Interview with THE BOSSHOSS
Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
THE BOSSHOSS: Actually, we seem to have created our own niche within the current world of music. There isn’t a band around with whom one could make a direct comparison… The BossHoss are a seven piece band playing a surprising mixture of acoustic and electric instruments and lead by the two frontmen Alec “Boss Burns” Voelkel and Sascha “Hoss Power” Vollmer. Over the years we have developed our own energetic and eclectic blend of rock’n’roll…. Our influences are many and diverse; so in one of our wild live shows you might expect to hear influences from as far afield as punk rock, country, rockabilly, modern pop and Blues. To name but a few… In Germany we are the forerunners of cowboy rock’n’roll and are notorious for our iconoclastic, testosterone ridden live shows. Artistically, the band has no fear or inhibitions to combine or cross different sources and seemingly disparate elements and create a new and exciting sound and style – an Urban Cowboy attitude.
THE BOSSHOSS: The year began quietly with an artistic break, in which we worked on the new album but picked up in momentum in summer – since then we have lived one highlight after another….. the best of all being our short concert tour of Texas (where we also shot the video to our current single and a BossHoss in Texas documentary/roadmovie – televised in Germany last month). We also got a big kick out of playing at the “Rock am Ring and Rock im Park Festivals” which together, make the largest festival in Germany Another momentous experience for us this year was our joining the new television show “The Voice of Germany” as coaches – challenging and loads of fun!
THE BOSSHOSS: Our new album is called “Liberty of Action” it entered the German album charts at #4 – a chart position we have reached once before but no small achievement just before Christmas! The first single from the album, “Don’t Gimme That” is currently at #32 in the German hit parade and we are very pleased!
THE BOSSHOSS: The title “Liberty of Action” is a statement about artistic freedom and individuality – it is meant as a cry of independence and defiance – to reassure those in doubt and an answer those who have tried to keep us down….
THE BOSSHOSS: Practically all songs on the album are written by Hoss Power. There are one or two songs on the album in which Hoss collaborated with befriended artists – Rea Garvey (formerly singer of the band Reamon) also Austin singer songwriter Patricia Vonne helped out with a verse on our homage to Elvis, as did our very own Hank Williamson aka Malcolm Arison. The majority of material stems however, from Hoss’s pen – who shuts himself away for this artistic process…. He emerges from his confinement with an armful of songs – after some brainstorming with Boss, the rest of the band are able to give their own input at a recording level…
THE BOSSHOSS: “Liberty of Action” is our most diverse album till date and probably our most accessible for new initiates. It covers a wide spectrum of musical styles but every song retains our own inimitable BossHoss sound. We worked with samples, beats, crossed old school Hiphop with Country, Pop with Punkrock, Calypso with Blues, Nat King Cole with Motörhead … It’s a musical multiplex without any restrictions. But it is still best summed up as Rock’n’Roll.
THE BOSSHOSS: This is a difficult question, because there are so many favourite songs! Maybe “Stallion Battalion” is one of the best. It was probably the first song, that combined our country roots with fast and driving Punkrock. Also “Liberty of Action” from the latest Album is a strong slide guitar slammer with some social criticism in the lyrics…
THE BOSSHOSS: 120%. From the very beginning of BossHoss we’ve always been writing, choosing, recording, mixing and producing on our own in our own studio. Also the complete artwork for albumcovers, posters, websites, t-shirts and so on is created and put into practice on our own – that has always remained a top priority for us !
THE BOSSHOSS: Each of us has grown up with music being the main focus in his life…. We each have our own individual influenes and inspirations. Here are a few names of artist whom we revere… Tony Joe White, Slim Harpo, Elvis, Sonny Boy Williamson, ACDC…
Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s music scene versus its post and where do you see it going in the future? / What do you think about today’s music industry?
THE BOSSHOSS: When we started up the band more than seven years ago it was just for fun…. Somehow everybody instantly loved our sound and our style, so while we were playing at a party not long after we had begun, we got noticed by a record company exec. and shortly after were signed to a major label – now that’s a big break fairy tale style!
THE BOSSHOSS: They were supportive. It went quite fast to get a record deal. But the level we have today didn’t came over night. We’re working since 7 year on this, to be where we are now and they are used to the work we’re doing… Most of our kids haven’t been born when we started the band… they don’t know it any different.
THE BOSSHOSS: When I started music, I wanted to at least record on 7inch single.
THE BOSSHOSS: Last July we’ve been to Texas. People there loved us and we loved them. We will definitely go back to the states in 2012. People will find us by checking our website: www. Thebosshoss.net
THE BOSSHOSS: The caziest, wildest rock’n’roll show ever! Great entertainment full of contrasts and surprises, 100% blood, sweat, and beer – not for the weak – hearted!
THE BOSSHOSS: We have our own site www.thebosshoss.net – where you can hear songs, see videos, photos, leave a remark in the guestbook, get updates on our tours and releases, find merchandising and generally get the latest BossHoss news. We also have facebook profile The BossHoss (Official) where you can get feedback from the band and enjoy postings on all the very latest events And…. For the serious fans we have an online fanclub you can find it at http://stalliontroopers.de
THE BOSSHOSS: We already recorded many of our favourite songs…
THE BOSSHOSS: This is a great music show that treats all parties concerned with great respect. It’s a high quality TV show and we’re proud to be part of it! Since every show is seen by more than 5 million people, our band gets more attention than before, because we reach more people now. This is a great challenge for us.