ION INDIE MAGAZINE June 2016, Volume 25 | Page 108

know this band. And for example, he worked with us since the first demo record and he was the guy who helped me to work
on the structures and on the arrangements. Because normally when I have an idea for a song, it’s somehow always on places
where I don’t want to have them. For example, during having a shower or whatever. And then I just grab a mobile phone and
sing this melody on. And when I have 6 or 7 parts or main structures in my head, then I travel to Munich--which is not that far
away from me--to work with him on these songs. And that was the progress and the process, how it worked.
KZ: Were there any funny moments during the recording of the album?
GN: We had many funny moments. I mean, it’s hard to explain
it in English. When I was singing, for example, in the studio,
and I sang completely wrong lyrics or whatever because I
fucked up a part and the meaning in German…he was just
laughing his ass off, sitting there, “What are you doing in
there?” Also the song titles, the working titles…for example,
we have a song now on this record, “Codex Atlanticus” called
“Perfect Woman”, and in the beginning the working title has
been “Fast Tits”. So when we sent over the song to FABIO (the
bass player) it was a working title and still “Fast Tits”. And he
was, “What the f***! I should play bass on “Fast Tits? Okay,
why not?”
KZ: And could you tell what inspired you to write music?
GN: To be honest, I’m not the type of guy who has to walk in
the woods to get inspiration, or whatever. I’m inspired more
by other bands, like for example, QUEEN and TOTO and this
80’s stuff--mostly, the melody lines and the arrangements-which I say, “Okay, little bit more bombastic or whatever and it would be exactly Serenity style.” So I guess I get my inspiration
mostly from these 80’s bands. I know, you’re a bit disappointed now that I don’t tell you something about the tree, the flower
and looking at that inspires me…the water flowing from my soul.
KZ: No way. And now I want to tell you that your voice is amazing.
GN: Thank you very much, thanks a lot. Thanks a lot for the flowers. Finally we have flowers.
KZ: You must work at it very hard, judging by the way your vocals sound so great.
GN: I mean, it has a lot to do with experience. You know, when I was a kid, four years old or whatever, my mother was my main
influence, because she was in this Folk music scene. Typical. And she managed to put me on stage together with her singing
traditional Folk songs. And so I completely lost my fear for the stage. And then I went to do some high school stuff, which was
specialized in music. And there we always had our choir lessons, so this was for sure some great experience from which to
learn something. And the most important learning experience for me was when we founded a cover band. I was 16 or 17 years
old, because we agreed--okay, we want to do cover songs from QUEEN, TOTO, EUROPE, WHITESNAKE…all this stuff. So for
sure, first we were not able to play it and I was not able to sing it. But after some time evolved, developed and developed and
developed, and I think this is the hardest school you can get through, but it’s the best school, you know?
KZ: So you always wanted to become a vocalist?
GN: Yeah, sure. I mean I learned piano, but then I recognized that being the lead singer gets you more girls. So I focused on
that.
KZ: Could you tell your fans about how the band’s guest vocalists have changed during the years?