What is your name and role within the Fuck Art, Let’s Dance?
Hi, my name is Nico and I’m the vocalist of the band.
How did you start?
We started right after finishing school after a long drunken night out and got stuck with music ever since! It’s really a good trade rather than sitting in a bank from 9 to 5.
Where are you based?
We all hail from the port town Hamburg in Germany.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
It might differ from time to time. Though when we started, we wrote our songs on the computer first and then headed into playing those songs live. From there we worked on details and maybe switched some parts around for a better live feel.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, we’re preparing a little side project. We’re working on some acoustic renditions of our tracks, so we can play even more gigs. Our next album is at the ready and will be released this year, so we’re eagerly waiting for that too!
What is your gear setup?
I’m using a 1950’s Marshall Bluesbreaker and a Fender Strat.
Got some Pedals like the T2 or Arena Reverb, but the one I really love is the Riptide, a subtle distortion by PB&J – it’s handcrafted in the US but I don’t think he does that anymore.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
I’m a bartender so I drink a lot in my spare time. Testing out new recipes and looking for certain nuances is a real hobby of mine. It doesn’t really affect our music. What does is that little sadness you get when breaking up with girls. That’s where the real musical magic happens.
How would you describe your music genre?
We call it “Kellerwave”. It has a punk-esque attitude but is still wavey enough to get you to groove to it. Also, we write our songs in a basement.
Do you know any music theory?
Not at all. But there might be a time when I’m asking Kanye West to give me some lessons in producing and being a genius.
What are your plans for the future?
Hopefully doing the things I do right now. Going on tour and get drunk.
How did you get into music?
I was always an avid listener of various genres. My mother is a house music and techno fan, so I grew up most of the time with Carl Cox. I don’t really know my father but he was a fan of Guns’n’Roses. Maybe that drove me into becoming a musician myself. But the event where I really started was when I kind of fell in love with a girl from my school. Never spoke to her though, she was just my muse. That’s where it all began.
What are you listening to at the moment?
When we played SxSW I really got stuck with Surfer Rock music. I got hooked on Diiv, Beach Fossils recently Mac Demarco and Hazel English. Just to name a few.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Kanye West – Because he’s a genius.
Kanye West – Because he’s a genius.
Kanye West – Because he’s a genius.
Kanye West – Because he’s a genius.
Kanye West – Because he’s a genius.
(also Chris Martin, Mike Patton, Robert Smith and the late Chris Cornell)
When are you playing next?
We have a tour coming up in october so stay tuned.
Here’s a glimpse of what we’ll play before that :
03.06 Lunatic Festival (Lüneburg / GER)
09.06 PULS Open Air (Kaltenberg / GER)
21.06 Fete de la Musique (Berlin / GER)
14.07 Wutzrock Festival (Hamburg / GER)