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| MSJ: Can you catch the readers up on the history of your involvement in music – sort of a "highlight reel?" |
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When I started my first own band at the age of 17 and started to play shows with our first self-written songs that was a real highlight for me. A couple of years later I was in a death metal band called "Misery Speaks," and we signed our first record deal and played shows all over Europe and some huge festivals. That was my first experience of being in a band that was some kind of professional, and this was the point where I knew that this is what I want to do for a living, though the band was never really successful. When we started with LDC everything happened so much faster than with any of my previous bands and I'm still very thankful for having the opportunity to tour the world and to release records. It sometimes still feels weird that there are people who are actually fans of what we are doing and are supporting us in everything we do. I don't take this for granted and feel very honoured! |
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| MSJ: What can you tell the readers about your new album? |
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Our new album Eraser is dedicated to endangered species like the bee, the gorilla or the rhino and the way humans are responsible for the decline of nature. We are in a downward spiral and have to act now before it's too late. That's the topic the album deals with. It's a pretty dark and serious topic but that's our reality and we have to deal with the consequences of our behaviour. |
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| MSJ: Will Long Distance Calling tour in the U.S to support the new album release? |
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| Unfortunately we have never been to the U.S., and there is nothing confirmed yet but I hope with the new album we will finally be able to tour the U.S. |
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| MSJ: How did the name of the group originate? |
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That happened by coincidence. Some of the band were visiting a German Rock Festival and there was a screen showing a commercial for a song called "Long Distance Call." This seemed to be a very cool name, and when we changed it to Long Distance Calling it sounded even better and fits perfectly to our style of music. |
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| MSJ: Who would you see as your musical influences? |
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| When we started the band our main influences were Porcupine Tree, Dredg, Cult of Luna and, of course, Tool. Over the years we evolved, but these bands are still very much in our DNA. We just added some other influences like some electronic stuff and sometimes even 80s pop and 90s metal. I guess Pink Floyd is still the band everyone in LDC can identify the most with. |
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| MSJ: I know many artists hate to have their music pigeonholed or labeled, but how would you describe your new music? |
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| I would describe our music as "instrumental atmospheric rock music." But I'm totally fine with labels like post rock/post metal or progressive rock. |
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| MSJ: What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately? |
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I think the last one I bought was the new album of some friends of mine who play brutal death metal. Lately I have been listening to a lot of different stuff like the new Tears for fears album, Porcupine Tree, Mastodon and the new Hellacopters album. And I recently rediscovered Rush. |
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| MSJ: Have you come across any new gear recently that you love? |
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| I bought lots of new gear in the last two years – way too much to be honest (laughter). But, on the other hand, you can't have too much gear because maybe someday you will need it (laughter). And even if you don't, you will buy it anyway. I really love delay and reverb pedals and can't stop buying them. I totally love to set up pedal boards of different kinds. Beside that I bought some other stuff like guitar preamps to have more options when recording some stuff at home. I guess I need to buy a new guitar pretty soon. |
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| MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there? |
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Thanks for your interest in LDC. Check out our new album Eraser and treat others, yourself and your environment with respect. |
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| MSJ: This interview is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022 Volume 5. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022. |
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