1. Hello, thank you for your time, please introduce yourself in a few words!
I’m Denis, live in Cologne and do what could be called indie pop music with mostly German lyrics.
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
I have both a book and music EP out now called „How to… Fail as a Musician“ which give you advise on how to avoid mainstream success in the pop music business and stay cool and underground. The book is out with publisher Strzelecki Books here in Cologne who have created a whole series of pocket sized „How to…“ books for all sorts of things you didn’t think you’d need advise for. Like playing soccer; or hanging out in cafés. My book is both an ironic take on the whole „making it“ narrative of pop culture and an embrace of DIY culture. The EP is out on eliterecords and puts some of these words into songs. The track „Immer Weiter“ sums up coming of age in medium sized cities and the local music scene. It’s a disco song about everlasting adolescent nights with exciting bands from overseas: „Faster than the beat / Loud and on repeat!“
I’ll be reading from the book and playing live here:
29.10. Köln – King Georg
03.11. Freiburg – Swamp
09.11. Hamburg – Astra Stube
13.11. Oberhausen – Druckluft
17.11. Leipzig – Ilses Erika
20.11. Dresden – Scheune Blechschloss
3. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
I’m also a bassist, I own a small vinyl label and love records, I love punk and hardcore and played in some bands a couple years back, I love Falco, I try to make pop music that the subculture will enjoy.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
I enjoy buying used stuff wherever I go, but I like to keep it shiny. I am the Rhinestone Cowboy of indie pop.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
Many songs are about travel and love but with that also about crossing (political and social) borders and paving paths that hadn’t been open before. My previous EP has the song „Procrastination“ on it, stating that „There’s only one nation – Procrastination“. The new song „Deutschlandtakt“ is a Neue Deutsche Welle-like song about all things wrong with Germany.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
Apparently writing a book, which I was surprised to find out. Then I guess I’m a good organizer which is probably rather rare among musicians. And I’m good at riding trains and looking out the window doing absolutely nothing.
7. Being on stage feels like….!
It feels ecstatic! Not much can compete with those rare moments when you and the band and audience alike feel completely in the moment and excited about what is happening. Music can be very instantaneous and spark joy from one to the other second. It’s those gems of moments I search for on stage.
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
Haha, the key is to never really learn it. Well, you have to do a bit. But I think it’s important to always keep a bit of genuine naivety out of which in a good moment things can emerge that you can’t comprehend but that are beautifully different. I have to say it took me a while though to switch from shouting in punk bands at age 20 to actually singing in recent years.
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
Q: Would you want anything from the bar?
A: Great question! Yes, would love a beer and maybe some nuts? Cheers!
Instagram: @denis.international
Photo @ Simon Richter