Interview withSascha Konietzko (KMFDM)
A new KMFDM album called ‘Blitz’ is going to be released at the end of March. Its name will be ‘Blitz’. We took that as an occasion to ask mastermind and voice Sascha Konietzko a few questions.
Sascha Konietzko (KMFDM): Within the scope of re-releasing the entire KMFDM catalogue we started with the albums first. In order not to re-release every single again I packed it into 3 volumes: KMFDM Extra I, II, and III. As there are many people collecting Vinyl I came up with the idea of the 7” singles. A nice, classic format with side A+B limited to 250 copies each.
RoD: The whole thing ends with the release of a new single which will include a completely new track I guess. Maybe it’s a bit early for that but I was wondering if you could offer us a glimpse on the bonus material or isn’t that set yet at this point?
KMFDM: There’s nothing to say about that right now but it’s definitely going to be an all new track.
RoD: Let’s come to the new album Blitz’ now which is coming with a cover showing a concert situation. Is it really like that at your live shows?
KMFDM: Of course it is! Our long-time cover illustrator Aiden Hughes aka BRUTE has done some splendid work again!
RoD: With ‘Blitz’ you’re also returning to the 5-letter album titles. Why? Does it have to do with your 25th anniversary or was there another reason?
KMFDM: Initially the album had a completely different title; then I wanted to name it ‘Potz Blitz’. But on the one hand it sounded too “German” for me and on the other hand and after ‘Tohuvabohu’ and ‘Brimborium’ a little too “gimmicky”. Eventually I chose ‘Blitz’ and I had to grin because of the reactions I was anticipating. But the question if the next album’s going to be called ‘Krieg’ keeps appearing. The answer is NO!!! I’m really not a fan of those 3rd Reich associations!
RoD: The first song on ‘Blitz’ not only serves as opener but is directly connected to the artwork through the symbol that will represent it. A very nice idea considering the fact that many artworks don’t have any connection to the music on the discs anymore. Was that also an influential factor?
KMFDM: Certainly. Actually one thing’s always influencing the other and often the ideas come to me quite spontaneous. Then I just start doing something without having a plan. Strangely, it always turns out in hindsight as part of the conceptual continuity being a fundamental part of KMFDM over the years.
RoD: With the pumping ‘Dawai’ you’ve one Russian-tongued track on the album. What’s it about? My Russian is a bit rusty
KMFDM: The songs about the possibilities a worldwide youth movement could have or would have if it would be feasible; about burying the hatchet, overcoming the past and the expansion of the ‘understanding among nations’. The chorus is very deep. “It needs vodka (real) joy, and a kick in the ass!”
RoD: Your language repertoire with songs in e.g. Hebrew and Latin, apart from the usual German and English lyrics, is pretty broad. Is there any other language you could imagine a KMFDM song to work with yet; any particular language you’d want to do?
KMFDM: There also was the cover of the Jacque Dutronc song ‘Mini Mini Mini’ in French and Liasons Dangereuses’ ‘Los Ninos Del Parque’ in Spanish. Japanese, Chinese, and Arabian will be next!
RoD: How did it come to the cover version of the HUMAN LEAGUE track ‘Being Boiled’?
KMFDM: I was working on a drum thing, building loops and then I suddenly thought that it somehow felt ‘Being Boiled’-style and then I did it! Even though I’m basically not a fan of HUMAN LEAGUE this one song is one of my absolute favourites.
RoD: Are you going to present the new material live in the near future and if so, will there be any special surprises or simply KMFDM in your face?
KMFDM: First the current tour dates:
29th May 2009 E- Madrid/ Heinecken
30th May 2009 E- Barcelona/ Salamandra 1
1st June 2009 D- Leipzig/ Wave Gotik Treffen 2009
4th June 2009 RU- St. Petersburg/ Orlandina
5th June 2009 RU- Moskau/ Tochka
9th June 2009 D- Rüsselsheim/ Das Rind
10th June 2009 A- Wien/ Viper Room
12th June 2009 EST- Järvakandi/ Rabarock Festival 2009
13th June 2009 FI- Helsinki/ Nosturi
20th June 2009 F- Clisson/ Hellfest 2009
18th July 2009 UK- London/ Islington Academy
19th July 2009 D- Cologne/ Tanzbrunnen _ AMPHI Open Air Festival 2009
24th July 2009 B- Waregem/ Expohall _ Gothic Festival 2009
25th July 2009 NL- Eindhoven/ Dynamo
More dates in preparation. Don’t know yet about any special surprises but it’s definitely going to be KMFDM in your face and ears.
RoD: That’s it already. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
KMFDM: Thank you too! Was a pleasure
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