Sonic Front interview: Many thanx to Kai Hornung for agreeing to do this interview. The band is currently working hard on their newest album so I very much appreciate Kai taking the time to do this! They're a really great band so please check them out!!! Oh and thanks also to Arndt Peltner from Radio Goethe for his questions & everyone else who submitted questions! :) -Mikki 11/05

That said, could you give us a brief story of how the band formed and how you chose your name?

Kai: Back in 1993, we were close friends and classmates, we met to not only share the passion for listening to heavy music but to make some noise on our own. I was there when a bunch of guys met for the first time in the basement of chistophīs parentīs house. After that, letīs call it "noise-experience", various friends of ours met. Soon a bunch of guys would form what should represent the core of Sonic Front. It was in the fall of 93 when I joined the band shortly after they had almost finished the first song. A singer was missing so I joined practise and did not leave anymore. Actually, I do not remember anybody saying "you are in". But since nobody ever said "you are out" I always came back to practise. In 94 we played our first show in our school giving ourselves the name DEAD END. That name got changed while I spent my summer in the USA in Michigan. When I returned my bandmates explained why they would prefer the name SONIC FRONT. It had something to do with how the bandīs sound should be really a thick wall of sound and that the name would represent that. Well, I was alright with that although this name has never really gotten me extremely excited.

DML: How would you describe your sound to those unfamiliar with your music?

Kai: This must be the most hated question among musicians. I donīt know, all these genres were named from labels trying to market their products. We have never seen our music as a product. This is maybe why we never jumped on any particular genre. So how would I describe our music though? As heavy electronic, alternative rock. Does this help a little? Imagine bands like Stabbing Westward, A perfect circle, VAST or maybe Filter then you are kinda close to how we sound. In Germany we have not found a counterpart. At least thats what people from record companies, magazines or radio say. So this might be reason for our success and failure at the same time.

DML: I think the main question everyone has is: What is going to happen with Sonic Front now that Christoph has passed on? He was the main song writer, wasn't he?

Kai: The only thing we focus on is our new record. We promised Christoph and to ourselves that this new record will be the best we have ever recorded. We are not 100 % happy with how "Depart" turned out. But this new album "Pieces" will be without any compromises neither in sound or songlist. For example we will be putting the heaviest and darkest song at the very beginning. We want the listener to choose right at the opener: either go on listening and like the album or turn off the first song and leave the whole thing alone. Christoph and me we have talked about the concept of the album over and over. We were both really looking forward to making this our masterpiece.
Losing him in the making is just the hardest thing. Christoph was such a huge and important part of the band that itīs really difficult without him. Yes, he was the main source of our songwriting. When it came up to putting parts together to form a song he was the main man. ....Mostly I miss him as my best friend though. My only goal is that he will like how "Pieces" will turn out. I know one day he will tell me.

DML: While Christoph was the main song writer, you Kai are the lyricist, I believe? What inspires your lyrics and what songs are you the most proud of and why?

Kai: Itīs true I have always written all the lyrics for the band. And my own feelings and thoughts have given way to what I write about. For example during the 'Are you lost?'-phase I went through major problems with a relationship to a woman I loved. Many lyrics reflect that. Although I would not say that the lyrics are all autobiographical most of them reflect feelings and thoughts or phases I went through in my life. I would like to write stories and lyrics like Johnny Cash did, for example. But it just does not seem to work for me though. So I guess, I stick to what I can: describing pieces of my inner self. Lately that has been politics, too. More and more lyrics turn out to be rather critical towards developements I see in our every day society. "Comatose" is an example on our "Depart"-album. There will be plenty more on the new album. There are just so many things happening around us it is impossible to not pay attention to it. So basicly, keeping my eyes open does inspire my writing.

Well, of course, what happened with Christoph passing away left a mark, too, and is reflected in lyrics for the new album as well. New songs like "Fortune son" are dedicated to him.

The songs I am most proud of: well, musically that would be songs like "Every passing light a reminder", "Disturban", "Wave goodbye", "White out", "Dump and chase" or "A laugh and a lie" for example. Those are just some of the songs that thrill me the most. They give me goosebumps on stage sometimes. I like pure rockers like the very old "burst to become", too. There is no song I cannot stand actually. There are preferences though, definetly. Most songs represent certain moments we shared with our band and this means song favorites change.

Lyricly, Iīd say "This wreckage I own", "Every passing light a reminder", "wave goodbye", "drifter", "unlikely" or "wrong" turned out pretty well, at least how it feels for me. Well, those are the ones that come into my mind right now. Itīs a tough question why I do prefer them though. Maybe just because they are really close to my feelings and to how I decipher life for myself.

DML: I'm also curious about if you've never wanted to sing in German... Your English is impeccable but do you use English to be understood everywhere or do you simply prefer it when writing text?

Kai: No, being more or less understandable has never been the reason. All the music I listened to when I was younger was in English, all the lyrics I read were, too. And since I felt comfortable in this language it only felt right to write in English, too. I just like the way you can play with words and play with ambiguities in English. In German I felt it was too clear and obvious what I tried to say. I prefer the listener or reader painting his own picture with my words being the color. So writing in English comes naturally for me.
Lately I have changed my mind a little though and I can even imagine singing a German song. Weīll see. It is tougher to write in German. The task more and more excites me though.

DML: There are four remixes of your songs by various people on the CD-Extra part of your "Depart" album. Did you ask them to do this or did they do this on their own?

