We write to December 2009, shortly before Christmas. See all Vienna knows stomping through the most wonderful physical condition of the water, which it gibt.Temperaturen well below the freezing point can be one of us as quickly as possible disappear in warm rooms, while the estimated rest for pre-Christmas panic in the city to the hated place. Why is this so that does not interest me, but I want a little deeper into the minds of those looking to also remember those people and help to represent those other things to worry the center of their existence.
No Head On My Shoulders , the most diverse band of Austria, the blast furnace in which it is the wonderful fusion of style, be a little more than 24 hours on the stage of the Vienna Chelsea want to play a benefit for the project Ute Bock . For me the time again briefly in the colorful new home in Vienna, stop by and give me an overview, in many ways.
The double door is open already, Keksgeruch one searches in vain, but even pull the sounds of a new song fragrant swaths through the old walls, a displaced the middle of a bazaar, somewhere in the Persian hinterland. In the group home organized chaos reigns, the life to the circumstance requires it to be active at all in NHOMS . In the sleeping apartment studio rooms are stacked on top of keys and Comics Synths, flickering screens instead of wreaths, croak before ashtray overflowing, and is the roadmap through the new album instead of a Marie picture pinned to the wall.
The band has gone to the studio in the semi-hibernation and crawl only for live performance from their dispersed holes. Only singer and historian Martin, one in which we do not know really whether its standing in all directions hair significantly to the general condition, or to do with the water lines in the apartment has, and Philip, the Stoic thinkers and, in the Band brings to life six strings cry, have gathered himself. The former werkt even the vocal tracks, the latter commutes, and more recently with an academic title, a regular service between the Magic Mixing Rooms and the Vienna nightlife back and forth.
is in my pocket is a yearbook full of questions, a little game and a mix of mom's Christmas cookies. The mic is, the vocal chords are lubricated, damps out the cigarettes, well then we will at once, two to speak.
What is your personal motivation for a project like the Ute Bock Festival join?
Phil: There are regularly come charity requests, actually all the time. You have to help choose the projects done well you will. The refugee issue is now more present than ever, and therefore we have decided to play a benefit for the club Ute Bock. I think that's a good thing.
MARTIN: You in Austria a few people doing meaningful things, do things that help other people. Ute Bock's just an institution in Austria, which manages to come up with their work to Austria and the people have nothing to give a place or at least a little something. Since the very least what we can do to waive our fee to help bring out their income to this very good.
Do you think that in times like these, nor does anyone think, why just NHOMS in "the mood for culture join. What might have for reasons that perhaps the issue has to do their deals in your music?
M: principle, I think most people that it really does not matter who, what and why play anywhere. There are a few scenes and genres where it increased to as human rights or animal rights is, but most of the people take little notice of it.
How can you make as a band this issue of human rights and Asypolitik closer to arouse the interest, so people bring to a concert so apart, as a key issue. Just as has yes start the consciousness thinking - to the people.
M: There are really various ways to do that. There are the bands that stand on the stage and shouting out loud what not all bad, that we must fight for this and that and so on. I'm just think that once you patronizing a person, you take him a bit of his speech. Someone who feels patronized in turn, will make what ever anyway, because he feels treated like a child and a maximum says: "Now, certainly not." So that's my approach.
P: I also think nothing of it when a band tries because to do on brainwashing. Basically, I think, that you are as an artist there to the people for the NHOMS interest on such meeting to bring. And if there is information on the Spirit and in the air, I believe we can reach a few more people. It may already have a good synergy arising when one is in principle interested in NHOMS , and then just faced with this issue locally.
Ok, now we know how it is not practiced, that you are not Sun To information but it is also not always share. How to give NHOMS its setting next - even outside a Ute Bock Fundraiser?
M: You as a band, too, the great medium of music and text. In this whole context, you can already show stop abuses and of course things are going well. We pack
themes in short stories. That was the old album already so, and the new album is much more extreme.
Give us brief insight into the topic of the new disk. As it crosses the bow?
