A Spell Inside - I think nowadays there are too many bands making synth-pop music!

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01 Jan, 2009 [ Views: 35800 ]

A Spell Inside - I think nowadays there are too many bands making synth-pop music!
A Spell Inside has been set up in 1989 by Michael Roeder (vocals, programming) and Peter Kirchmeyer (synths, samples). After one year guitarist Klaus Rodewig joined in, but has already left the band for a couple of years now. While 2009 will be the 20th anniversary of this German synth-pop band the album "Essential" brings a kind of 'best of'-album. Good synth-pop is hard to find these days and A Spell Inside -except in their homeland Germany- has been never the most recognized group world-wide in the genre, but "Essential" definitely proves that this band deserved a wider recognition. We'd a chat with Michael Roeder about the past (marked by some bad label work), the present (with the "Essential"-album) and the future (while awaiting a new full length). (By Elise Din)

SL: The "Essential"-album being released, what makes this cd that 'essential' to you?

ASI: Oh, the most important thing for us is to have something of a retrospective for us and our fans. As we had a lot of bad luck with our record-companies in the past a lot of our former stuff isn't available anymore. So this album was a great chance to republish some of the most essential A Spell Inside songs of our career.

SL: Releasing a kind of 'best of' release sounds like a kind of consecration, but maybe also a way to look back to the past and all the things you've accomplished for so far. What does it exactly mean to you and how do you look back to the previous years evoking 'best memories' and 'worst memories'?

ASI: As I mentioned before we had a lot of stumbling blocks on our way. And there were some moments when we were highly discouraged. But as you see we kept our head high and kept the fire burning. For that reason we feel proud finally holding "Essential" in our hands as it proves what we worked the last years for and that the time we did spend hasn't been for nothing.

SL: The song "Sinnbild" has been for sure one of your absolute hits, but in which way can a song really change the recognition and status of a band?

ASI: It's always a funny thing to hear people saying this is your best song or that� I don't think that we have this one and only best song. For sure "Sinnbild" is a great one, but I wouldn't say that it's the figurehead of our whole music. You're right, sometimes you need this one hit being perceived by the people out there� but you need a good record-company, too - without you can write one outstanding song after another, you don't get the chance being perceived�

SL: And if you each have to pick up one song from the A spell Inside discography, which one would it be and for what reason(s)?

ASI: As I said - this one and only hit song doesn't exist for us. Every song tells its own story and has its warranty. Sometimes I prefer this or that song depending on my temporary mood. But one of my all time favorites is "Days Of The Grace" as it's a very personal song.

SL: So how did you finally come to choose the songs for this album and was it easy to make the final selection?

ASI: When having released such a wide range of songs like we did it can't be easy to choose only 15 songs representing such a long time. So actually we had some hard discussions among each other - but mainly with Frank, the boss of Dark Dimensions. In 6 or 7 songs we agreed at once. But opinions differed for the rest. We telephoned and emailed a lot and sometimes I felt like being on an oriental bazaar - give me this song I give you that - but in the end it was a funny thing and it showed us that we did a good job and that we have written a lot of good songs. I think we've made a good choice bringing representative songs of A Spell Inside together.

SL: What can you say about the 'rare' tracks featured on the album, mainly referring to the remixes of "Oxygen" and "Believe"?

ASI: The so called 'rare tracks' are those which aren't available anymore because the record-companies where we released them don't exist anymore. "Brothers", "Days Of The Grace" or "Tr�ume" are such songs only to name a few. Both remixes are rare, too, but in our opinion they more likely belong to the group of the 'exclusive tracks'. You will only find them on "Essential" - and will find them nowhere else.

SL: You already give us an idea about your next (and totally new full length) entitled "Loginside". Tell us a bit more about the new songs and this upcoming album?

ASI: The new songs sound a bit different to our former material. For the new album we worked together with two producers located in Berlin who are used to produce clubbing and dance music. They put some very good ideas to our songs and together we pushed the whole thing forward. Because our aim was to change something, bringing A Spell Inside on a higher level. We're not satisfied when we can't develop our music. And we don't belong to these bands which are doing the same thing over and over again. "Loginside" will sound very electronic, with pumping beats, catchy melodies, great vocal hooks � well, all the elements which are responsible for the unique A Spell Inside style for years.

SL: It seems that you'd to postpone the "Loginside" album because of a PC-crash. It must have been frustrating while I can imagine the songs will now sound a bit different. What happened and what have been the impact of this PC-crash on the final songs of "Loginside"?

ASI: Yes, it was a real nightmare. We were in the studio and on the verge of finishing the whole thing, but then our hard disk crashed a lot of data got lost. For sure we have made backups continuously, but the last we've made were two weeks ago. So we lost the work of two weeks, most of the finished mixes. As we were pressed for time because the release date was fixed we decided to pull out "Essential" from behind which should be released in 2009. In that case it was the best solution to present our fans a 'new' album on the pronounced date.

SL: The release date of "Essential" was fixed on September, the 12th� so was there any reason (maybe coincidence) why you didn't take September, the 11th?

ASI: No, it has nothing to do with that. Normally new albums are released on Fridays and the 12th was a Friday. On the 11th I wouldn't have been released anything.