Kai: Both. We had a very good remix on "Are you lost?" and so the idea came up we would be doing this on "Depart", too. So we asked some people and some were offering it to us. We just picked some of the mixes we had in the end. I think it is always interesting what people outside of the band do with our music. Altough I have to admit it is kinda scarry, too, at times! My own feelings towards a song can completely be toppled by a new remix. So exciting and frightning, too.

DML: In this same CD-Extra section there are two versions of a video for the song, "Walk Away". One is much shorter than the other... why the two versions and which is the band preference?

Kai: The shorter one was done by Christoph himself. He just thought there were not enough high quality shots that would keep the video exciting throughout the entire length of the song. So he did edit it and cut it short. I was shocked at first and argued he could not do it because the lyrics and the meaning of the song would be all messed up. Well, let me tell you it was pretty hard arguing with this guy at times. And we did often, ha, ha. We loved each other though and soon I did understand the concept of his video. Well, yes and I do like his version better. I think the other guys in the band do, too.

DML: Arndt: What surprises me is, that there are so many good bands from Hannover and it seems to me more and more are evolving. How would you describe the music scene there and what is being done that such a lively scene can grow?

Kai: I do not know if the Hanover music scene is more lifely than others in Germany. Many bands complain the decrease of opportunities to play live. Clubs that always welcomed live music have changed their programme. Unfortunately less and less people came to visit shows. So itīs a difficult situation here. There are a lot of bands, pretty good ones, too, but they are not really getting around a lot. Yet, most of them lack the total effort it takes to make it. That has been a problem with Sonic Front, too. We guys do have decent jobs and at least half of the band was not really keen on playing their butts off to get around in Germany or Europe. So of course, we stuck in Hanover mostly. Sucked because I have always been a moto to head into the opposite. Many other bands around here seem to lack this energy to play everywhere, too. Yet, yes it is a lively scene with a local, independent radio station featuring Hanover bands and also a website that updates Hanover band news every day.

DML: Arndt: I guess every bands dream is to get a record deal. On the other hand you - as a musician - have to see that this dream gets more and more difficult and that literally crap is being sold and makes it into the charts. How do you deal with that situation in a band of revitalizing and reenergizing yourself over and over again?

Kai: We do not care about a record deal anymore. The way the record companies have evolved and how the music market works, I donīt think there is anything truly interesting a record company could offer to me. At least in Germany. Of course, a couple of years ago we dreamt of a record deal, too. But the industry has changed and we are enjoying our independency more and more. If crap is being published then I guess itīs because it is being bought by people, too though. The German music scene as a whole is not really looking bright if you ask me. The really interesting and valuable ones are not earning a dime and do not have a chance to find a big audience. Take a band like Nine Inch Nails in the USA. No such band would be able to fill Arenas in Germany. Here you have to be more commercial. Alright, Rammstein are a different story but their success bases on a very smart image and "product placement". To come back to your question, charts or something like that have never been a motor for our music. If a song appeales to ourselves and passes our own standards, it is a good song. It is as simple as that.

DML: Arndt: You are currently working on the post-production of your new album, a CD that was the last for Christoph. Many songs were written and played with his situation in mind. How did you guys deal than and now with this?

Kai: It was and still is the worst we have ever gone through. Christoph can never be replaced by anybody. We as a band know that. As I said, many songs deal with him and his passing away. The album will reflect that. It was a tough time for everybody when we learned that he was this sick. I am just glad we had a chance to play 2 final shows after his first surgery. I remember how it was such a huge lift up for everybody to be on stage again after we feared we would never be after his first time in hospital. Especially Christoph was full of joy. ...it is still very hard on my realizing he will never be around anymore. There are hardly any days I do not think of him. I definitely miss him as an outstanding musician and as my best friend.

DML: While on the subject of the new album I have 3 questions: Whos is playing in Christoph's place as you record it, in what ways will it differ from your previous releases and will you be touring after it's release?

Kai: Christoph has recorded about 98% of his guitars for the album. I remember exactly the last time he picked up his guitar and played a solo for "he left is right". Listening to it now gives me chills. The rest that has to be recorded will be played by a close friend of ours: Rob from Excrementory Grindfuckers who is also co-producing the album. It was Christoph himself who asked him to do it. The new album will be more emotional. Way more emotional. Of course, everything that happened has had a huge impact. "Pieces" will be rougher than "Depart" and in my opinion deeper, most of all: less compromising! No touring plans. All we think of is finishing the album.

DML: Do you prefer recording in the studio or playing live?

Kai: Both can be very satisfying. I prefer playing life though since there always is a direct feedback from the audience. It can kick you onto a huge adrenalin rush and can be the best, better than sex.

DML: The Brandon Lee quotation on the "Are you lost?" album was just a bit eerie... Were you already aware of what might come to pass with Christoph or was this just a coincidental whim?

Kai: Back when Christoph chose the quotation nobody in the world could predict what was about to happen 4 years later. See, that quotation is on our album "Are you lost?" from the year 2000. But last year when Christoph was in hospital and I had one of my last very long conversations with him I did hint to that quotation and how fitting it was. He agreed and explained that this quotation had summed up feelings he had for many, many years and how important it was for him. I donīt really believe in fate. This quotation is odd though, itīs true.

DML: What are your goals for the future, personally as well as professionally?

Kai: Enjoy the moment. Make music and enjoy life. And if that one day comes I want to see if Christoph has truly saved me a place in his band up there somewhere where he is. He promised me before he died.

DML: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview and you have our best wishes for the future!!!

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