(01.10.2009)
Free Press: In advance of the new album, up to this point there’s not much talk about the music, but a lot over your appearances. Your drummer has a new haircut – is that so important?
Bill Kaulitz: That was always like that with us, and appearances are always a topic in the industry. Mushroom-heads (pudding bowl hair) with the Beatles, makeup with David Bowie, KISS wearing spandex – and today even Georg’s hair part. History repeats itself.
Free Press: The first single “Automatisch” sounds comparatively taken back and loaded with effects. Do you have something of the rock?
Bill: On Humanoid there are also again songs that concentrate on guitars. Overall, however, we have tried out many new sounds and also produced with synthesizers and keyboards. We haven’t become electro-DJs, but the album has an overall very fresh sound.
Free Press: Up till now you have barely used voice-altering effects and have left Bill’s voice natural. Now in modern pop the Auto tune effect a la Cher is badly overused. Why?
Bill: We didn’t have the term “Humanoid” in the beginning. Our songs have simply developed in this direction, and then the name was suddenly there – and everything fit perfectly. Overall, we were inspired foremost by what really happens in our lives. Many tracks from “Humanoid” explain stories and feelings since the last album. But it’s also true, “Humanoid” is also a small piece of how people sometimes perceive us.
Free Press: Which praise from a musical colleague has meant the most to you so far?
Tom: Early on the opinion of our stepfather was the most important for us, who also plays guitar. Today there are often very nice compliments, but nothing that one should make something out of.
Free Press: Which guitar riff in rock history would you most like to have written yourself?
Tom: Well, during a break on “Automatic,” I played “Hells Bells” from AC/DC with Georg – that is definitely beastly!
Free Press: How much composer input of the band members is in the new pieces, and where does this inspiration come from?
Tom: Bill runs around with thousands of crumpled papers in his pockets, and writes down ideas and lines for new songs at every opportunity. Sometimes then the text comes first, sometimes the melody. We write songs often as a team, but we have no recipe.
Bill: On the subject of sound, of course, much comes from Tom. It’s now also so, with the keyboard sounds. Tom really plays the best.
Tom: With “Humanoid” we have also worked a long time with synthesizers and keyboards. Gustav for example now has also electronic drums next to his rock set. What’s super awesome is, I can simply turn them quieter during rehearsal!
Free Press: You’re now very successful internationally. In which country are you most reduced to image, appearance, and tabloids, and in which is the music most in the foreground?
Bill: That’s less dependent on country than on our interview partners. We always have both. Sometimes it’s about songs, lyrics, and concerts, and sometimes about appearance and so on. But both are okay for us. When I run around [looking] like this, I don’t expect that nobody will talk to me about it!
Free Press: You two have never concealed the fact that you would rather see a school from outside than inside and you prefer the stage. How does it feel when you are praised for the Realschul-Degree with a special award for “Distance Learning Youth Prize 2009?”
Tom: Yeah, school was and is a total horror for us. We just stressed. The teachers hated us and didn’t hide it. But the feeling was mutual! We only did the degree because the authorities forced us. But we thought, “okay, if we already have to do it, then let’s at least do it well.” We are perfectionists.