SL: That brings me to ask you about your favourite lyrical themes for A Spell Inside and what inspires you to write about these subjects?

ASI: It's every day life which inspires me most. I write about things which happen to me, thoughts that I have and things that are worrying me. Often I take a look to the future and envision the world as it could be. That's my way to criticise things that are happening in and to our world now like e.g. the destruction of the environment, lust for money or methods of social life.

SL: A Spell Inside has been now set nearly 20 years ago! In which way did this band change your life and does your perception of music became different throughout the years?

ASI: 20 years� that's really a long time� unbelievable that we're making music for so many years. But the most interesting thing is that it doesn't feel like 20 years. We don't feel tired or bored� we're as curious and motivated like in the beginning. Maybe not that impetuous but more skillful.

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SL: The 'popularity' and 'success' of synth-pop seems to have been more important in the nineties (and of course eighties) than today. What can be a possible explanation here?

ASI: I think nowadays there are too many bands making synth-pop music. Making electronic music has become more and more easier during the last few years because of the possibilities has become bigger and the computers and software cheaper. In my opinion there are too many so-called synth-pop bands now and most of them are making bad music which has the effect that the people have to spend a lot of time to find the few good ones. The second reason - and that's the more important thing in my eyes - is that synth pop hasn't developed itself during the last few years. Okay, the computers and synthesizers are having more power and features now, but what I miss is something really new. Most of the bands sound like they sound five years ago. Or they sound like VNV Nation, Depeche Mode etc. And I think that's the reason why synth-pop has lost its meaning inside the whole music scene.

SL: What did you keep in mind from the period you were signed on the now gone Discordia Records and do you know what Klaus Bader is doing now?

ASI: *laughing* Oh no, I don't know what Mr. Bader is doing right now and I don't want to know. I don't want to think about that negative period in our band history. But what we still keep in mind is that it was very exciting in the very beginning when Discordia ran well and when we released our first Mcd "Return To Grey". We were green and were very impressed finding our first cd in the record-stores. During that time record-companies had their warranty. And in the beginning Discordia was a good label. There were many very good bands on it like e.g. Apoptygma Berzerk, Wumpscut, Second Decay or VNV Nation. But only a few years later the whole thing went down the grain� unfortunately.

SL: After Discordia and a short stay (on the also gone) Triton, you finally signed to Scanner; do you feel some differences here in strategy, marketing, communication etc?

ASI: Yes, we feel very comfortable on Scanner. Frank, the owner, believes in our music. We're not only a number within many bands. And that's the most important thing for us. Working with someone who loves our music and who is deeply involved into the whole business.

SL: What's your view and opinion about the current music scene and what are the main differences with the past?

ASI: As I mentioned before I think that there are too many bands. If you're clicking through myspace for example there are thousand of bands, most of them without a record-company, making unprofessional and boring music. Pearls are hard to find. Without any doubt the Internet and mp3's have changed everything. Music has changed from adoring it and hunting for it to a brassy consumption, less people are really interested in the band who is standing behind and in the whole album.

SL: On your myspace profile I noticed Robotiko Rejekto on the top of your friends list! Is this project still alive and active and what keep you in mind from their music?

ASI: I guess they are still making music. I remember having heard a new track on their profile. I like this song/project a lot and was very happy when I found it on myspace. When I was a teenager I listened a lot to this new type of electronic music these days based in Frankfurt. There were many interesting bands during that time like Off, Axodry, Coleur Trois or Moskwa TV which influenced us a lot. You should listen to it, they deserve it.

SL: I also noticed that Praga Khan is another of your friends on myspace. That's rather unusual as this band didn't get that much recognition in your homeland (while we're proud they're from Belgium ) and sounds a bit different as well. What fascinates you in their music and in which way did they have been a source of inspiration?

ASI: That's true, you hardly find people knowing Praga Khan in Germany/Europe. They are more popular in Japan. I like them a lot. They have their very own style combining techno, EBM and a certain old-fashioned wave-feeling. I think much to strange for the dark wave independent scene.

SL: Internet must have for sure change a lot of things and open new horizons (an own homepage, myspace, youtube etc�) to get closer in touch with other bands, labels and fans of course! What's the importance of the net and especially to a music band?

ASI: What I like is getting in touch with people all over the world within a few seconds. It's amazing to get feedback directly from your fans and it feels good to share music with them. So the Internet offers a great opportunity to present your music to a bigger audience. But as I mentioned before it's more difficult being perceived by the people as there are too many bands and too many sites to discover.

SL: At the other side Internet has give birth to downloading and copying! Any opinion here?

ASI: I know it's tempting to download any music for free in a few seconds, but the smaller bands need every legally bought track. So the Internet has two faces. And copy kills music - that's true.

SL: 2009 will stand for the 20th anniversary of A Spell Inside so what might the fans expect to celebrate this happening with you?

ASI: 20 years� that sound frightening. Above all we don't feel like old men. Maybe that's the reason why we are allowed to play at WGT 2009 in Leipzig this time after having tried so many years before without success. You see if you hang in there and don't give up you will be rewarded one day.

Band: www.aspellinside.com / www.myspace.com/aspellinside
Label: www.darkdimensions.de

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