Q & A with Carlo, Pete & Ralf
March & April 2011 - english/german - uncensored ;-)
By Petra Suemnicht
1.) Mixing and mastering of the new album STRANGER (?) is finished now. How does it feel to have the whole thing finished and ready to go? What kind of album can we expect and what can you tell us about the songs?
Ralf: puhh, hat fast 2jahre gedauert und jetzt ist das ding fertig. als musiker und producer kann man ja sich nie damit abfinden, dass die songs in ihrer entwicklung abgeschlossen sind, quazi fixiert. es sind sehr unterschiedliche songs drauf, wieder mit vielen gästen - alles kleine planeten mit ihrem spezifischen eigenleben ;-) - einige songs hinterlassen eine offenheit und auch ein grosses fragezeichen - "stranger": konkrete pop-songs & ballads im beatles-schema stehen neben eher offenen jams mit experimenteller, untypischer struktur. der deadguitars-horizont ist offener geworden und man kann die einflüsse unserer parallel projekte und ex-bands wiedererkennen (wrt, belgium, convent, 12DD...). man hört mal echte geigen oder elektro-einflüsse. das ist sicher musikalisch anders als bei den vorgänger-alben "airplanes & flags". auch wurden die verschiedensten produktions- & recording-techniken benutzt. gitarren wurden z.b. nachts im garten, im aufzug oder am strand an der cote d'azur aufgenommen. drums im treppenhaus, carlo's vocals teilweise im auto oder in seinem schlafzimmer in utrecht eingesungen. parallel wurde auch einiges programmiert oder unsere gastmusiker haben ihre files zugeschickt. wie Michael Dempsey (ex-the cure), der in seinem studio in LA diverse instrumente aufgenommen hat oder I.V.Webb's vocals in london. Axel Ruhland (M.Walking) hat sein string-arrangement in hamburg aufgenommen...
Carlo: Stranger is the title, yes indeed, stranger ;-) It’s a multi coloured album with a lot of different songs and mixes. I have listened to it several times now and I really can’t say where this one will lead us to. Love goddess & the love ghost is the starting track and it really blew my head off! I really love it! When we recorded it I wasn’t sure, it never really got a hold on me somehow, but after the final mixes have been done it really has a drive. I really think this is going to be a mile stone back in time and further into the future. Hope our fans will understand it as much as I do now.
Pete: it’s a great relief to have it all wrapped up...as it took longer than we had originally anticipated... time to let go and prepare for the exciting things to come...
2.) I know that many people would love to hear it as soon as possible, so is there an approximate release date?
Ralf: irgendwann mitte 2011
Carlo: I hope in a time when there is a good promotion built around it. Not before that. I don’t want us as a band throwing pearls for the swine. I mean to say, it would be a pity to see this album sunken into the endless sea of releases. An album that we all worked so hard on. It’s worth being noticed!
Pete: well... this time around we’ll be releasing a single up front which could happen within the next 10 weeks or so... the album should be out in august this year... it’s now up to our new label to decide things like that.
Carlo...finding the right words
3.) When did you start writing and creating the songs for the new album?
Ralf: die ersten tracks wurden schon juni 2009 aufgenommen. "you and I" basiert sogar auf einer noch älteren song-idee die 2007 von carlo und mir im wohnzimmer demo-mässig eingespielt wurde... die original gitarren-loops hört man noch auf der CD. ich finde es authentisch wenn man die ursprünglichen ideen mit in die produktion einbaut, also die original jams ;-), das macht es eigenartig und '"special".
Carlo: We always write new tracks and ideas whenever we meet, as Ralf already said, we began to record You & I already in 2007, but we never finished it, the lyrics for the song I rewrote lately.
4.) Are there any themes running through the album do you think?
Carlo: Well, I always try to combine the lyrics with the red line of the title, I mainly do that before I finish the lyrics. I’ve got a title in my head and rearrange the lyrics around it. That doesn’t mean that it’s always a concept album. I just try to give it a sense of meaning. To make it cinematic like. This time lyric wise I am the stranger again. The stranger that I felt in many different life situations. Things that happened around me I could not identify myself, or neither be a part of. I had the feeling I was just an observer and not involved.
Carlo, recording vox
5.) What is your personal highlight from the new album and why?
Ralf: "along the great devide". es basiert musikalisch auf einer song-idee, die ich für meinen sohn (6) entwickelt hatte. es verarbeitet die trennung von seiner besten kindergarten-freundin. ein sehr trauriges thema, aber es ist toll, dass es den weg auf's album gefunden hat. nett, wie metaphorisch carlo das thema bearbeitet hat. aber eigentlich sind alle songs highlights ;-)
Carlo: It’s hard to say really after having this one now for just more than a week. As I said before I love the track "Love Goddess & the love ghost" because it has such a catchy bass-line, an eighties touch transferred into the now and such an energy. But I also love the cover of the Neil Diamond song called "The Singer" because it has such a fragility and purity. Other favorites are "3 words for the lovers" and "You & I". I was surprised what Ralf did with the title song "Stranger”" a nearly instrumental track, really a mind blowing piece of art. "Along the great devide" could be a track by the mission or the sisters, a wonderful produced dark track.
