Eisheilig interview: Dennis Mikus, singer for Eisheilig, was nice enough to agree to an e-mail interview with us & the result is as follows. Thanx alot, Dennis!!! :) -Mikki 6/02

Dennis: The Band formed in 1998, when we came together, most of us disappointed by buisiness stuff and only wishing to play the music we like, without anyone to tell us what the fuck to do.
In ´99 we recorded our first 7-track demo- tape, which gained us the deal with Napalm. And finally in 2001, we released our first album. Between ´99 and `01 we played a lot of live gigs, the most important might have been the WGT in Leipzig and the Euro Rock- Festival (both in 2000).

DML: You're classified as Goth-Industrial... do you accept this classification? Could you tell us how you came upon this style & what your musical influences are?

Dennis: Hey man, what about Rock? :) I mean we´ve got two great guitarists, and they do a great (and loud) job. But seriously: I can`t negate, that both of those types of music are part of our style, but I don’t want to describe our music, this might be the job of those, who listen to it. It simply is what it is, call it what you will.

DML: What other bands have you been in?

Dennis: We all have been in some bands before, but there is no remarkable, or famous thing to mention.

DML: All your lyrics are in German. Have you ever thought to record in English & what do you think of German bands that sing in English instead of their mother tongue?

Dennis: No, we never did. That’s because we made the experience, that you can better express your feelings in your native language, than in a language, you only know from your school days. If other bands do it, well let them, but most of the lyrics, done in english, by german bands are shit. While listening to that sort of songs, you can allways imagine the guy, who wrote it, sitting next to a BIIIIG dictionary (I know that there are many good exeptions, but...).

DML: Are you currently working on a new album? If so, when might we expect it's release & will it pretty much follow the same style or will there be some changes? If so, what kind?

Dennis: Yes we do, and it will hopefully be released in spring 2003. I don’t think, that we made big changes to the style. Mainly we fokussed on better arrangements and the guitars to be more present. But lets wait and see, what comes along.

DML: Any plans for making a video of any current or upcoming songs?

Dennis: There are some plans, surely, but to do that stuff, you first need some money (ehm, by the way, harrharr). I mean, if we do a video, we want it to look great and from my point of view, videos done half- price, mostly look half- price. So, if there will be any possibility to make a good looking video, we´ll do it.

DML: How successful was your debut album? Have you been on any TV or radio shows? If so, which ones? Did the album place on any charts? Did you issue any singles from your album?

Dennis: The sales of the album where quite good for a newcomer, as we are, but sadly there was no tv, or radio presence for us- no, wait: there was an interview, we did on "resistance radio", a small, but fine radio show on the internet. If there was any other radio station, wich played our music I didn’t notice. After we released the album we decided, not to issue a single, because we thought that the people, listening to our kind of music, won´t be interested in singles. In germany, singles are mostly bought by some charts-influenced kids- so its more something for that Eurobeat- market, I think.

DML: Are you pretty popular now in Germany? The rest of Europe? Have you been noticed much outside of Europe?

Dennis: For a new band in the scene its been good reactions, we received. There are many people, beeing interested in the band, even from the rest of europe, and we´ve got also some mails from fans in america, which is great, cause it shows, that music indeed talks louder than languages.

DML: Have you been touring much? If so, where is one most likely to see you live? I notice you're performing at the Eurorock Festival in Belgium on Aug. 2, 2002. Do you enjoy playing festivals or do you prefer clubs more?

Dennis: We´ve been on tour with L´ame Immortelle and Garden of Delight in late 2001. Its been a great experience for us and we made a lot of new friends. Concerning live shows, there are no further plans, exept the Euro Rock thing, because we now want to fully focus on the songwriting for the next album. Maybe there will be a small single show here and there, but nothing big, I guess.
(clubs vs. festivals:) I don’t know, both of it has its advantage, so I can´t say, wich of them I prefer more. I think, that the vibes during a club show are more intense and the audience is not as anonymous as it is on big stages, but on the other hand festivals are more party, so you´re having more fun. I like both.

DML: Who writes the lyrics for the songs? Who writes the music? Do you ever argue during the process or does it usually go fairly smoothly?

Dennis: I write the lyrics, the main reason for that is, that I must sing that shit :). The music is mostly based on an idea by me, concerning keys and the basic riffs and rythms and we fighure it out together during the rehersals. No, we never argue! Its allways peace and fuckin´ fun- bullshit! Sure we get on it sometimes, but on the one hand that’s normal and on the other hand it happens in a very productive way, so that what comes out afterwards is often better than the idea we had before.

DML: What made you choose the Doors' "Love Street" as a cover & do you plan to do other covers in the future?

Dennis: I think that The Doors are one of the most innovative and inspiring bands in music history ever. We all greatly love their music, so it simply made sense, to cover one of their songs. I don’t know if we will do a cover on future records, it’s been a very spontaneous decision to do "Love Street" and I think that’s the reason why it sounds that good. So if we would go to do another one, it should be happen by accident aswell- remember what Britney Spears done to "I love Rock´n´Roll"- it’s a fucking shame!

DML: What are your plans for the future personally and professionally?

Dennis: Personally I want to get further with the band, so we hopefully can earn some money with it in the far future, I want to record up to 1000 albums and play over a million gigs and die as a happy man... (that was even professionally, but what can I do...).

DML: What do you do in your spare time? Any hobbies?

Dennis: Music and drinking.

DML: What do you consider the biggest contributing factor towards where you are today? Do you consider yourself successful & where do you see yourself & the band in 5 years?

Dennis: I think the most important factor was, that we all stuck together as a team and as friends, doing our stuff and never let anyone tell us, what we should do. What do you mean with success, is someone, who makes millions and millions with music he doesn’t really like successful? To me the simple fact, that there are people, who listen to our music, and like the lyrics makes me a happy man, to me this is more success than any chart position can be.

DML: What do you think of the German music scene? What do you like about it, if anything, & what would you change?

Dennis: I think the scene (and many other scenes) needs more "real" bands, who came up, beeing just good friends, making musik. We need more labels who have the balls to bring up a band and let it grow. That’s what the music scene lacks of. We mostly have bands or so called "artists" beeing designed to be the next "one hit wonder" and that’s why, the music scene lacks of innovative ideas and that’s the reason, why nearly every bloody record sounds quite the same.

DML: What would be your dream concert to play in? Where would it be & with whom?

Dennis: The gig I dream of is an open air gig near a fjord in norway, during the sunset.

DML: Anything else you'd like to add?

Dennis: Thanks for the opportunitiy of this interview! And thanks to all the people, who love our music, this is a big gift for us, cause we do as well! ALLES WIRD GUT!!!

More at:

Official site