don’t care about the opinion of other people. I always do what I want. That is the truth but on the other hand it is so important to have somebody who confirms that I’m right in what I’m doing. These guys are not somebody, these are my fans. People who have the same idea of music. People who understand me. That’s why I try to answer every singe mail. Sometimes it is to much and it takes a while but I always try to give every single person something back. Radio Nietzsche: Do you get much fan interest or interaction from people overseas, say America, Canada, Mexico? Curt: Oh yes, because of MySpace I have the chance to spread my music all over the planet. There are a lot of people from these countries who love Treibhaus. That is a great experiance for me becauce of the German lyrics. It is so cool to see how people from other spoken countries start to translate the lyrics to understand the meaning of the song. In Germany the people can’t imagine that the whole world is interested in music with German lyrics. Time by time it happens like Rammstein did. They have a big part done that this is possible today. Radio Nietzsche: You are living in Hanover now, correct? What is the city like and how is the music scene there? Curt: I feel like a “Hannoveraner”. I was born 30 km from Hannover so I think it is OK In the 80th Hannover had a big music scene. It was a hardrock headquater with the Scorpions on top. Today I think the scene has changed and it is not more or less than it other cities. I love to live in Hannover. For me it is the best place on earth and can’t imagine to move to somewhere else. If you ever come around just let me know... I’ll show you what I mean Radio Nietzsche: I remember reading that you are a football fan. I see a Kaiserslautern tattoo on your stomach, so you are a follower of 1.FC Kaiserslautern and do you attend many games locally or just watch on television? Curt: There are some guys in Hannover who hate me for this tattoo Yes the 1. FCK is my favorite club next to Hannover 96. Kaiserslautern is to far away to attend the games. I watch them on TV or if there is a chance to visit an away game. Here in Hannover I have a seasonticket for Hannover 96. I go there every homegame since nearly 10 years. So I have two hearts pounding in me. Two seasons the played in the same league and this was hard fot me. Let me tell you a secret: Both times Kaiserslautern had to play in Hannover I bought tickets for the place where the away supporters are seated. Thats why some people hate me and my tattoo. Radio Nietzsche: These days, we are seeing a large number of German artists singing in English and leaving behind their native language. TREIBHAUS has yet to do this, and has stuck to it's roots. Do you have any plans to write or perform in English or will you be sticking to German? Curt: Two years ago I answered this question with “never”. Today I say never say never but I can’t imagine that there will be a Treibhaus song with English lyrics ever. The German lyrics are a part of Treibhaus like the electronics, the guitars, the beats and everything else. All this single parts together are Treibhaus. I always try something new but I never forget the roots. Radio Nietzsche: You have done tours of Germany in the past, but you haven't made it overseas. Do you think it's realistic for TREIBHAUS to come to North America say, in the next few years, and would you like to perform overseas for your North American fans? Curt: It would be great if this will happen in the future. I don’t know if it’s realistic or not. If there will come the time we are ready to come over. I would love to perform my songs in North America. I wil not and I can’t promise anything but if there is the day we’ll be there! Radio Nietzsche: You included the song "Pippi Langstrump" (Pippi Longstocking) on Alarmstufe Rot. This seems to be sort of an odd (but rocking!) song from TREIBHAUS, what is the story behind it?
Curt: I never was willed to put a coversong on a Treibhaus CD. Someday I received a mail whre somebody was asking me to help him out. He wanted to release a charity sampler where the money should helb battered kids. Radio Nietzsche: Let's talk tattoos! You have a lot of them ;)! Do they hold any personal meaning for you, or simply for decoration? Curt: It is something in between. Every tattoo has a special meaning for me. I go for a new tattoo at special personal times. It can be a split from somebody or something. Also it could be a special event or feeling. The motive is not that important for me. I choose the artwork more from the visual aspect. I always combine these two ways. Radio Nietzsche: Are there any good tattoo shops in Hanover? The hardest part about getting new tattoos for me is finding an artist and shop I really trust.
