Hi People, thank you for doing another interview with us, how are you doing?
We are fine. Thank you.
We did our first interview years ago and we spoke about the fact that many reviews loved the first ep but thought you would be a one hit wonder. You proved them all wrong and took a musical revenge. How does this make you feel? Never felt the urge to email them all and laugh at them?
No. Not at all. We never intended to be everybody’s darling. Our mission was simple: Bring great dance music to great dancefloors. We did. Never mind the experts. Revenge is for the shallow minded and nothing for Straftanz.
How do you look back on the first album, Forward Ever? Was it successful and did it bring you what you hoped for?
It proved that is possible to create an album especially for the dancefloor. We did club tracks only and without promoting them individually, lots of them were played and worked well. If that’s what’s makes an album successful, “forward ever” was.
As an old metalhead I was surprised to hear Mille Petrozza on “praise the panic. How did you pull this off, what was it like to be working with this legend?
Mille is a very open minded person. He likes to go to the clubs, meet people, drink, learn, share, all that. Like Mille we are from the Ruhr Area and we simply stumbled upon each other. Mille seemed to be quite fond of our little project, we asked, he did, that’s it. More than his musical contribution his experience and his willingness to share it, meant a great deal for us.
Over the years we have seen Straftanz perform a few times, the show has shifted towards a more serious show, offering more quality than just fun. Does this reflect the grow of Straftanz, a more serious band that likes to offer quality. How would you describe the progress Straftanz made over the years?
We beg to differ. Of course we tried to improve our show and we believe we did, but still the main notion of it is plainly to kick as at the dancefloor. However, right now straftanz is going through a major transition, away from the idea of industrial streetfighting dance towards the idea of a post gothic modernism. We are currently rethinking our aesthetics and after some changes in personal we are very confident, that we’ll soon bring a new itch in sound to the scene.
You recently did a European tour with Ayria and VNV Nation, how did this tour go, what was the funniest thing that happened during this tour?
First of all: It was an amazing tour. It went very well not only because of excellent crowds we had, but also because of the most amazing spirit at the bus. I guess we were an excellent team with Ayria and VNV-Nation on Stage as well as behind the bus door. So, lots of happy anarchy was going on there, but since I cannot reveal things that happened on the bus I’ll tell you about the second funniest thing that happened: Taking a shower in London. Man that was funny. Really..
So what was funny about that?
We were naked.
You are now working on the new album “Mainstream sellout overground”, how far are the recordings? How did the recordings go, did they go as planned or did you encounter unexpected things?
We planned to finish the recordings in May. We did not. We had about eleven tracks but we did not feel really well with what we had. The sound was merely an extension to “Forward Ever” but did not provide the kind of development we expected.. After long discussions we found our producer to be the problem. He was ignorant to our ideas. So we fired him. The new Producer D-Cup understands us much better. He’s got the mindset of a primate. More simplistic. Free from convention, free from regret. Just instinct. We don’t need higher functions to create a great groove.
Probably you will have several collaborations on the album again, can you tell us a bit more about the new collaborations?
Lots of them. The most prominent ones are going to be MC Yoda from Detroit, the lovely Eva Haas on our first and surely last ballad and as a dream coming true, Peter Spilles and Jinxy from Santa Hates You lending us a bit of their Kick-Ass attitude. Even there are more guests to be announced, about some contributers you will never know. Some people that enhanced our product with some special and insidious traits prefer to stay anonymous.
What can people expect of the new album, you stated that the music is not limited to “industrial streetfighting dance” but have a broader range of styles and techniques?
True. That’s the main reason why we split up with the Cyberdominator. His constant neglect of new vibes, of new ideas put our project into stagnation. To put it plainly: Straftanz will use every style and technique that will work on the dancefloor.
What influence will it have on the band and it’s music?
It will grow even more diverse, more crunchy, more modern and more anarchic.
Your website mentions the concert at summer darkness 2010, the 3rd one already at this festival. You don’t like doing festival shows, what makes summer darkness different for you?
Two things: First: Although it’s a festival, it will feel like a clubshow. That is a benefit for us. We are from the club, so that is the place were Straftanz kicks. The second reason is more profound: Straftanz was born at summer darkness. It was our first ever Live set, so Utrecht is somewhat the projects hometown. Basically it was the attitude of the Netherlands’ scene that gave Straftanz its initial direction. So when we play at summer darkness we will be coming home and win.
What can the people of Summer Darkness expect of the new show, will you play some new songs as well?
Definitely. At our show in Paris, we tested some new material that worked really well. Until Utrecht we will have reworked that material again and will also deliver some stuff never heard before.
Any last words for our readers?
Believe in those that are seeking the truth. Doubt those that found it. Fuck the rest..
www.straftanz.de