The New Album ‘Sweetest’ Out Now
Images: Marlene Rahmann @marlenerahmann & www.marlenerahmann.com
1.For someone that is yet to discover „ghostdog.“ in 5 words how would you describe yourself.
Psychedelic, bass-heavy, neon, vintage, fuzzy
2. What inspired you as an artist?
“The energy between drums and bass, like ‘The Police,’ is something you can’t recreate. The beat, the groove, the flow – it’s the most important thing for me. It can be very experimental, but for me, it still has to groove.”
3. What is your process for preparing to perform live? Do you have any Diva demands?
“No, not at all. The only thing I would say is to take my time to be alone with my bass and connect with the strings and my lovely bass or my voice. I am truly thankful for every bit of support, for every opportunity to play, and for connecting with new and old listeners to create a unique!! and cozy atmosphere. So, I just need some „me time “before the show. “
4. Where do you feel you fit into the music landscape?
“It would be easy to say, ‘Nowhere! I am unique!!’ Haha. But I really try, like I think everybody else does, to be as close to myself as possible. I am absorbing so many things, impressions, sounds, ideas, and landscapes of musical colours that for me it’s hard to say. Maybe I would say into the ‘100% handmade’ landscape where everything is possible and can be implemented into my writing and creating. An experimental, cinematic landscape.”
5: What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike? “I have a 100% dislike for all music that’s macho, racist, homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, or sends out the message that you have to be rich to be a happy person. As a non-binary person, it saddens me to see people stuck in these negative mindsets. Live and let live. My favourite musical genres right now are very lo-fi, cinematic, experimental, vintage, and instrumental. Neo-soul R&B Funk Neo-classical Reggae Cinematic Experimental Psychedelic”
6. What’s currently in the pipeline for 2024?
“Working on my videos. I want to do some of them on my own. Working on my ‚ghostdog.’ universe. Writing more and more. I already have the next album in my head. Tickling my brain to do a live session with 3-4 pieces of ‘sweetest’ and write some more ‘soul-recordings’ like you can hear via Bandcamp, YouTube, or Soundcloud. Also, I have some tracks finished already with a great drummer „Julian Beran“ doing a collaboration with just bass and drums. I love it.”
7 What would you say is your greatest strength as an Artist?
“Being able to think outside the box. Being able to be thankful for my creative soul and being grateful for all the beautiful human beings around me. And pushing my crazy being to evolve and create. I think being grateful for being me and being able to live my life is one of my greatest strengths. Taking nothing and nobody for granted.”
8. What would you say is your greatest weakness as an Artist?
“My brain. My head. My overthinking. My perfectionism. Nobody is perfect, but that’s easier said than done. Misusing Instagram for example is like a misuse of a gift. It is such a gift when you can use it in a positive way. Social media, in general, can be such a gift to discover all these beautiful, positive human beings out there. Like you guys!!
9. What can fans expect from your new debut Album ‘Sweetest “’
“I want to delve deeper and truly try to tickle the hidden synapses of the listeners. I want to create a journey, full of surprises, so the listeners are compelled to stick with the whole album and become interested and curious about what the next track will bring. That’s what I love about the artists I mentioned, and that’s what I love about music. I love albums. I always listen to the whole thing. It tells a story and gives you the opportunity to close a chapter and move on to your new creative endeavour. Because my creative mind always moves forward and to different places.”
10. What music artiest would you say have influenced your work?
“‘SAULT’, ‘Santigold’, ‘Little Simz’, ‘Steve Lacy’, ‘Orions Belte’, ‘Surprise Chef’, ‘Hether’, ‘E.S.G’. These artists pushed me to create my music as authentic, real, and 121% ghostdog. Less overthinking, more listening to my real soul, and to heck with perfectionism. It kills you and your art.”
11. Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?
“100% ‘SAULT,’ that would be my dream. This British collective is outstanding and resonates with my soul and heartbeat so much. ‘SAULT’ is the most precious gift I have discovered in music and creativity.”
12. What was your worst performance?
“After playing bass, creating, and performing for over 20 years, it’s crazy to admit that I’ve never had a bad experience on stage. It feels like my home, and therefore, I feel safe, comfortable, and can adapt to every surprising live situation. It might sound cocky, but I’m just being completely honest. It’s never just me alone; as a team or a family on stage, you feel strong and secure. Nothing can harm you. Therefore, only positive, and hyped experiences. That’s why I love performing and creating music so much.”
13: What was the most difficult obstacle you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?
“The most difficult obstacles I’ve ever faced in my life include the loss of my mum, the breakup with my soulmate after making many mistakes, and my perfectionism, which fuels my biggest fear of making mistakes. However, therapy, writing my daily journal ‘ghost notes.’, and creating my blog via my homepage www.ghostdog.ninja help me to discover who I really am. Also reading ‘On Connection’ by Kae Tempest has been like honey for my soul, my life, and my creativity. Leaving behind all my emotional baggage and obstacles has created such a sunny and warm 2024 until now. I simply want to create, live a happy, creative life, and live for my art rather than for numbers. I want to find people out there who resonate with my vibe and my world. “
14: What is your creative process when making music.
Do you work with others or is there just you? It depends. Initially, on ‘sweetest’, I created the beats and drums on my own. However, one day, I woke up and realized that these tracks needed real life and a genuine soul. So, I asked my brother Günther if he could help me add some flavour to my songs with his amazing drumming on all these „sweetest “- tracks. So, I would say it’s a mix. I go with the flow, and yes, it depends on my financial situation. Now, I’ve learned that when a track feels right, even if I’ve played the drums, guitars, or keys myself, it’s perfect. I don’t want to overthink my songs too much. At some point, you must tell yourself, ‘That’s me, it feels right, so it’s perfect.’ However, you can’t replicate the energy and feeling of creating music together. Adding different souls, energies, and vibes. So, I need both to fulfil my melancholic, black purple-golden-neon universe.
15 Where do you see your musical career in 10 years?
“Still on the right track of creating music for the sake of creation itself. I don’t want to burden my music with heavy expectations. It’s about fun, love, and happiness. Naturally, I’ve always dreamed of making a living from my music, but for me, the most beautiful path is simply working on it and hoping for the best. I know one day I will achieve this goal, but I also cherish my part-time job working with children, showing them different perspectives on life. I enjoy working with people because this aspect of my life reminds me that there are other important aspects to life. It relieves the pressure of creating, allowing me to do so more easily. So, in 10 years, I envision having a happy, musical, and creative life.”