Pete: i go through phases whereby my personal favorites have differed along the way... for the last few weeks it’s been “Love Goddess...". Before that it was "chromelike splinters"... next week, who knows? why? I can’t really pin-point it... it just happens...
6.) Do you have any particular hopes or expectations for the album?
Ralf: natürlich, das es jemandem gefällt
Carlo: May those who listen filter the essence out of this album and enjoy it as much as we did while we recorded it. Always keep in mind that it’s not comparable to the music done by bands who spend a fortune on production costs. In that case we are limited, but to be honest with you, it sounds like a major production!
Pete: it would feel good if our fans enjoy this album... if we manage to reach out to new people and strangers with it...even better...
7.) Any plans to put up an album teaser on YouTube for example?
Ralf: yes
Carlo: great! :-)
Pete: we do have a few videos planned for some of the tracks...it’s all being worked on as we speak...
Sven-Olaf & Pete
8.) There are several guests across the album, did you have preconceived ideas about what you wanted from them or was it a more organic process than that?
Ralf: teils teils. bei crystin's & I.V's vocal-parts war klar was wir wollten. auch bei den streichern gab es eine vorgabe, die aber natürlich unsere gäste mit ihrem typischen style ausfüllen konnten. michael dempsey hat seiner kreativität freien lauf gelassen. geil, dass mein alter kumpel colin drummond (12DD) mit einem violin-overdub in einem song zu hören ist. thomas kessler's piano-part ist magic. man kann vielleicht nicht alle gäste optimal featuren und so ist das piano von meinem alten freund georg sehrbrock (belgium) in das tösende finale des schluss-songs gerutscht - ironie des schicksals. ich habe den song und deren 120 aufnahme-spuren ab minute 5 vom "zufall mixen" lassen. ein experiment, nach dem motto: let's see what happens.. ;) ...es war sehr schwer ihm das verständlich zu machen...
ps: ich möchte mich hiermit nochmals sehr herzlich bei allen gastmusikern bedanken.
9.) Are there any further artists you would love to work with some day?
Carlo: Who knows, we already have a good reputation by now and many people who liked to be part of what we produce and have produced already. I hope to get many more involved into our music because it’s so inspiring working with good people who give a different approach to what we create.
Pete: maybe the additional artists we had originally approached for this album who couldn`t get around to contributing for sheer lack of time (owing to their tight touring schedules etc.) will have enough time next time around. personally, I would love it if mister Wayne Hussey were aboard once again...
Ralf
10.) If you compare the new album to the previous ones, in which points do the albums differ from each other?
Carlo: It’s the same style in different colours, fans will notify our signature, vocal melodies, and instrumental parts. It’s just created in other circumstances, in a different "Zeitgeist", with different guest musicians and a different approach. It is a stranger to the ones before and it is stranger than the ones before, but you will find the same handwriting and emotion.
Pete: this is more on a technical note, but the first album "Airplanes" was produced in various studio situations on analogue tape with the full band laying down the backing tracks. the second album “Flags" was recorded mainly in our own "deadrose" studio on 24 track hard disc. This time around we recorded on Ralf’s note book, all over the place, wherever we were at the time with no limit to number of tracks.
"Stranger" differs to the previous albums in that it was soley recorded, produced and mixed by ralf. he had our unconditional trust to do whatever he wanted to do with the tracks. Which he did, in every respect. In my eyes he’s crafted a grand album over the last 2 years, spending every spare moment of his time on this labour of love
11.) Are there any plans to tour the album?
Ralf: yes. we're starting a tour in october2011
Carlo: We will as soon as we know more, we’ll let you know.
Pete: we are hoping to perform a few festivals during summer, maybe a short acoustic tour in august and a full band tour in October and anything that pops up in between. Maybe...and if time allows a few gigs in the UK...about time we got over there to see our friends again...
12.) Is there any place in this world you would love to have a gig some day where you have never been before?
Ralf: Tokyo! also I've never toured Scandinavia, would love to go there one day...
Carlo: Greece, Scandinavia, USA, Asia!
Pete: Mexico / Tibet
Patrick
13.) How would you introduce Dead Guitars to someone who doesn`t know you?
Ralf: listen to "name of the sea" on cd, watch crash-video @ LMH2008! listen to carlo's voice. come to our gigs & buy the album!
Carlo: Music for those who love music by Bowie, The Cure, Pink Floyd, The Editors, Radiohead, The Mission, The Chameleons, The Sound, Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division and that kind of stuff...give it a chance! :-)
14.) What is your intent and philosophy for 2011?
Ralf: abschalten!
Carlo: Save our wonderful planet and be more tolerant. I need a break soon anyway ;-)
Pete: intent: to go and have my ears tested...
philosophy: power to the people / worldwide shut down of nuclear plants with large investments in alternative energy / gangster politicians, bankers, warmongers etc. to be locked away for life…you know who you are...
Carlo, Pete & Ralf, thank you very much for your time!
> Please check Discography for the full track listing and guest list
> More pics from the recording sessions can be found in the GALLERY