M: A future history of the current of our time is starting. We tried to think ten years in the future before, have in place in 2020 stories whose protagonists have problems because of what today happened. Since there are both songs that focus on (asylum) policies and led to the results to the politics of today, and normal human internal problems such as loss of reality or self-determination are treated. We tell the
from the perspective of good and evil side. The latter represents for us this very conservative, not broad-thinking, they Blocking dar. may sound a little flat and said cliché, like a knee-breaking role models, but it is in principle. Man must learn to think ahead and just jump over its own barriers to stop or put to other human barriers in their way. This must be taken away. Asylum policy is because, for example a big issue.
what extent have you up as a songwriter with the new asylum posited, which will come into force in January 2010 so, set apart? How is your general thoughts on dealing with asylum seekers or immigrants in Austria?
M: I deal certainly not as much so as a social worker who has to do in this area know of any amendment must, but I have talked to social workers, with asylum seekers and with people in order to have to do. I've taken a picture. Depending on what angle you look at that face just always new problems. The bottom line is it so that only asylum seekers wait and can submit. They are left in the dark all the time, do not know whether they can remain as to whether they are back to where even death is waiting for them.
must hold true for a system developed that works really well, so people who come to Austria and need our help they get.
now available in Austria, the wife Ute Bock, nearly 70, a figurehead, with the one adorned themselves, being showered with awards. At the same moment 60% of the people they are no longer maintained in the minimum pension. Neither they nor the people get the state support. It can not be, even law or not, that a country like Austria, it is not so bad as not taking the lead and these people create a life worth living. Why do you think the issue of foreigners and asylum is enshrined so negative in so many minds, from what people have fear?
P: I think xenophobia is fundamentally human, one is afraid of something that is foreign, the question is how to implement it. In public, but that is sadly, have caught up enormously by election results, the right-wing populist parties in the last 20 years, there's a reason in our current society. But why is that ....? I can not now presume to propose a system where all can together well.
We are a rich country that generations before us have built it all, were always concerned about security, make money, build business, and are afraid that something is taken away from them. When I talk with people from that generation, I get exactly the response. People think probably many times: "They are themselves to blame, we have also all been rebuilt after the war, why have not managed this? Bad luck! "
Perhaps that is the source of evil?
M: There's 1000 reasons. I will as time to look beyond the horizon Austria. It are indeed many countries in Europe where it is really bad. Since Austria is probably even more in the midfield, I do not know for sure.
this thing called integration always see people as if they were foreign bodies would bring in their socio-ecological system. That's what it is but not exactly his. Integration should be an interaction that people are already there and learn the culture of others. It should be based on interaction. In other countries it works much better than in Austria. It is incredibly difficult to find in Austria connection, simply because of the Austrians is for yourself only among themselves, that is only in his group. I do not know why that is. States are in sunnier sunnier's minds and people are much warm-hearted. Italy is even warmer, but oh well .... That's another chapter, one can not generalize.
here, though, the grouse is often said in the Austrians to light. That's also against the policy apparatus does not stop, which, even the advances of Germany with horror refereed Muslim hate campaign of the FPÖ, no bars. In Austria, which falls under normality. "Politicians of other parties that mean not good, but really get up and do something about it that makes none. One would have to clearly say that simply do not goes, and point! "said Martin.
The problem is, that one party politics in Austria can not take them seriously and that it is the purest puppet theater is to act as the puppet, however, because we give them the power to do so. These people make our laws and we accept this without hesitation even though they are far from meeting a consensus in the population. Lack the broader perspective of the true things, it lacks the courage to open your mouth. The convenience, however, puts so much of it in us Austrians, is for many the "no go" when it comes to open.
"I am always sure that those doing well, that come from other people, but to get up or maybe even make friends, puhh, there is already asking too much "- in this direction, unfortunately, our temperament.
In Parliament ...
is ... yes often and discussed night after night without a green branch to come. The issue of asylum policy, human rights and integration would allow us the course, our goal is, by once again the consciousness of the masses thought to boost a little.
