Hi Daniel, thanx for doing this interview. How are you doing?
Daniel: Hi Ed. We are very busy at this time. Our album KLONDIKE will be released soon and there is also an EP release in production. So there is really a lot to do. But everything is well.
What song or occasion did spur your interest to become a musician?
Daniel: I’ve started being interested in music very early. But getting a musician was a gradual process. First there was the elation for the black scene - especially the EBM scene. This scene is very creative and always gives young artists a stage. Everybody can take an active part and has the chance to self-actualise. This was the same with me. Because I was good in what I have done, there was an improvement. Today I can retrospect to a lot of CDs with my name on it.
Can you give a brief introduction to [de:ad:cibel]?
Daniel: Armin and me met the first time about three years ago. He supported me and Jörg while the SKORBUT album production of FIREWALL. He did some remixes and also wrote one song for the album. The latest SKORBUT release PHANTOM PAIN was only done by Armin and me. We continuous worked on new songs. When we had finished an inventory of tracks, we speculated what would be the best way to release it. We decided to launch a new project because the sound was too different from former SKORBUT stuff. This was the hour of birth for [de:ad:cibel].
For many people [de:ad:cibel] might not be a total new name since you have done some remixes and appeared on several compilations already, why did you do this, is this a good way for a new band to spread their name?
Daniel: At first I’ve got a lot of requests for exclusive SKORBUT tracks to be released on compilations. But I could not attend these requests. So I’ve started to offer the new [de:ad:cibel] stuff. The feedback was outstanding and that started the ball rolling. Compilations are a perfect way to make your music popular.
[de:ad:cibel] is a new band but both you and Armin have a long history in music, can you tell us abit about your musical past?
Daniel: By way of example Armin did a lot of songwriting for Yello founder CARLOS PERÓN and was busy with their collaborative project INCA HUNTERS. He also acted as songwriter for electro bands like THE 3RD CULTURE. Right now he is busy with the progressive pop project DISKARNATE in collaboration with JACK ANDREWS and former Magnetic Fields vocalist SUSAN ANWAY. Furthermore he did a lot of remixes for several artists.
My vita contains projects like KALTE FARBEN and DAS ICH. Between 1994 and 2000 I completed more than 200 gigs with both bands on extensive tours through America and Europe. Always in capacity as live keyboardist and stage musician. In 1996 I established the electro band SKORBUT together with JÖRG HÜTTNER. Several CDs were released under this name between 2001 and 2009. And during the work on the FIREWALL album I became acquainted with Armin. Motivated by the fruitful collaboration we decided to establish [de:ad:cibel].
Your latest band was Skorbut, are you still a member of Skorbut or do you focus completely on [de:ad:cibel] now?
Daniel: The SKORBUT songs were significantly written by JÖRG HÜTTNER. Jörg moved to Los Angeles where he is in collaboration with a lot of famous Hollywood movie score writers now. I still have contact to Jörg but he absolutely has no time for any additional jobs at this time. So SKORBUT is freezed. I fully concentrate on [de:ad:cibel] now.
With Das Ich and kAlte fArben you have done many live shows, is there any that stand out for you and what makes it so special?
Daniel: There were a lot of awesome live gigs. This experience was very intensive for me. It was great to travel around the world. From Berlin to Paris and from New York to Mexico. This lasted for 6 years. Indeed I had a small appartment but I predominantly lived in hotels. But not only the live gigs were awesome. Also the living around and the meeting with people. There are really a lot of positive live gig memories. To just filter out one event is too difficult.
You met Armin in 2007 during the recording of the Skorbut album: Firewall. What made you decide to start a band together?
Daniel: Armin and me really work well together. We both have a lot of fun while the studio sessions. We complement each other quite well. Furthermore we have very similar likes of music styles. Our CD collections are widely identical. That’s really funny. The first songs we had done together were scheduled to be released under SKORBUT. But with every new song we cognized, that the sound has become too different from former SKORBUT stuff. This was the hour of birth for [de:ad:cibel].
