A Certain Someone sees German artist René breaking free of the shackles of his previous bands and embarking on a solo career, making intriguing electronic songs like Suburbian. It’s a pretty unique sounding track, and well worth a listen if you like your electronic music! Find a full stream of the song at the end of this interview.
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a new track called Suburbian. What can you tell us about the song?
The song may sound calm, but it has a hidden idea of rebellion in it. It is about nothing else than questioning societal norms, personal struggles, nostalgia, time’s swift passage and the importance of making moral choices amid a world filled with temptations and challenges. Long story short – it is for the melancholics.
How has the reception to Suburbian been so far, and where can it be purchased?
It is hard nowadays to gain awareness, since there are so many musicians out there, who also want to be seen and heard. The reception was good but I think I have to be patient and release further tracks to reach the audience I want to reach. The song can be purchased on Bandcamp.
Do you have any more singles planned for the near future?
Yes, I have two more produced and mixed already. These upcoming ones sound different to the first two tracks.
The next one is called Time Is On My Side and has an 80s pop appeal and is less shoegazey than the other tracks. Release date will be in March or April.
Are there any plans to release a new album or EP anytime soon?
When the 4 tracks have been released they will be put together as an EP. If there ever will be an album depends on if I can get the production financed. I want the best quality in production and that is the reason I work with producer Tobias Siebert. This, of course, needs a lot of budget which I currently don’t have. The paradox is, that you get more attention with an album than with singles, even though a lot of people have declared the album as dead. But what I see currently promoting the singles does not reflect that.
You’re also a member of the bands Slut and Pelzig. Do you have anything planned for release with your side projects at the moment?
I don’t see the bands as side projects since I have spent many years in those bands. Currently there is no new music we work on with Slut. Please don’t mind the name. We were young. You should check out both bands. With Pelzig we have a couple of songs half ready, but the right time to finish them is not yet here.
What made you decide to start a solo career?
My solo music is kind of a fresh start as a newcomer, even though I have released music since many years now. I am enjoying this new adventure – making my own decisions when writing and producing is something I have been thought about for many years now. It is great to work with my band mates, but after so many years making compromises, I thought the time was right to try it on my own.
Suburbian is a stripped-down electronic song. What/who are you most influenced by? What have you been listening to recently?
My musical influences are very diverse. My first band was a rockabilly band, but I have listened to a lot of hip-hop before finding my home in indie music, which has the right portion of melancholy in it. My main passions and influences can be found in these artists: Slowdive, Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, Ride. Recently I have listened a lot to the new Slowdive album.
Do you have anything else exciting coming up over the next few months?
Releasing two more songs, hoping to reach like-minded audience and somehow making it possible to produce the other 8 tracks I have written to put together an album. Anything else is written in the stars.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
No tour dates yet at all. Since my music is designed with a full band is playing it (I played all the instruments in the studio), I would need to put together a band to create the real experience and this is not something I am currently planning to do. Playing live means a lot of time-consuming rehearsals, compromises, managing gigs and tours, additional costs setting everything up and it’s a risky endeavour to make it break even. I have seen a lot of smaller bands and artists having to cancel their planned tours recently because of too few tickets being sold, which also doesn’t make this more attractive to me. I am working full time as a designer which makes my available time limited. But who knows: if my music reaches many people and the demand gets high I may rethink it. But I have seen and have been promised a lot of things in the music business so that I can assess this realistically.
Any last words for the fans?
Give a German guy with Austrian blood and a British heart a chance. England is full of great music but my greatest wish is to reach a UK audience, because I think they would understand and feel my music.