Interview: Dein Schatten

Bornzero: Well, Dein Schatten is born out of a coincidence. It began in the summer of `99 when I went on vacation in the Netherlands with my wife and children. At this place we met Ussama "Ussi" Christian Absi an ex "Gruftie" and his family. Two months later we met again in Marburg and Ussi proposed: "Come on Dieter make one dark song for me, just for joke". I have never played the sound of gothic, and I have thought, this is a chance to try a new thing. The song "Er kommt zurück" was the first result, and Ussi said : "Hey Dieter it`s great, you must write more songs of this kind of music, you have a very good talent for this sound". At this time I was working for German Hip Hop artist from Hamburg, and I had always problems with these guys. "Make the lyric more mainstream, or give the bassdrum more kick, and too much melodics". Bla bla bla. I think a little bit of Hip Hop is okay, but always it`s a torture. Ussi said, "Okay Dieter, I will help you to promote the music together with you"

DML: You seem to have quite an extensive musical history, could you tell us about that somewhat?

Bornzero: Shure, I was born 1954 in Dortmund, a city of industrie and beer. At the age of seven I started to play guitar. 10 years later I played at the well know German rockband "Atlantis". During the following years I had roughly 3000 concerts around the world. 1972 I won the German pop polls as the best guitarplayer. Also I worked with a lot of other artist of many music styles like Psychadelic, Fusion, New Wave, Pop, Country, Jazz and so on. But thats past and I'm looking fowards the future. Today I see black for me ;-)

DML: There is also an impressive discography spanning back to the 70's. That's alot of time for music to develop. How do you think your music has evolved since then?

Bornzero: Yes, thats alot of time for music to develop has evolved my music. I think you can hear alot of styles at my new CD "Ewiges Eis", what I have learned and played in the past.

DML: What made you choose the name "Bornzero" for this project? Or had you used it previously as well?

Bornzero: Bornzero is a little play upon words. My second name is Bornschlegel, and we started the project D.S. in the milleinnium 2000, it was my COMEBACK.

DML: How did you decide on the name "Dein Schatten"?

Bornzero: D.S, (English, "Your Shadow") is an idea of Ussi, and I find this name is fantastical to write songs by the positions of a shadow. I`am dark, I`am mostly in the background, I`am ae titan or very small, and wherever I go you must follow me.

DML: Who else is involved in Dein Schatten?

Bornzero: Musicaly is D.S. a one man show. I work still alone. My favorite remix from "Woanders sein" is made by Timo Domati. The other mixes are made by Jean Bach, Jürgen Engler, Ito, Air Liquide, I'll put these songs on a special maxi CD. Besides I have friends that help me at the promotion. At the moment I'm searching for musicians who will participate in D.S. at the future.

DML: How do you create your music?

Bornzero: Mostly I sit in my practice room and play guitar and jam with myself. Or work on the drummachine to form new grooves. Everyday spirtuality is in the air. Many ideas end however in the trash. However every idea is a piece for a new song in the future, nothing is without a reason. To play guitar and make samples or play the other instruments is very simple for me. Not so the lyrics. To create the lyrics however for me is the hardest work for me.

DML: What are Dein Schatten live performances like?

Bornzero: Next year I plan on making a Europe tour. I have a fantastical drummer from Hamburg. He played this time with the international pop band "Heathhunter", at this time and I have contact with a great guitar player from London he plays in the band "Meeker Seeker" and "Bliss" . Oh well, I will take the finest show and I will play powerful on the guitar like the devil and derwish. On the CD I have played the guitar more in the background and with slowhand.

DML: In your opinion, what's the best live performance you have given?

Bornzero: I don`t know. But I think the best live performance I had at the Tokio Air West Club, but also alot of concerts in the same time on open air festivals in Europe 1996.

DML: You have experience in many musical styles, is there a reason why you chose dark wave?

Bornzero: No, neverless immaginary to making Darkwave and Gothic. Only Ussi has given there ground. And I think this is good for me. I can writing special lyrics about dead and freaks.

DML: When I think "dark wave" I think Wolfsheim and Deine Lakaien. You're music is a little different than the brand of darkwave I am used to, have you heard of/been influenced by these bands? Or you trying to create your own flavor of the darkwave genre?

Bornzero: The bands that you mean come from Germany, sorry, I've never heared their music. I`m my own source of inspiration since the last 10 years. I`am not realy especialy interested what the other Guys and Girls of this planet are playing.