How would you describe the music of [de:ad:cibel]? There are so many different influences and styles that can be heard, how do you manage to use all of these and transform it into a [de:ad:cibel] song?
Daniel: Yes, the music of [de:ad:cibel] is very diversified. We think that we succeed with KLONDIKE in creating a symbiont of many different electronic music styles. There are poppy tracks like ONE OF 47 or HETERONOMY beside brute songs like MONSTER TRAIN and B.I.I.D.. Armin has created a very special sound on KLONDIKE and my voice also sets a brand mark. Although [de:ad:cibel] sounds really diversified, you always will recognize our unmistakably style. I think we will continue the diversified song writing in the future, but maybe work with a more pronounced balance point.
You did release an EP: One of 47/Architecture, how were the comments on this one?
Daniel: In spring 2010 we self-released the “ONE OF 47/ ARCHITECTURE” E.P.. It was limited to 300 copies and delivered in hand-numbered metal cases. There are just a few ones in stock. The feedback to this release was stunning. The songs were played in radio stations and in the clubs. There also came a lot of interview requests. And we are really proud that both songs from the EP charted for 8 weeks among the Top 10 in the German Electronic Webcharts! Remember: the name [de:ad:cibel] was absolutely new. We had no label at this time and were suddenly present in scene charts beside acts like Combichrist, Front 242 or Suicide Commando. Really a big surprise for us!
You are about to release your debut album “Klondike” What was the most challenging or hardest part in the creation of it?
Daniel: It was a very creative production phase. Not too hard at all. The work was done in several stages and untroubled. I think you can hear this mindlessness. A lot of newcomers are too aggrieved with their own guidelines. Something like: “We have to take care, that the result is pure Hellectro or Industrial or Oldschool EBM”. This is not our way to work. We just wanted to create good electronic music. You don’t need to satisfy any prospects with an debut album. But we know, that the pressure will rise and the audience has prospects for the next album.
I think you found a great balance in creating an album with songs that will do great in clubs but also is enjoyable listening to at home, was this your goal and what is the secret behind finding this balance?
Daniel: KLONDIKE is no concept album and we did not produced it for a special target audience. Maybe this was the key. KLONDIKE does not sounds constrained. It really is an authentic album and we were free to make it sound the way we like it. Although a lot of variation in tempo and stylistic elements it sounds monolithic. You always will cognize the [de:ad:cibel] fingerprint.
One of the tracks that stands out for me is Jerusalem Syndrom. Why did you write a song about this Syndrome, is the human psyche something that fascinates you?
Daniel: I am fascinated in the human psyche. Especially the morbid side. Songs like JERUSALEM SYNDROM or B.I.I.D. broach the issue of diseases, but nevertheless keep space for interpretation. For example the JERUSALEM SYNDROM is a psychic disease, but the song also gets concerned with religious fundamentalism and false prophets in general.
Have you played the new songs already live, how did the audience respond to that?
Daniel: Some [de:ad:cibel] songs were already tested at SKORBUT gigs. Our first [de:ad:cibel] gig was in the Netherlands. In spring 2010 we played in Middelburg. For sure we were newcomers to the audience. But the atmosphere was great! We also had to play “Encore!” Not too bad for a newcomer and a good indication for us that the people like our sound.
What are your goals with the new album, when did it do well for you and are you satisfied?
Daniel: We hope that the audience will like the KLONDIKE album and [de:ad:cibel] will advance his degree of popularity. There is nothing more we can do. But we are really curious about the movement in the next month. For sure we want to play good live gigs and we are already busy with the next album.
Any last words for the readers?
Daniel: Please visit our website www.deadcibel.com and take a closer look to our project. We are really honored about the feedback. We want to say thank you to all the fans for their support. And we want to thank Cyber Angels to give us a stage!