We have been asked to remove the link to the audio version of this interview until it is “approved” by management. Out of curiosity as to why, we are inclined to acquiesce to their request.
Rock My Monkey: Hello, you are listening to the Rock My Monkey netcast on RockMyMonkey.com. Today we are speaking with Richard Kruspe of the band Rammstein. For today’s interview the new, his new band, Emigrate. How are you doing today, Richard, and did I pronounce your last name anywhere near how it should be pronounced?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Close, actually. The name you pronounced was “krusper”. You said “krusp”. But it’s alright. (laughs) Pretty close, basically. Doing pretty well. I’m in Berlin right now. It’s a quiet evening. It’s 9 o’clock here. It’s just like the week before Christmas basically. Everyone is getting kind of calm here. It’s always a big deal at Christmas in Germany. I’m doing pretty well. Thank you.
Rock My Monkey: What song on this cd do you think has the chance of being Emigrate’s “Du Hast”, the song that fans demand for decades to come?
Richard Z. Kruspe: (laughs) I think it’s kind of tough to repeat Rammstein. That was never my intention to do it. I mean, Rammstein, and especially the song “Du Hast” was such a unique track, was one of those tracks you write maybe every twenty years. I don’t know. It would be tough to say. The Emigrate record is so different. We don’t like to compare to Rammstein, especially not with the song “Du Hast”. So I have to pass.
Rock My Monkey: Is that a Middle Eastern influence that I hear on the song “Resolution”?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes, correct. I always like the Middle Eastern harmony and melodies and kind of stuff. Even with Rammstein on things I played a little bit around, so I guess I always come back from my past.
Rock My Monkey: Was that an inspiration of a rock influence like Led Zeppelin?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yeah, “Kashmir” was definitely one thing that the song that sticks to my mind over years and years. I think it’s one of the first songs-yeah, I would say it was one of the first songs I heard when I was a child that a rock band played Eastern melodies and kind of stuff.
Rock My Monkey: In 2001 you moved to New York, but what specifically inspired you to write a song about the city?
Richard Z. Kruspe: The city itself, I would say. I think that New York City is one of the most dramatic cities I’ve ever been, and the most inspiring city for a musician or an artist to write or whatever you have to create. I think the city has everything to become a good artist in a way, if you have enough money to live in there. (laughs) I’m kind of fortunate to live in an old, old firehouse where I have my own studio there. Basically, I think the first thing when I think about New York I think actually female. For me the quality of New York is pretty much female about it. I think the most important thing as an artist is to challenge yourself. And living in Berlin for the last eighteen, nineteen years, I felt like I had achieved a lot of things with Rammstein, and I felt like I needed a new challenge. As an artist now, a little drama and suffering is kind of necessary to create any kind of art. It’s just a great city to suffer, so that’s why I moved here.
Rock My Monkey: On the video for “New York”, you seem to be playing a character that’s actually stuck back in East Germany again, dreaming of being in New York. Who came up with that concept?
Richard Z. Kruspe: The director Paul Brown, we had talked about what is it about New York City? The first thing we came up with actually, both of us was that we think New York City is female. And we kind of thought about how we could create the female side, or the sexual side, into the video. We both came up with the idea to put a woman in there, and the rest he came up with.
Rock My Monkey: As you’re walking out of the VR room, there actually is a woman looking back at you. Does that woman then represent New York?
Richard Z. Kruspe: It’s kind of like a metaphor for it. Exactly.
Rock My Monkey: I’ve heard that the lineup in the videos is different than the lineup for the recording. How come?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Basically, everyone is quite busy these days. The band that I had to record basically is one story. The problem I always had was like to schedule the whole project together because as I said before, everyone is quite busy. I always said, if something happened then great. If we have like a DVD to make or what else, everyone’s welcome, but I can’t wait for everyone that fits into their schedule, basically. That’s why I had to come up with a second band that is based just in New York, basically. When we were shooting in New York and those guys couldn’t make it. They were doing other records. They were busy at the moment. That’s why I came up with a new, a second band, basically.
Rock My Monkey: Will the live lineup be more what was used on the recording of the album, or what was on the video?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Actually it will be a mix of both of them. Obviously my first choice is the band in the studio. Then again, like I always said, everyone is really welcome to join the new band, but if somebody is busy I can’t wait because my schedule is so crazy living between those two countries, and living in those two bands, that I can’t wait for another schedule. So that’s why I have to have solutions for this. I think it will be a mix of both of them.
Rock My Monkey: The bio that I read on the band says that Paris-born singer Axel Bauer is involved, but you did all the vocals, correct?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes.
Rock My Monkey: So what did Axel do?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Axel is-he’s the bass player, Axel Bauer.
Rock My Monkey: Oh, alright.
Richard Z. Kruspe: His name is Angelou, basically, and he’s a French guy living in New York City. He’s one of the first guys I met in New York, and the first person I worked on Emigrate basically. He’s actually been in the recording session, as well as in the video. He’s maybe the closest guy to me.