Human rights were written in 1948 and should really represent the guidelines in dealing with people. Whether this is so, whether one ever came to the ears and what exactly these injuries come to mind in the next environment that we want to illuminate a little. I have tinkered
quiz cards and a wide range of human rights scribbled. Both Martin and Phil got to go I asked cards, and they asked them for a known violation of human rights drawn.
Card # 1: No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or be made in the country.
M: 's just the question of arbitrariness. What is arbitrary and what is not? Probably you have the European in every country. One reason I find myself easily if I want.
an example. It is ten Years since since Operation Spring. At that time, definitely people were detained without cause, without any real proof and imprisoned. There were 120 processes, as many convictions and each with the maximum penalty. Since the card fits quite well that you have raised. What do you think has changed in the last ten years?
M: It has not changed much. As police, we have it easy. Man arrested someone and find something. Everyone has' skeletons in the closet "and suddenly they have a proof of what I already know what. Suddenly stop anything.
Card # 2: Everyone has the right, in other countries follow Seek and enjoy asylum.
M: Since we are anyway back in Austria or Europe. America is the same. There are anyway mostly in the countries which do not want to go different, in principle.
A temporary residence permit you can get, yes. So, unfortunately, not always but often, also in Austria. This is perhaps not so in Italy and Carinthia and then you maybe sent for training churches, because it's holding is not in Carinthia, but in principle there is a. .. It must be evident to every
simply that which has of course all its legitimacy. People take a really hard way to look around the castle to reach Europe. People come because they Afraid to die, the highest risk if you are persecuted. Now, imagine again how badly it on it has to be, for example, in a nutshell boat sat on and ride across the sea, if one would not be imminent before the death in their own country ...
Card # 3: Everyone has the Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom that alone or in community, to confess in public or private teaching, practice, worship and observance.
P: That reminds me a lot. Religion has always been a big issue why Wars have been started. In the Balkans it was the "Religion in the Second World War, religion was a cover for murder, etc ....
A bit of current, perhaps, the thing with the crosses in classrooms. As is almost aufdoktriniert that the Christian characters on the wall, because it's just our official state religion. My opinion on the crosses, is that everyone sits in class, has a right to hang its religious character. I do not think it right that is said in times like today: "We have a religion that is Christianity, the Cross hangs there"
Even the minaret ban is completely ridiculous, even in the general one when one looks at the human rights articles but a lot more. We are looking for problems.
Many people see this as a threat and as a symbol of power of another community. Why, I do not know. It's just real xenophobia.
's there in the band members with an immigrant background, or someone who has adopted the feel of this system at first hand?
P: are in the immediate vicinity of the band is three people. P., who came from the former Yugoslavia. He is suddenly, from one day to another, sat in the second elementary school next to me. He has to learn the language from scratch need, has not spoken a word of German when he has come and has integrated super.
S., our ex-trumpeter. His parents were from the Czech Republic and were before the fall of the Iron Curtain, thus in the regime, even for two or three years in prison. Both persons with higher education and just because they have seen better opportunities elsewhere, simply did not want to live under communism. And then
N. He just helps out as a substitute. He too is from the former Yugoslavia, from him I know but not much. It is of course dramatically when your friends have such a terrible background and such a difficult past. Then you realize how serious this is, your friends walked between life and death and, fortunately, just in a Country, came out not so inhumane laws are on the agenda, there is no regime or war. It touches a person.
be broken up after so much hard material must, of course, the whole thing again a little bit. Therefore we can tell, the two just go on it again as reflected in the growth process of the last four years in the new drive, what to expect musically, and what we should give to the plate on the road.
What we have for a bombastic genius into the house, so at some time in April of 2010!
M: I hope it comes out 2010, I hope! (Very desperate head deep in the step)
We are now in the final phase of the recordings that will be completed before Christmas should be. But what can you expect: It is
contrast, but at that moment even more homogeneous - which is a contrast. It is really paradoxical. Yes, the new album is a paradox.
you can already tell that you will draw the whole thing also has a comic?