Curt: Oh yes! I know exactly what you mean and you know what? We do have one of the best here in Hannover. It’s Martin, our guitarplayer. He is the one I trust 100%. He did most of my tattoos and I’m more than satisfied. He did my first tattoo 18 years ago, he did my last one two month ago and he will do the next one! Radio Nietzsche: Do you have a favourite tattoo or are you like me and just view them all as one big work in progress? ;) Curt: I like every single one seperate and I like them all together. Combined it is what you are saying. A big work in progress with many different own storys. Radio Nietzsche: Do you have any musical influences such as: bands, artists, favourite albums for TREIBHAUS or do you simply sit down and start to play and build a rhythm? Curt: I simply sit down and start to create something what i like. Everything I do is influenced by music I do like. Otherwise nothing of this would be possible. Every artist lives and grows because of influences. That is the reason how we create always new music. I love to listen to so many different styles and bands. It is so much fun to start working with so many different influeces and see what happens. That is the real fun in making music. Radio Nietzsche: What would we find on your mp3 player? What kind of music do you enjoy in your off time, and what are some of your favourite bands to listen to right now? Curt: Oh no You don’t want to know this! In January I was in the US at the NAMM Show in Anaheim. I had songs from 4 different artists with me. It were “Sido” ( German rapper), “Johnny Cash”, “Groove Coverage” (German Dancefloor) and “The Haunted”. That is a wild mix, isn’t it? You see I love to listen to many styles. For me it is imprtant that I feel something. It doesn’t matter what it is as long it is good. Radio Nietzsche: I think Alarmstufe Rot had not only the most electronic elements of all of TREIBHAUS'S albums, but the best mix of electronic and metal. Do you think the band is evolving and fusing the two genres more and more together as time goes on? Curt: You got it! Many people teelling me “Alarmstufe Rot” is more electronic and I always don’t agree. I agree in what you are saying, it is the best mix of electronic and metal. I like both styles very much and I love to combine them. For the same reason I like to seperate them sometimes because they are the same good if they are what they are. In the future I will keep working with different styles. Maybe there will come new influences I need to combine with the current ones. You never know... but it will always be Treibhaus, that is for sure. Radio Nietzsche: Do the other members have any hand in the electronics and programming or is it all you, and how do you all work together during recording? Is it a really easy process to share ideas and work as part of a group? Curt: No, it is not easy to work with a group. For me it is not easy! That is the reason why I do everything on my own. If a songs is complete done with drums, bass, guitar, electronics and vocals by my own, Martin, Micha and Klaus come to play their intruments on top. At this time we only replace my drums and bass parts with the new ones played in the same way. Martin always add a second guitar next to mine guitartracks. Thats it. I know it sounds a little ego but that is the reason why I do Treibhaus. With our last release “Alarmstufe Rot” it changed a little because I did a lot of work together with Martin. He had a lot of good song ideas and guitarriffs so we worked out together some of the songs like “Rache ist süß, “Aus dem Weg” and “Ein echter Engel”. He also was involved in the complete finetuning of the comlete album. We are able to work close togehter without having any ego problems. That is fun and very productive. Radio Nietzsche: TREIBHAUS has come a long way in just 3-4 years, releasing 3 albums and really building up a fan base, even here in North America in the German music community. Did you ever think the project would be this big or get this much attention? Curt: I never expect something what I can’t controll. But I work very hard on it to make it theoretic possible. I’m very glad to see what happened with my little baby Treibhaus.And I’m proud to can honestly say I never did something against my heart. The best thing is I know that i have not arrived at the end yet. It is just a small step what I have done to today. There is hopefully more coming in the future. As I said before, for me it is important to work very close to and with the fanbase. It is a win win stuation and is the secret of my success. Never forget that Treibhaus is a real independent band and without the mouth to mouth propaganda of the fans nothing of this would be possible. Since I see how much power there is on the streets and in the internet I’m looking forward to the future. Radio Nietzsche: What are your opinions on the casting shows on television, making rock stars and singers out of contestents and giving them album deals for the sake of publicity? Curt: Everybody should do what he wants to do. I don’t realy care about these shows. It is a good primetime event and an other last try of the industry to get back lost money. On the other hand I have a lot of respect with all these young artists. There are some real good guys in between and some are making there dreams come true. Radio Nietzsche: And what about file sharing? Do you think it is strictly a bad thing and should be outlawed, or do you think it has some positive aspects for promotion purposes as well? Curt: For me it is the best way to promote my music and a big reason why I am where I am. But I need to sale my music the same as every other musician. I think the people know when they have to buy music. If they like it and the have the money to buy it they should buy and show the artists respect. If there are some Kids without any money who would like to listen to my music . Holy shit! Share it , have fun with my music and tell it to your friends. Radio Nietzsche: Tell us a bit about the new live CD. Who came up with the idea to put it out, and when was it recorded? Curt: At the end of last year we did the release show for the CD “Alarmstufe Rot” This event was well planed and oganised by Matthias, out manager. I decided to record the show without having in mind to do a live CD. Just for us to listen and control what we are doing on stage. After I checked the result I was surprised how good it is. Evan it is only one show recorded decided to do a limited edition live CD based on the 5th Anniversary of Treibhaus. Currently I work very hard on it to make us and our fans a nice present. Radio Nietzsche: How are you enjoying being a part of TREIBHAUS? Is it the best band or experience you've had musically so far, and where would you like to go with it? Curt: I am Treibhaus! And yes it is the best band I ever had in my live. I told you before how I think to the future and I know that I will do this as long it is fun for me. That day where it is no fun anymore I will quit! Radio Nietzsche: Any words for your fans here overseas who are reading this? Curt: I think at this question you mostly read the same shit but I need to thank every single one of you for beeing there and for supporting Treibhaus. Please enjoy my music and spread it everywhere you can. We salute you! Radio Nietzsche: Thank you so much for you time, and keep on rocking! Curt: It’s my pleasure!
Cheers and respect from Hannover Germany, More at: |
