Interview EMMA6
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Christian Lamitschka: German Music has many new fans in Europe, who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who’s never seen or heard you before.
EMMA6: We are EMMA6 (spoken “EmmaSix”), a German rock trio. The Members are the brothers Peter (24, vocals, guitars) and Henrik Trevisan (21, drums, vocals) and their best friend Dominik Republik (22, bass, moog synthesizer). We would describe our music as handmade mixture of pop, rock and indie with German lyrics.
Christian Lamitschka: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?
EMMA6: The last year was probably the most exciting in band history. We got our deal with Universal Music, recorded the debut album, released it, played the first sold out concerts. The step between the point that was 1 ½ years ago and now is huge.
Christian Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?
EMMA6: Our debut album is called “Soundtrack für dieses Jahr” (“soundtrack for this year”). It contains 12 songs, one for each month.
Christian Lamitschka: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?
EMMA6: Yes, we do write ourselves. Afterwards, we often do the fine tuning together with our producers.
Christian Lamitschka: Please tell us about the songs on your album.
EMMA6: The good thing about debut albums is that they are often more than a moment snap-shot. It’s the same with our first record. It contains songs that belong to the first ones we ever wrote about 5 years ago. On the other hand, there are songs we just finished while recording the album last year.
Christian Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you thing is special about this song that makes people what to hear it?
EMMA6: The reason we made “Paradiso” our first single is that it represents the sound of EMMA6 very well. In addition, the verses only consist of single catchwords that build the story.
Christian Lamitschka: What will your next single be?
EMMA6: The next single which will be released in July/August will be a track called “Leuchtfeuer”. It’s a ballad with acoustic guitar and typical rockdrums in the end. But basically there is an electronic drumbeat and a few synthesizers which makes it sound quite special and modern.
Christian Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
EMMA6: All songs.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?
EMMA6: We love the last songs of our record called “Wie immer”. It breaks out of the form at the end and changes from a pop song into some kind of psychedelic jam.
Christian Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?
EMMA6: 100%. Otherwise, we could not be as passionate about it.
Christian Lamitschka: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?
EMMA6: We like to tell the story that a big fan tried to stagedive into the crowd while the crowd moved to the side and left a gap right where he intended to land on the crowd’s hands. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt badly.
Christian Lamitschka: Who do you look up musically and how deep do your musical roots run?
EMMA6: As a band, we don’t have one special idol. Our music is a mixture of our personal influences that base on both German and international music.
Christian Lamitschka: What do you think about today’s German Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?
EMMA6: It’s positive to see that in the last ten years, the German music scene brought forward a lot of young new bands that do their own thing. Nevertheless, the German music branch could do a lot more for german bands.
Christian Lamitschka: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“ German music?
EMMA6: We think that “new” german music is more influenced by international artists and styles. “Traditional” German music becomes more and more oldfashioned, which sometimes is a pity.
Christian Lamitschka: As an artist you have to do so many different things such as recording, touring, doing interviews etc. What do you like best, what’s your favorite activity?
EMMA6: In the end it’s the touring which we like most. Of course, doing interviews, recording in the studio and so on is a lot of fun and interesting but you don’t get the emotions and the feedback that you obviously get when playing in front of people and that’s what it makes it so great.
Christian Lamitschka: Are you doing anything to take German music beyond it’s courrent borders or are you happy where it is?
EMMA6: Yes, we care a lot about our lyrics and try to make it as special as possible, using wordplay and phrases that haven’t been there yet.
Christian Lamitschka: What was your big break that got you into the music business?
EMMA6: We had the luck to become friends with Mark Tavassol, bass play of the famous German band “Wir sind Helden”. He became a fan, supported us and co-produced our record.
Christian Lamitschka: Before you became a star, where your friends and family supportive or was it a struggle?
EMMA6: They always supported us. We were between 16 and 19 when the band started, therefore it was important for us to get a lot of encouragement by our families and friends.
Christian Lamitschka: What inspired you to become an artist?
EMMA6: It was a quite natural development. When we first held an instrument in our hands, we knew that that is what we have to do. Since then, it has become even more passionate.
Christian Lamitschka: What drives you?
EMMA6: The love for music and the reactions we get from our audience.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s unique about you that differentiates you from other artists?
EMMA6: It’s hard to answer this question, some other people should do. But if we have to answer, it’s our lyrics and the trio-sound that does not often exist in Germany.
Christian Lamitschka: What has been your greatest challenge in music business?
EMMA6: It’s still going on. Namely the try to establish ourselves in the German music scene.
Christian Lamitschka: What moments in your career stand out in your memory as highlights and achievements which you’re proud of?
EMMA6: Mostly the live moments. We love to be on stage and these are the greatest memories for us. Furthermore, we were very proud when our debut album entered the German Top 40 charts in the first week.
Christian Lamitschka: Who’s your biggest critic, yourself or others?
EMMA6: We ourselves and the closest people around us. It’s very important to have these people who tell you honestly what they think about you and your music.
Christian Lamitschka: Is there anything in your life that you would change if you could?
EMMA6: Not at the moment.
Christian Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
EMMA6: An energetic, passionate show every night. The live thing is where we come from and why we make music.
Christian Lamitschka: When you’re on tour, do you have time to play tourist?
EMMA6: Actually we don’t. There are often interviews before the show and then there’s soundcheck and other things to do. And if you have the time to walk around you don’t know anything about the city you are in and just go into a shopping mall. It’s definitely very rarely that we do play tourist.
Christian Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists via the internet. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
EMMA6: Of course we have a website (www.emma6.de) and facebook-accounts (www.facebook.com/emma6musik). You find music, photos, videos, daily information about what’s going on, diary entries and all that stuff.
Christian Lamitschka: What’s your favorite song that you wish you could have recorded?
EMMA6: Definitely “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve.
Christian Lamitschka: Fans are always hungry for good road stories. Do you have one you can tell?
EMMA6: In September, we are going on a big tour through Germany. Afterwards, we’ll hopefully be able to tell you lots of stories.
Christian Lamitschka: Describe what a perfect day is like for you.
EMMA6: You should listen to our debut single “Paradiso”. It describes exactly that.
Christian Lamitschka ( Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de )