M: Yes, we have to make a comic before the album. So the Bestversion would of course be to press the record on vinyl and can be equipped with a 30 x 30 comic. We have ten o'clock this truly world class artist brought from Austria.
These comics that tell these stories because they are based on the texts that give either the song again, or illuminate the background. Sometimes it's just funny interjections, which is quite the artist left, depending on what type of humor. I do not tell people how good or bad everything is.
I believe it is important, as I can tell them something. Comics as can produce a certain kind of humor, and still discuss a serious background. Exactly what we have with our music before.
So each song a comic, I understand this correctly?
M: Yes. In principle, there are ten short stories the play in 2020. We have taken a picture like it might just look out.
There was a crisis that may be of an economic crisis, a civil war or something else had to be. We leave the reader / listener. After this crisis is the city it plays in Vienna divided into two great camps. On the one side of the revolutionaries, on the other conservatives. The Revolutionary
want progress, new economic system that does what, what does that not everything is as in the last century, but adapt themselves in the future, the whole political system to the needs of people.
The Conservatives are, however, that the past century was super, they all still want to experience again, because it is so they went well.
These two blocks facing each other, then, that's the point really, which is the main plot dar.
The stories are told by people on both sides and deal with certain issues. Lyrically, the spans of "look a like" HC Strache Werbetexen the conservative side to the naive, it needs the other.
your records in your lyrics so immersed in a world which we should, demands that one is encouraged to develop their imagination more. And reinforced by the comic.
M: show, in non-English speaking Countries it is often the case that texts are not really present. Since the hooks you remember, you think about it but not really because what is actually sung. The cartoons represent what occurs in words that support the graph. We want people to read everything again bring to do that they soak website. It is read far too little. (Can not resist a grin)
How do these themes are reflected in the instrumentation? As was submitted in the first album with something remarkable, Oblique.
M: Musically, this is the same. Because the city is divided into two halves, of course needed a music of contrasts. We will harness as a bow from Latin America likely to Nietzing in Lower Austria, or something. It comes before everything. I tell you, it is a very homogeneous style switching. This makes the new record, it is super much there, but unlike the old record more mature, sophisticated, and yet emotional.
Now if you personally but also musically looks into the future as the album already doing what were your desires and goals for the next time?
M: 's just struck me that many people who have had anything at heart, both artistic and socio-politically, the arrange things do have left first, because they have simply found a medium to express. This is in Vienna containing never went away. That is changing now as I think. People come back to Vienna, here are happy, they love to live and try to bring something back culturally. Trouble Over Tokyo is a good example. Things are pretty slow again what, it is clear it time an art and cultural scene, where the spirit of the people will be shaken, and certain political things are seen differently. This should go on, please.
P: We have almost four years left for the new plant, no effort, no cost and no personal expense spared, we gave all we have in us to what we created on the last album to top. I think the result speaks for itself, it is much more mature, more demanding.
I therefore hope that we open up a new audience, a bit of a more mixed. Young people have always been our biggest audience, and that should continue to be so, but I see in NHOMS more than just sources for party and Saufmusik. I would therefore like to have more appeal to music lovers.
We make no Ska, because we were really forced into a drawer. This often leads to misunderstandings before, still. This should be one for always change.
there's bands in Austria, with whom you would like to be brought in connection with which you could imagine a tour good?
P: Well, a bit part in this Balkan direction of world music. I think Fatima Spar're doing something. But otherwise ... ... I would
I looked around a bit which labels are suitable for us, but really bands where we fit like chalk and cheese, there's really not. I think wait, every band, even the big ones, all have somehow created their own style. As I see us, that we can insert ourselves because, even with our own Niche. Finding a band with a similar style that would not bring us that much further. And there are already in Austria a few examples of truly challenging music, Trouble Over Tokyo or Velojet and that's our goal - to make challenging music.
A few final words to the world, the fans out there?
P: Open your hearts, open ears, goes to charity through the world, be constructive, not skin together, which is based on building what is right leiwondes on. This is my message to mankind.
Thank you!
we!
