Interview THE BOSSHOSS

Foto Erik Weiss

Interview with THE BOSSHOSS

Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Lamitschka:  How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?

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.

Foto Erik Weiss

 

Lamitschka:  How was the last year for you? What were your highlights?

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!

Lamitschka:  What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?

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!

Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD?  Is there a story behind the name?

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….

Lamitschka:  Do you write the songs yourself? If not, how do you go about finding the songs for your CD?

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…

Lamitschka:  Please tell us about the songs on your album (influences, etc).

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.

Lamitschka:  What is the difference between your last CD and your current one?
THE BOSSHOSS: The last CD from 2010 was a special project album. We took the best songs, we’ve ever done in the last 6 years, re-arranged them and re-recorded them together with a 30 piece string section (The German Filmorchestra of Babelsberg) plus a 10 piece horn section. This was a great experience and the CD “Low Voltage” sounds massive! (We also went on tour with this big project in December 2010). No electric guitars – still very powerful…!
Lamitschka:  Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
THE BOSSHOSS: It’s a great combination between old and new. There’s a short guitar sample of a James Brown song from 1971 put together with some new BossHoss harmonies and a modern beat. This sounds fresh and interesting. Also it has got a great hook and a message you can’t go wrong with: “Don’t control my Rock’n’Roll !”
Lamitschka:  What will your next single be?
THE BOSSHOSS: We already released another single: “L.O.V.E.”, from Nat King Cole. Together in a duet with NENA. It’s the title track of Detlef Buck’s new picture “Rubbeldiekatz” in German cinemas at the moment.
Lamitschka:  What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
THE BOSSHOSS: All of them are fun! Fast songs with a driving back beat and a strong chorus – or groovy blues tunes, also shuffling country… there’s nothing we wanna miss!
Lamitschka:  You did a duet with Nena (Nena big hit with 99 red balloons). How did that happen to come about?
THE BOSSHOSS: Detlef Buck asked us, if we would do the title track for his new movie “Rubbeldiekatz”. We’ve already worked together in 2007. We contributed 5 songs for his film “Hände weg von Mississippi”. Also he shot a music video for our song Truck’n’Roll.
Now with L.O.V.E. we had the idea to ask NENA, because we just got to know her through “The Voice of Germany”. She liked the demoversion of the song and said: Yes!
Lamitschka:  What is your favorite song among all the songs you have recorded and what’s the story behind it?

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…

Lamitschka:  How much creative control do you have over your music?

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 !

Lamitschka:  There’s a lot of work that goes into a number one hit. What did it take to make it in your case?
THE BOSSHOSS: We are still working on a number one hit 😉 There is no golden rule and no checklist “how to write a no.1 hit”. We just keep on writing and we’ll see what happens…
Lamitschka:  Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
THE BOSSHOSS:  We found it very touching when a fan of ours chose to play a song of ours “Close” at the funeral of an aunt to whom she was very close.
Lamitschka:  Who inspires you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?

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: The music itself was maybe more significant. Today from one day to the other stars come and go. The value of music went down, because of the fast moving internet times and cos the record companies have lost the focus to work constantly over years, on, or with one young band/artist. But still there is a lot of great music on the market! We hope that music is not getting too inexpensive in the future, so the offspring can afford to finance making their music by selling their CDs.
Lamitschka:  If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
THE BOSSHOSS: No flatrates for music!
Lamitschka:  What was your big break that got you into the music business?

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!

Lamitschka:  Before you became a star, were your friends and family supportive or was it a struggle?

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.

Lamitschka:  What moments in your career stand out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you are proud of?

THE BOSSHOSS: When I started music, I wanted to at least record on 7inch single.

Today I can look back on 2 platinum and 4 gold albums. And there is more to come…
We are all proud of that.
Lamitschka:  Many European fans travel to the United States to attend the several of the music festivals for the opportunity to see so many of their favourite artists, bands and celebrities. Will you be participating and how will the fans be able to find you?

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

Lamitschka:  What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?

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!

Lamitschka:  When you’re on tour, do you have time to play tourist?
THE BOSSHOSS: Sometimes we do manage to get up and look around the town – That is if the hangover allows it !!!
Lamitschka:  Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?

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

Lamitschka:  What’s your favourite song that you wish you could have recorded?

THE BOSSHOSS: We already recorded many of our favourite songs…

I wished we would have written “Jailhouse Rock”…
Lamitschka:  How do you feel about being a part of “The Voice Of Germany”? What has it done for your career?

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.

Lamitschka:  Fans are always hungry for good road stories. Do you have one you can share with us (come on, don’t be shy)?
THE BOSSHOSS: We once toured the UK – small clubs… half a year later were back again, we had the same old beat up nightliner/tourbus as on the previous trip – Boss Burns found his old lost sock still there where he had left it in his bunk!!! Which did make us worry a bit about the cleanliness of the bedding!

Related Posts

BoomTown Saints Interview

By Big Al Weekley for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Billie Jo Jones Interview

By Big Al Weekley for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

BIGG VINNY Interview

By Big Al Weekley for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Becky Buller Interview

By Big Al Weekley for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *