Hailing from Germany, Enik is 24 year old musical phenomenon whose third release, Antenna is a vivid collection of musical oddities, infectious and hard to define. I had to find out if the music was as ecclectic as the artist himself. He was kind enough recently to set some time aside for an interview with me about his new album , art, film and what its like to be ...well ...Enik.
William: Hey Enik, your music fell into my consciousness recently and I haven't been able to let it go. I'm listening to "the dog without a head" right now. I Just have a few questions for you....so here we go.
Enik: Hey William, first of all its good to get such great feedback from the states. I love the suicidegirls site. At least what I can see without membership.
W: Thanks, Enik. How are you?
E: Hungry, tired, with a hangover. Psychedelic.
W: You start "Antenna" off with the song "your punks are getting angry". What is the significance? Is this album a social commentary ...a personal journal?
E: Theres so much social commentary on antenna that I dont even know how to start. it makes no sense for me to explain it. its a piece of music, not a book, so I hope it speaks for itself. I can say that a hearts guess is about taking your faith from the source, instead of building up a concept like religion. in your punks are getting angry, Im using punks as a kind of barometer for the state of a nation.
W: I understand you have been writing music since you were 13. With your work with Funkstoerung , and now a third solo effort to your name, how do you stay so prolific?
E: For the last eight years Ive been in a constant process of writing music and lyrics. I guess I put my consciousness in a mode where my inspiration went totally out of control. Im writing around 4 songs a week. besides that Im writing a book. the horrible thing is that over the last two years, Ive loved every single thing Ive done. so I find myself in the bad situation of choosing songs for an album. for my next LP Ive already written 45 songs. now I have to pick thirteen songs and trash the rest. Well, Im just another poor little bastard whos punished by his own inspiration. pah!
W: When will "Antenna" be available in the U.S? I understand you can buy it through itunes.de?
E: Guess what, itunes America doesnt want to sell my EP. Do me a favor and write them a letter. You can buy it at www.musicload.de.
W: Your new ep sounds almost live at times...more intimate. How has the recording of "Antenna" differed from your previous releases, "The Seasons in Between", or "Without a Bark"?
E: I engineered antenna alone in a little 15 ft square room. that was new. it sounds more rough, but for this EP I found it very important.
W: You reference the icons of the sixties music revolution on this albumdo you feel a connection with that time period? In what way?
E: Yes, I feel very related to that time period. my heroes are Morrison, Hendrix and Dylan etc. The song antenna is a tribute to the doors. Ray and Robbie, Jim and me, the California moon and a desert sea, and so on. the song is also full of musical quotes from that time.
W: I understand that you are a multi instrumentalistDid you play all the instruments on your new ep?
E: Yes I did, except the trumpet in the two letter army. its played by a very talented guy from the states by the name of Daigo Kawai. he contacted me via myspace and asked if I need some horns. I loved the idea, so he sent single tracks via e- mail. I never even met the guy. funny. the strings are played by a guy named Lorenz. I just met him somewhere here in the city.
W: What was the process like for this album?Where did you record?, How long did it take?
E: Me, a room full of instruments and a computer. The recording and mixing took me around three weeks.
W: Your songs have a theatrical feel. Is this due to your time spent with the Phatos theatre? How has that experience and your time with Funkstoerung influenced your work?
E: I love the theater and acting and if you can hear that in the music, well I think that`s great. Three years ago I played a part that was a mixture between elvis, death and an old man. it sounds so ridiculous, but it was actually quite a serious role.
W: "Antenna" is a web EP, is this a format that we can expect from all your future releases?
E: Man, I wish theyd go back to tape. Im working on my next record release now. it should be on the stand by early next year. I think Ill call it everybodys surfing I can't but write new songs and there are some collaborations waiting in line.
W: I noticed a few show dates on your site, is there a tour in the making?
E: Next year Ill starting touring with a band.
W: Are you coming to the United States?
E: I would love to, but theres nothing planned yet. you wanna setup a show and fly us out?
W: How do you feel when people compare you to a young Peter Gabriel, David Bowie or Tom Waites?
E: Well that`s an honor and I guess people need boxes. Im happy I landed in that box. I think when I release my tenth album they will stop comparing. then I hope Ill also be a name in that list.
W: I saw the short films where you shoot yourself in the head, and do a commercial for "enlightenment cream" Do you intend on experimenting with more film in the future?
E: I would love to. Its a matter of budget. In the mean time Im doing a few low budget videos with Dean Bennici and Ben Brummer. Their style is like the antenna video. You can watch it on Youtube. so, yes, more film.
W: And just for fun... If you would want any super human power in the world, what would it be, and why?
E: I wanna be a time traveler
I wanna see myself as a child
Id like to see myself drinking my first glass of wine
I wanna see her smile
I would travel to year zero
to find out if he really was a hero
I would travel to year 1933
to find out if my fathers first kiss was dirty
W: Thanks man.
E: All the best.
