OOMPH Interview is up 3/12/2010

http://www.oomph.de/




All answers by: FLUX of OOMPH!

1. Looks like OOMPH has been around for a close to a dozen albums and 20 yrs now why a move to the US market now?

Of course we want to reach with our music as many people around the world as it's possible .We've always loved to explore new dimensions and to discover new countries. The lyrics are a very big part of our songs and for a lot of our fans especially the lyrics (in combination with the music) are the reason why the follow us for so many years and feel so deeply connected to us. English is the international language no.1, so to let more and more people get into our world of thoughts we had to record our best songs in english. We have already played some shows in the beginning of our career in New York City and all over europe and we know from our my space site and from our guestbook entries that we have fans all over the world since we started...so the german language was never disturbing to get new fans, but there are a lot of people around the world who do not understand german, so we recorded the best songs in english.

2. Your working with The End Records how did that come about?

In Germany we are signed to Sony Records Columbia. Sony Records USA doesn't want to release Truth or Dare so we started to look for another strong and capable partner to relase this album and we found that in The End Records.

3. Your music I could call catchy Industrial Rock. How is that seen in Europe do you see yourself the 1st wave of bands that help Inspire bands like Nine Inch nails, Stabbing Westward, Filter, Rammstein etc???

We started in 1989 with OOMPH! to combine metal rock music with synthesizers, samples, loops and electronic industrial elements. Our Influences are DAF, Einstürzende Neubauten, Depeche Mode, The Cure, AC/DC, Motörhead and many more...Rammstein never denied that we have been a big influence for their music and we often met them at our concerts in Berlin in the early years...so, if we inspiered the other bands that you mentioned that will make me feel proud, becouse I also like the music of NIN, Stabbing Westward and Filter very much! :-)

4. What is a Live show like for OOMPH?

First of all: no explosion and no fireworks :-) But you can expect a very powerful and energetic, rocking Live performance of all of us. Live we are supported by a bass player and a drummer, so we can offer the total industral rock power from stage with a big light show. We concentrate on an authentic rock performance and we always try to create a big rock'n'roll party TOGETHER with our fans. There are no frontiers between us and our fans during our performance.

5. Truth or Dare seems to be a compilation release from several albums is there a reason to not just release a full new album for the American debut?

We thought as a start it can help to release only hits and the best songs on one powerful record. If this is successfull we will record the next full new album in german and in english right away.

6. Are the German versions of the songs on Truth or Dare very different from the english reworkings?

No, we wanted to keep the exact meaning of nearly every sentence in the translation to english and that really worked out very well! The goal was to keep the spirit of the original lyrical german idea and to transform it into the english language without losing the rhyme-, metrical-, rhythmical- and phonetical basement of each song. it was a challenge but i think we made a pretty proper job.

7. For us in USA tell us how the early material differs from the later material? + 10. Your older material seems to have a lot in common with the EBM/ Electro Industrial sounds of Wax trax and Reconstruction Records ?

The earlier material is much more influenced by DAF and Nitzer Ebb combine with rock guitars inspired from AC/DC and Motörhead...this was a big influence in the beginnig of OOMPH! and over the years we developed more and more our musical style and tried to have always a progression in it. We allowed all of the music that we like from all kind of styles to inspire our writing and so we developed from EBM to how you called it "catchy industrial Rock.

8. Will OOMPH becoming to perform in the USA at all?

We are working on that right now and we hope to perform soon in North America. This is a big goal of ourselves!

9. Whats your thoughts on the current Industrial scene what never bands impress you right now?

I try not to listen so much to music from the same genre that we do...I'm afraid of in-breeding effect if you listen always to the same kind of music. So I try to get influences from all kind of (good) music.


11. What your thoughts of the modern digital promotion machine of web zines, internet radio and myspace. Do you miss the promotion of old?

No, it's perfect to reach a lot of people all over the world very fast and to keep easily contact to your supporters. You got to be open for new technologies and try to use them for yourself or they will kill you!

12. I know you have a Dvd release will there ever be an North American release for this I think it would be very popular item here..

I will pass your request to The End Records :-) As far as we are concerned we could imagine to release every Album and DVDs that we ever made in North America as long as it is wanted!

13. Thank for the time any closing thoughts here..

We hope to see you, our fans and supporters in North America, pretty soon live on tour. Thanks for supporting us trough all the years in your country!