Diary of Dreams - January 2007 (Part II)

Is that frame already set before?
You cannot say that globally for every single album. It was very clear for ‘Nigredo’ that it would be a conceptual album together with ‘Giftraum’ and ‘Menschfeind’. But the elaboration and details – all those individual information – definitely were developed not until we were in the work process, when we had the individual things right in front of our eyes. You just take one step and then you see the next. So, at the end, a great whole was developed. ‘Menschfeind’ was something that was longest overdue for me and that was sticking in my bones forever. This is of course a very strong personal conviction and position rather than something devised. But also there are overstatements and fragments you cannot transfer one-to-one to my character. That would be grossly negligent and also irresponsible towards me. Nobody would transfer a book by a writer, which is autobiographically based, one-to-one to the person. I belief that one would wrong this person a lot. But the core thesis of ‘Menschfeind’ is my philosophy of life.



Your keyboard player is Torben Wendt of DIORAMA. Is there any exchange of ideas or any other cooperation between DIORAMA and DIARY OF DREAMS due to this connection? Or are both bands really two completely independent projects?
First I have to state very clearly that we both belong to a related musical family. We have a similar musical background. We have a very similar philosophy and we are on the same wavelength. That’s why Torben and I are close friends for so many years now. The fact that Torben introduces his work to Accession records brought us musically together. And you have to state very clearly DIORAMA already was existing at that time. This is an “old” project for him and I got to know him because he introduced himself at my label. I produced his debut album together with him and so, the whole DIORAMA – DIARY OF DREAMS story came off. But such songs like ‘Leaving Hollywood’ were songs I got introduced; those songs already were existing. It is not that just because of his work within DIARY OF DREAMS the DIORAMA topic was developed for him. It would be awful to blame him and to take this for granted. There also were many people who speculated that I am DIORAMA what of course is total nonsense. I assisted producing the debut album and I have sung within one song. As you can imagine we worked closely together. This was my direct influence on DIORAMA. Nothing more or less! If you are friends – close friends as we are, if you make music together within DIARY OF DREAMS, then you of course listen to the other’s work and you discuss it. Of course, the advice of a friend, who has the same vocation at the same time, is important. Insofar, you interchange; of course I send him a DIARY OF DREAMS song in an early stage and ask him what he thinks about it, if he has any ideas for the song. Of course such things happen and also the other way round. But you cannot stop short of overrating those influences. Both bands are nevertheless two autarkic systems; and one system is based more on my head and the other one is based on his head.

But it’s not like that he’s “only” a live member…
Yes, of course! He’s much more than only a live member; no one who just stands there and makes something up to the original songs. That would not be satisfying for anyone. His co-operation is really depending on the projects. Sometime you work together, sometime you work separately. But those two bands – even though they are friends, even though they do a lot together and share a lot – are anyway two different systems and different concepts. If it would not be like that, there would not be a common universe for DIORAMA and DIARY OF DREAMS. Than you need to say, look, let’s make one band out of it. But we’re not interested in that at all. The existence of both bands is important to us.



Both bands also have their own fans. Even though there is a certain intersection.
Yes, VNV NATION and CORVUS CORAX have that too (laughs).

Probably less than you both! ;) But back to your complete works… Should all DIARY OF DREAMS albums be seen as separate works or aren’t they all part of a bigger entity? Is there a thread that draws through your works?
The big entity is basically me. That’s it, what basically keeps all together. That’s the thing which gives a certain timbre to each CD, a certain style, a certain look and a certain sound. That’s the certain hand writing which is common for all CDs, which is known and which is so to say the trademark for the whole project. According the mood, melancholy, a calm temper and certain thoughtfulness are dominating.

Are you such a sad man?
Yes, I am definitely very melancholic. Not as much that it’s slipping into depression – by no means at all – but I have very thoughtful and sad phases. But I also have days when I am very happy, open and relaxed towards the world. Many people say, oh my god, is there nothing beautiful in your world that you always write such sad songs? Of course, that’s total nonsense. But I only have the need to write when I am depressed and thoughtful. If I am in a good mood, if I feel wonderful, than I have no need to write down the things I bear in me and which burden me. I don’t know to what to compare it… For me, there is simply no feeling of necessity to write. And exactly that’s the reason why I don’t make any “Happy Dance Music”, but make contemplative music which reaches deep and is thought-provoking. That’s the emotional coherency of all albums. But there is also a graphical coherency. Furthermore, my critic attitude towards the human species is another thread reaching through all albums. Anything else is something writing editors have to deal with. That’s something people should describe, criticize and analyze who have a neutral view on it.



Which artists are you personally inspired and influenced by?
Honestly – that might sound stupid – I am not influenced by anyone. I like listening to other artists, but…

Which artists i.e.?
Thus, at the moment I mainly listen to guitar music, tough guitars. But actually it is like that for a long time now, that I listen mainly to guitar music. I find artists like KORN very good for a long time now. IAMX is definitely an artist I appreciate a lot, who also manages a nice balancing between electronic music and guitars. Besides that, I still have my old favorites, which I still listen to. That reaches from KATE BUSH over PINK FLOYD to MASSIVE ATTACK, UNCLE or LAMB. It’s really criss-cross.