Rock My Monkey: Where Rammstein has cold, hard feel to it, and some would say an over the top German vibe to it, Emigrate at times has softer elements, and sounds more like an American sounding release. Was that intentional, and do you agree?
Richard Z. Kruspe: I think that at the end of the day when I listen to the record I kind of agree that Emigrate sounds much more rocky-er than Rammstein. But I also a big believer of the environment that reflects your music, and affects your music and the sound obviously. And recording and writing those songs in New York I think had a big influence on the sound of those songs. I thought about the history and the sound of New York a lot. Even though when I listen to The Ramones which consider it a punk band, I always feel like it’s a rocky vibe to those bands coming out of New York. I think it effected Emigrate in a way. I also, I change a little bit the way that I was writing songs. Before with Rammstein we were writing more of soundtracks basically. The vocals always came at the very end. With Emigrate I kind of used my vocals just in the writing process. I just came back from the old American way of writing songs. That’s why I think it sounds a little bit more American. Although a lot of people tell me it sounds awfully English. So I’m getting confused sometimes what does it sound? It sounds like Emigrate, and that’s the most important thing. Then again every band that started is basically on its way to find its sound. I think you need, as a band, two or three records to actually realize where you want to go and where your sound is. I can bet like my new Emigrate records will sound quite differently until I found where I want to go with it.
Rock My Monkey: You mentioned that a lot of people are saying that they hear a more British sounding release, whereas I hear a more American sounding release. Different people seem to be hearing-the album that you hear depends upon the listener. Everybody’s hearing a different album. Do you think that has to do with some of the depth and textures that you have on the album?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Of course. Basically I grew up in East Germany based on the Russian culture and Russian harmony. Listening to American rock music when I grew up. I think that mixture of how I write, how I put my melodies in, it’s a unique thing. It’s not typical American, but then again, moving to New York and having this life often creates a more American sounding record, as well. So I think it’s a lot mixed into this record, and that’s why I call it Emigrate.
Rock My Monkey: How much input did the other members of Emigrate have on this cd?
Richard Z. Kruspe: I always like to work in a team, because there’s always the way that people play-even though I wrote almost everything, the way that they played those songs is always a different thing, and I liked it. The chemistry between the band is one thing I was looking forward to, like with the band together, not just play everything myself, or just programming everything. So I was really looking for a real band playing live in the studio. Even though we didn’t really change so much things, the way that they played those songs I couldn’t do myself, obviously.
Rock My Monkey: I’ve heard that a cover of the AC/DC classic “Dirty Deeds” has either been planned or recorded. Is this true, and when will fans be able to hear that?
Richard Z. Kruspe: You have a lot of information. My god! (both laugh) Yeah, that was something that I was thinking of doing because I’m such a big Bon Scott, early AC/DC fan. That was music I grew up with, basically. I haven’t finished it yet, honestly, but I am working on it.
Rock My Monkey: With several videos already finished, are there plans for Emigrate to release a DVD anytime soon?
Richard Z. Kruspe: (laughs) You guys are so fun. I haven’t done any live shows at the moment, so how can you do a DVD? No, there’s no plan on a DVD at the moment.
Rock My Monkey: Many times when I was listening to the cd this morning, the cd at times seems to be a musical score to a movie that doesn’t exist. I’d like to predict that you will write the musical score to a major movie within the next five years. How likely do you as the artist feel that will happen?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Wow, that’s really interesting. There’s two things I want to tell you. One thing is my girlfriend always says when we listen to my music, she’s like ‘Wow, it’s a movie.’ Everyone hears my music like it’s for a movie. It’s something about how I write. I don’t know what it is, but a lot of people tell me it’s great for movies. I’ve said actually when I was thinking about the future of music what’s going on at the moment, I said ‘You know what, the next record I do, I want to make a record for a movie.’ It’s interesting that you just said it.
Rock My Monkey: When people see Emigrate live, what can people expect from your live shows? Will it be more of a stripped down kind of thing, or are you going to add some of the theatrics that you’re known for from your other band?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Actually, something I’m thinking. I’m not finished with my thought at the moment, obviously. At the moment I’m really actually focused more on the new Rammstein record at the moment. We’re in a situation where we’re writing new songs for the new record, and then the next thing will be a next Rammstein show. So I’m still thinking about it, and there will be more time that I need to finish my thoughts, basically.
Rock My Monkey: So even though the Emigrate cd is just about to be released in America, and has been over in Europe for a while now, you’re actually right now as the artist focusing on the next Rammstein cd?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes. It’s something I love to do. I love to create things. For me it becomes almost an addiction. I need to create every day. For me to sit in the studio and write music is something I have to do as drinking water and smoking cigarettes and eating, basically. It’s something I love to do, and I enjoy, and kept on doing. I love to write.