Check out Enik's new EP "Antenna" at www.enik.net and www.myspace.com/enikenik
William: Hey Enik, your music fell into my consciousness recently and I haven't been able to let it go. I'm listening to "the dog without a head" right now. I Just have a few questions for you....so here we go.
Enik: Hey William, first of all its good to get such great feedback from the states. I love the suicidegirls site. At least what I can see without membership.
W: Thanks, Enik. How are you?
E: Hungry, tired, with a hangover. Psychedelic.
W: You start "Antenna" off with the song "your punks are getting angry". What is the significance? Is this album a social commentary ...a personal journal?
E: Theres so much social commentary on antenna that I dont even know how to start. it makes no sense for me to explain it. its a piece of music, not a book, so I hope it speaks for itself. I can say that a hearts guess is about taking your faith from the source, instead of building up a concept like religion. in your punks are getting angry, Im using punks as a kind of barometer for the state of a nation.
W: I understand you have been writing music since you were 13. With your work with Funkstoerung , and now a third solo effort to your name, how do you stay so prolific?
E: For the last eight years Ive been in a constant process of writing music and lyrics. I guess I put my consciousness in a mode where my inspiration went totally out of control. Im writing around 4 songs a week. besides that Im writing a book. the horrible thing is that over the last two years, Ive loved every single thing Ive done. so I find myself in the bad situation of choosing songs for an album. for my next LP Ive already written 45 songs. now I have to pick thirteen songs and trash the rest. Well, Im just another poor little bastard whos punished by his own inspiration. pah!
W: When will "Antenna" be available in the U.S? I understand you can buy it through itunes.de?
E: Guess what, itunes America doesnt want to sell my EP. Do me a favor and write them a letter. You can buy it at www.musicload.de.
W: Your new ep sounds almost live at times...more intimate. How has the recording of "Antenna" differed from your previous releases, "The Seasons in Between", or "Without a Bark"?
E: I engineered antenna alone in a little 15 ft square room. that was new. it sounds more rough, but for this EP I found it very important.
W: You reference the icons of the sixties music revolution on this albumdo you feel a connection with that time period? In what way?
E: Yes, I feel very related to that time period. my heroes are Morrison, Hendrix and Dylan etc. The song antenna is a tribute to the doors. Ray and Robbie, Jim and me, the California moon and a desert sea, and so on. the song is also full of musical quotes from that time.
W: I understand that you are a multi instrumentalistDid you play all the instruments on your new ep?
E: Yes I did, except the trumpet in the two letter army. its played by a very talented guy from the states by the name of Daigo Kawai. he contacted me via myspace and asked if I need some horns. I loved the idea, so he sent single tracks via e- mail. I never even met the guy. funny. the strings are played by a guy named Lorenz. I just met him somewhere here in the city.
W: What was the process like for this album?Where did you record?, How long did it take?
E: Me, a room full of instruments and a computer. The recording and mixing took me around three weeks.
W: Your songs have a theatrical feel. Is this due to your time spent with the Phatos theatre? How has that experience and your time with Funkstoerung influenced your work?
E: I love the theater and acting and if you can hear that in the music, well I think that`s great. Three years ago I played a part that was a mixture between elvis, death and an old man. it sounds so ridiculous, but it was actually quite a serious role.
W: "Antenna" is a web EP, is this a format that we can expect from all your future releases?
E: Man, I wish theyd go back to tape. Im working on my next record release now. it should be on the stand by early next year. I think Ill call it everybodys surfing I can't but write new songs and there are some collaborations waiting in line.
W: I noticed a few show dates on your site, is there a tour in the making?
E: Next year Ill starting touring with a band.
W: Are you coming to the United States?
E: I would love to, but theres nothing planned yet. you wanna setup a show and fly us out?
W: How do you feel when people compare you to a young Peter Gabriel, David Bowie or Tom Waites?
E: Well that`s an honor and I guess people need boxes. Im happy I landed in that box. I think when I release my tenth album they will stop comparing. then I hope Ill also be a name in that list.
W: I saw the short films where you shoot yourself in the head, and do a commercial for "enlightenment cream" Do you intend on experimenting with more film in the future?
E: I would love to. Its a matter of budget. In the mean time Im doing a few low budget videos with Dean Bennici and Ben Brummer. Their style is like the antenna video. You can watch it on Youtube. so, yes, more film.
W: And just for fun... If you would want any super human power in the world, what would it be, and why?
E: I wanna be a time traveler
I wanna see myself as a child
Id like to see myself drinking my first glass of wine
I wanna see her smile
I would travel to year zero
to find out if he really was a hero
I would travel to year 1933
to find out if my fathers first kiss was dirty
W: Thanks man.
E: All the best.
Check out Enik's new EP "Antenna" at www.enik.net and www.myspace.com/enikenik
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
This guy seems pretty fuckin' cool.
I haven't heard his music yet but am going to, right now.
Cheers and good interview!
Indeed.