Do you listen to music depending on your mood?
Yes, it is really very depending on my mood. I have very weak and calm days when I am very un-communicative. Then I virtually listen to Triphop or Classic. And that’s notedly a lot.

You’ve spent big parts of 2005 and 2006 on tour; afterwards you worked on the DVD. You’re making music with DIARY OF DREAMS and you’re head of Accession Records. Does Adrian Hates ever think of vacation?
Vacation? (laughs) Well, that’s a word that’s dropped every now and than within my circle of friends. Or speaking of colleagues, when they are going on vacation again you realize that another year has passed. Another summer vacation, well. I honestly believe, even though if I’d like intensively go on vacation and if I had the time for it, I would not go for classical holidays as long as my dog is still alive. Because I cannot do the destinations I like to go to and which are tempting for me with a dog because they are i.e. depending on flights. And I never would do this to an animal, not even once in his life. My big wish: I would insanely love to go to Iceland with a bike, surrounding it once totally. That’s a big dream for me. And if I had back luck, I’d never come back again. Or good luck? (laughs) But otherwise… vacation… well, I am looking forward the next tour. ;)



Well, you said that’s vacation for you… we just addressed your record label before. Could you tell us a bit more about it? Which artists are you usually promoting or releasing? Is there a certain musical direction? Which qualities do the artists need you are signing? What release will come up this year?
Direction? That means first and foremost personal taste. Anything I like and what has a reasonable chance that someone else likes the music besides me. It happens really quite often that I listen to music that I find huge; where I have lots of fun listening to it, but I might be one of very few who might like it (laughs). Than I better wrote to the bands, my respect for what you are doing, but there is no use signing you.
Generally, we at Accession have i.e. bands like ANGELS OF VENICE coming from the medieval Neo-Classic genre with gloomy dark influences from Gothic and Wave; furthermore we have bands like SILENCE who move somewhere between Synth-Pop-Rock and Alternative – I think what they are doing is really huge, high-grade artistic work. Than we have bands like FADERHEAD somewhere between Electro, Electroclash and Synthpop – an unbelievably extroverted and also an unbelievably enthralling project. We have bands like ASSEMBLAGE23 to mention a “slightly” bigger topic, who move between Electro, EBM and Pop; I don’t have to speechify that, they started at my label and we take care of them down to the present day. This year, there will finally be a new album. Furthermore we have of course DIORAMA on board - as stated before. There will also be a new album as well as a maxi CD. Also FADERHEAD will release a new CD soon. Furthermore we have [:SITD:] of course; I don’t have to speechify that either; ‘Snuff Machinery’ caused a global landslide and since that time, the guys are playing in the premier league. Well, and then DIARY OF DREAMS will someway release something too. ;) Besides that, we have very promising bands like PAINBASTARD, CLAIRE VOYANT, HUMAN DECAY, SPEKTRALIZED and many more…

CLAIRE VOYANT? Very nice! I like them a lot!
... they are really sensationally good, sadly with a very irregular output on their part. It always takes very long until they have something new. Supposedly, there will also a new album being released soon… we’ll see!



Are you actually interfering into the bands’ work a lot?
Yes, we do that when it is requested. We just have so many experiences which are very helpful. We have knowledge that you simply cannot have when you’re just starting new. In particular, I personally have great experiences on stage and in the studio that you – if you are in that position – should share and what is of value. But there are also bands who explicitly tell us that they don’t wish any impact into their work. If I like the music extremely anyway, if I can trust the artist – just from my gut instinct – than be it! But if an artist asks me to take him by the hand, than I take him by the hand. You need to be flexible. I don’t like to interfere, but I like to be part of the development. I like watching and I better suggest smaller things than having to tell them at the end that I can’t do anything with it.

Which other work do you as a label have to do in the course of releasing a CD and also afterwards?
That reaches from the organization to the realization of a photo shooting, the choice of the photographer, and the choice of the make-up artist further to the choice of printer, bookers or promoters. That really reaches from A to Z; anything you can imagine, like CD pressing plant, distributor, you literally are part of the overall development. Somehow you are involved in everything… But partially there are issues where an artist wants to use his own resources. However, most of them say, I just get started, I don’t have anyone and I don’t know anyone, please help me. If someone knows a great photographer or has a great make-up artist in his grip, than I only say: Fantastic! Than you just work together and push things forward. But in fact, most people just ask for help… what is just wonderful because we’re there for those matters…

Back to DIARY OF DREAMS at the end. What are your future plans beyond the next album?
Honestly, the upcoming album is enough for me as a future plan. The next aim is really just to finish the new album. The farther you aim, the more nervous you become and than you fear that you cannot cope with your timing and than you don’t manage all your plans at all. I am happy if we can just do it by stages. Means, first finish the album, than release the album, release a maxi CD before, start the tour and then… that’s an automatism which just results. I think also that there will be a new album quite fast afterwards. As said before, there won’t be a mini album this time.



And also no DVD? ;)
No! Definitely no DVD! (laughs) I really would wonder if there would be a DVD from us during the next five years. And if, than surely something totally different and no live DVD.

Adrian, thanks a lot for your time! It was a pleasure!

Interview Part I
Interview in German (with friendly help of Karolina Moszkowicz) and translated into English.
Pictures by Daniela Vorndran (www.black-cat-net.de)

{jos_sb_discuss:21}