Rock My Monkey: So there will be no tours in 2008 for this Emigrate release?
Richard Z. Kruspe: No.
Rock My Monkey: Okay. What do you think makes Emigrate unique, and what do you offer fans that you feel, as the artist, no other band today does?
Richard Z. Kruspe: (laughs) I don’t know. It’s one of the those questions that I would answer “I don’t know”. What makes Emigrate unique? What makes it unique is that most likely if you have a guitar player that starts his own project, it sounds like that the guitar player can’t play enough solos on his own record. That’s why he’s doing a new solo record, or whatever. What it makes unique is it’s more song oriented record coming from a guitar player. It’s a new band thing. It’s not like a typical guitar playing solo record. Anything else, we’ll see. It’s really hard to say.
Rock My Monkey: What song on here is the most personal song on the cd?
Richard Z. Kruspe: “Babe”
Rock My Monkey: And what makes that the most personal?
Richard Z. Kruspe: It makes it personal because it’s personal. I don’t really, I never talk about my words because I think one of the things that has to happen after you write a new song, is you start to dialog with people listening to the music and coming up with their own stories. And the reason why I’m saying this is because when I was a little boy, when I went to school we had this art class and we talk about-our class director would show us old paintings, and we would come up with our stories why would he paint those paintings. At the end of the day, or at the end of the hour of the class, he would tell us what the painter meant by it. I always got so disappointed. I always said I would never, ever say my view of my songs, so people should come up with their own stories.
Rock My Monkey: So even though the album is just being released, is there any plans, other than a couple of interviews, is there any plans that you have for Emigrate in the future at this point in time?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes, of course. Again, I’m thinking, but for me to live in those two worlds and those two bands, it’s kind of complicated. It requires a lot of scheduling, basically, and time organizing. Time management is a perfect word for it. At the moment I focus on the new record of Rammstein, and afterwards it comes a new tour of Rammstein, and at the moment the most important thing. If we have any time left, I will definitely consider going out on tour with Emigrate.
Rock My Monkey: Now is the time of the interview I like to call the Lightening Round. Basically I’m going to name something popular news or popular culture, and you sum up your thoughts in one short sentence. You ready?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes.
Rock My Monkey: First off, in America, we have the Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul. Do you know anything about him?
Richard Z. Kruspe: No, I don’t know anything him.
Rock My Monkey: The NBC show Heroes.
Richard Z. Kruspe: I don’t know anything about the tv show Heroes.
Rock My Monkey: The Apple iPhone.
Richard Z. Kruspe: (laughs) I don’t have one.
Rock My Monkey: The United States President George Bush.
Richard Z. Kruspe: It’s a-yeah, it’s a problem.
Rock My Monkey: The television network Fox News.
Richard Z. Kruspe: When I watch tv, I would watch the movies. So the only time I watch political things are in Germany. And, yeah.
Rock My Monkey: The Recording Industry Association Of America.
Richard Z. Kruspe: The Recording Industry Association Of America should come up with an idea where we have a new way of selling music, which is not free.
Rock My Monkey: What is your Christmas wish? What do you want for Christmas?
Richard Z. Kruspe: I want to have something for Christmas that I can play for another two or three days after Christmas.
Rock My Monkey: I do have one final question. Every year we do choose one final question that we ask every single band, from classic rock legends to more modern artists like yourself at the end of every interview, partially to stump people, but also to see who wimps out and won’t answer. This year I’m asking people to look into their crystal ball and predict what political figure, world leader, musician, celebrity, anybody world wide famous, who do you think might die before the end of the year?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Might die?
Rock My Monkey: Yes.
Richard Z. Kruspe: (laughs) Oh wow. I think-it doesn’t have to be American, right?
Richard Z. Kruspe: See? (laughs) You don’t know him.
Rock My Monkey: No, I think that’s great you mentioned somebody I don’t know. Who would that be?
Richard Z. Kruspe: He’s a German politician. And probably because he smokes I think like two packs of cigarettes, and he’s over seventy. Every time there’s an interview he smokes cigarettes. I think Helmut Schmidt.
Rock My Monkey: Okay. And he’s a politician?
Richard Z. Kruspe: Yes. He was even Chancellor of Germany once.
Rock My Monkey: I thank you very much for doing the interview. Anybody that’s listening to the audio version can go to RockMyMonkey.com for the full featured version with clickable links, readable text, and many more wonderful features. I’m asking people to click on the album cover above and below this interview to pre-order the self-titled debut from Emigrate. And I do hope to see you guys up on tour in the Northwest sometime in the future. Thank you very much for your time.
Richard Z. Kruspe: Thank you, as well. And have a great Christmas.
Rock My Monkey: You, too. Bye.
Richard Z. Kruspe: Thank you. Bye bye.
We have been asked to remove the link to the audio version of this interview until it is “approved” by management. Out of curiosity as to why, we are inclined to acquiesce to their request.
