ION INDIE MAGAZINE April 2015, Volume 11 | Page 59

(where you can order the CD) with “explicit lyrics” (laughs). “PoP” is about my thoughts about faith and false idolism. As human
beings we all are just this: human.
KZ: What topics are the most important for you to describe in lyrics? What are your inspirations to writing the lyrics on album
and create the music for your album?
Stefan: Life itself inspires me! Hey man, I LOVE my life and I am a really happy man. Maybe I’m somtimes in dark mood,
sometimes bitchy or complicated, but that´s me! So all I see, feel or dream of is great inspiration for my lyrics!
Tobi: Everything can inspire you--driving around in the car, being with friends; being alone, as well.
KZ: Listening to this album, I hear influences in some of the songs of STEEL PANTHER, CRAZY LIXX or DEEP PURPLE. Are you
and the guys from band fans of these bands?
Tobi: Yeah, of course. We love these bands as well as heavier bands! An open mind and good music are the best inspirations
for everything!
KZ: What do you think about saying "Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll"? Is it still alive or just old dying sentence?
Tobi: “Sex and Rock ‘n’ Roll”…Tainted--I think it’s self-explanatory.
Stefan: (laughs) Let me say it in a more gentle way…Sex, Beer and R´n´R! That fits!
KZ: Stefan, I think your voice is amazing, melodic and powerful. Does that come natural to you or have you had vocal training?
Stefan: Thanks! I had a classical piano and vocal coach many years ago, but I hated those lessons! I used to try and sound
like Geoff Tate or Michael Kiske (laughs)…and I failed! (laughs) But ok, you can say I know how to breathe and how to practise
my voice and keep it in “shape”. The rest is just feeling and trying to do the best, I can.
KZ: From where is name of band STRANGELET derived? Is it any history connected with it?
Tobi: The name STRANGELET was taken from physics class years ago. Jonas & I searched for a band name without the usual
stereotypes, and we heard it and we loved it…no deeper sense at all. This is six years ago-- youthful folly!
KZ: Do you want to, at some point in the future, record a song in the German language especially for your German fans?
Tobi: No way!
Stefan: I love German poetry…Hermann Hesse, Rilke, Schiller. But I really think, that ENGLISH is the worldwide language of
Rock. So I sing in English! I used to write books in German, but I will sing just in English!
KZ: Guys, what kind of music did you grow up with? Stefan, have you always wanted to be vocalist? Have you played any
instrument? Tobias, when did you began to play the guitar?
Tobi: The first LP I had was AC/DC HIGH VOLTAGE and I loved it! After this, I listened a lot to GUNS N’ ROSES, SLASH, and
things like this--but also, heavier stuff like CHILDREN OF BODOM, PRIEST, MAIDEN or METALLICA. I started playing guitar few
years earlier when I was 6. Quite a long time! (laughs)
Stefan: BOWIE, QUEEN, LED ZEP, AC/DC, PURPLE, YES, GENESIS, old Prog stu ff, obscure Kraut Rock, then SLAYER, VENOM
BATHORY, MAIDEN, MERCIFUL FATE, EUROPE, SAXON and on and on and on. Yeah, I used to play keyboards and piano. I think,
singer is okay...I think can handle this--in an okay way!