DML: Also, considering the many types of music you've involved yourself in, do you have a favorite musical style? Are there any that you don't care for at all? & if so, why?

Bornzero: Music is music, it makes no difference to me. I like it if a musician finds his own line, and if I hear the notes come from his heart.

DML: Are there any musical styles you haven't tried that you have an interest in?

Bornzero: I think "Ewiges Eis" is a dark popalbum. On the next album I will play more guitar, chiefly more acoustic guitar and real drums with more breaks. The style I play is not important. Important is the quality of the song and the quality of the technic on the instrument.

DML: Could you tell us what the lyrics to some of your songs are about? What meaning do you hope to convey with these songs?

Bornzero: I sing about many things at the dark side of life, about depression ("Traenen der Seele") or bad sexuality ("Geister in mir"), about the dead ("Abschied") or vampires ("My name is LUC-if-A"),+ ("Er kommt zurueck") and about psychotic freaks ("Das Tier")+( "Hallo?"). Also about the beginning of the end of human race ("Ewiges Eis"). And many more. Let me put this way: The lyrics are a mixture of sophisticated and socialistic with a dram humour.

DML: How were you able to get Juergen Engler to remix your song? Do you work closely with other artists?

Bornzero: I know Juergen Engler since we made a record with "Guru Guru" at his studio in Düsseldorf. We are very sympathical. Today Juergen lives in Texas/USA. Last year I told Juergen the story of Dein Schatten, and he said that he`d like to make a remix of the songs "Respekt" and "Woanders sein". Mostly I work alone and I don`t like to be influenced by another mind.

DML: What artists have you yourself remixed, if any?

Bornzero: Air Liquide, Zion and Scooter; that`s all. It's not my job and I don`t enjoy to remix some one others creation that's already existend. I'm a composer and singersongwriter.

DML: What equipment do you use when playing music/performing/making etc.

Bornzero: I work with a very small equipment. The center is a Macintosh 450mHz processor, with little Software programs. All effects are played live and directly on the computer. The basics of the samples is mostly natural sounds. The hardware is a Studiomaster 10 channel mixer, Roland GP16 guitar processor, Yamaha analog delay(1975), Alesis compressor, Yamaha natural sound prozessor, Fender Stratocaster, Fender and Yamaha Acoustic guitars, Korg X5D synthesizer, Rode mikrophon. That's all. Before working with Apple, I played the first demos with a 4 track tape deck. It is better you`ve small equipment and intimately the tools and you`ve many time, but you`ve a limit of time in a big studio and don`t know the equipment.

DML: What do you consider your greatest professional experience?

Bornzero: My most important personal expierence is probably 7 years ago. I played by the way at a little band, and we played at Irish folk clubs with on intime atmosphere. Never before I'd played blues in my life. I have a problem. Bornzero played 30 years guitar,is 40 years old and can`t played a fuckin note of blues and Irish stuff?". If I used to work before 8 hours a day, practice now 12 hours. A hardest work, but today I can play it all styles.

DML: Where do you see yourself five years from now? ten?

Bornzero: I don`t no. What can I say? The biggest problem is the menace of a new world wide war. I think many times on this situation, and is a new reality maybe in the future that the lyrics and art of Dein Schatten is prohibition. Who can say what is 2007/2012?

DML: Any plans for an English version of the site?

Bornzero: Yes, I think it`s better I give the order to the webmaster the soon next time for an English version of the site. Too many readers cannot understand the German language.

DML: Any possibility of any releases in the USA?

Bornzero: I search all the time for a label. The reaction from the magazines and radiostation in the area of United States is a sign to let me hope. The CD released first time at the territorium of Russia next month.

DML: Just a question I ask everyone: What is your favorite artist & album?

Bornzero: My favorite albums is by Joni Mitchell (I have forgotten the titel ? ) with acoustic guitars short before the time with Pat Matheney and the wonderful bassplayer Jaco Pastorius. I played 1978 a concert with Jaco in Kamen, a town in the near Dortmund/Germany. Also I like many songs from the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Caravan, Rolling Stones, Byrds, Small Faces, George Benson, Crusaders, and more and more. I know, it`s not really gothic ;-)

DML: Anything you would like to share or add?

Bornzero: No, I`am a musician and singer songwriter, and my best performance is my music. If I play in USA I hope the Deutschmusikland people came to see my concert and listen my musical message (You better believe it! -M). I wish all people of the world health, and let us stay together for peace and freedom.

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