Q: Hello Nadine, how have you been?
A: Fine, thank you.
Q: You and your band are about to release your official full-length debut “House of Cards”. How would you describe the album?
A: The Album is a little piece of music which comes from the heart of its musicians. It gives you an impression of our different musical backgrounds, from jazz to rock to pop to a simple piano ballad. It reflects our understanding of handmade music but presents our own style.
Q: Can you tell us something about how this album came to be? What were the inspirations behind the songs, and how much work was it to get the album together?
A: We recorded some of the songs a year before only with guitar and piano. So it was a big difference to play the same songs with a complete band. Songs became different and some changed colour. In the end, we had a different album than we expected.
Q: Now that the album’s done, and ready to be released, what are your plans? What are the next steps?
A: We definitely want to play shows! For us this is the best and most thrilling way to present an album, to present music. We did quite a lot shows in the last years. We mostly played in smaller clubs, with committed people and a lot of “real-on-the-road”-feeling. And definitively want to continue with that because it’s where the handmade stuff comes from. But as a next step, we hope to play some bigger venues too and to do some support-shows in different countries.
Q: Do you have any exciting plans to take this album out on the road?
A: The road is exciting.
Q: Where does the album title, “House of Cards”, come from? What’s the story behind this?
A: This Album is a very personal thing for me. So for me it reflects parts of my life which seem to be different from each other but if you see them in a whole they become my home. And this home stands on thin ice. So I choose the picture of that “card-house”. You can find the phrase in the song “Why do I”. But this is my meaning. The band already interprets some songs or maybe the complete album in a different way. And so every listener does. And that idea I really like.
Q: Which of the songs on the album is the most fun to play live? And why?
A: That depends on whom you ask. For me it`s “Why do I” because it’s a really sad and emotional song and I love the different musical facets from the beginning until the end of the song. If you ask my band, you will get a smile on “Why do I”. I think they prefer the ones with more rock´n roll.
Q: What are the main influences for your sound and songwriting?
A: Our sound is related to all kind of handmade music. We started as a true acoustic duo and became a band with a rock lineup including electric guitar and a full drumset. So our influences are lying somewhere between Singer/Songwriter and a Rockband. Authentic music is what all of us unites, although we come from different kinds of musical backgrounds. My personal influences are mostly female singers such as Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Sophie Zelmani and Shawn Colvin but I also like the thougher voices of Melissa Etheridge or KT Tunstall. And they influence my songwriting.
Q: Who would you love to play a show with, if you could pick any band or musician in the world?
A: Simple question, simple answer. Me: Sarah McLachlan!!! The Band: AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Dream Theater, Metallica, Elvis, Tom Waits, Anouk, Calexico, you name it.
Q: And if you could also pick the location of the show, where would you want to play it?
A: Me: Everywhere, with Sarah. The Band: Wembley, Rock am Ring, Madison Square Garden, again you name it.
Q: Today’s music business is a tricky one? If you could change things in the current music business, what would you consider changing?
A: Sounds boring, but to give more bands the chance to move from the low level where nobody gives a damn about their music to a level where they get recognized. I think to much money is spent on one-day-wonder-college-beauty-boy-and-girl-groups to sell clothes and ringtones. Dont take me wrong. It is fine with me, when these bands exist. But the big amount of attention, money and support they get, is missing on the other side. And people got used to think that casting-shows are the real life of a musician. But honestly, I believe that this is already changing. Slowly but surely.
Q: Is there a song by another band or musician that you wish you would’ve written? Why that song?
A: Me: I wish I wrote “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan. This Song is just amazing emotional and there is so much beautiful sadness in it. The lyric, the piano and this uniquely melody is unbelievable to me. The band: Maybe Suspicious Minds by Elvis, or Enter Sandman by Metallica or Thriller by Michael Jackson. Could be everything.
Q: Where can we find out more about the Nadine Kraemer Band and where can people purchase your music?
A: You can find more about us on our official website www.nadinekraemerband.com or www.myspace.com/nadinekraemerband
The new Album “House of cards” will be available from the 7th of November on Amazon and itunes as well as physically in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. And next year also physically in the Netherlands and some other European countries.
Q: Okay a few random questions now.
Q: Are there any movies you recommend? If so, what movies?
A: Me: I am a big fan of daily soaps: Friends, The Band: Maybe: Lock, Stock & Two smoking Barrels, The Usual Suspects, The Godfather, Spinal Tap
Q: Day or night?
A: Me: Night, The Band: Night
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: Me: Arena, because I didn´t yet, The Band: Arena, because they didn´t yet.
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: Me and the Band: CD’s – definitively. It is a complete different feeling to go to a record store than login into an online-shop. In a store you can hear, feel, see and even smell music and in the end you go home with something in your hand, that somebody made and put in a box he created and that is something complete different than to download songs. It is like a good diner compared to a fast-food restaurant.
Q: Okay, final question. What are your thoughts on people downloading music, both legally & illegally?
A: I’m not quite sure … On the one hand the digital way of spreading music, both legally and illegally, is able to make your music reach a lot of more people than before. A lot of bands built their fan base on that fact. But on the other hand illegal downloading does harm to all the musicians who work hard, who bring their patience and talent to make music. And I think if you like what somebody does why not pay for it. That is usual in every other business. I do not point the finger on people who download music illegally but sometimes I get the impression that people getting so used to it that they forget that behind every song there are people who composed it and that this is work and you should pay for somebody’s work especially when this work pleases you and makes you feel good. If I want to give my music as a gift it should be me who chooses the receiver.
Thank you Nadine Kraemer Band for this interview. It was great talking to you.
A: Fine, thank you.
Q: You and your band are about to release your official full-length debut “House of Cards”. How would you describe the album?
A: The Album is a little piece of music which comes from the heart of its musicians. It gives you an impression of our different musical backgrounds, from jazz to rock to pop to a simple piano ballad. It reflects our understanding of handmade music but presents our own style.
Q: Can you tell us something about how this album came to be? What were the inspirations behind the songs, and how much work was it to get the album together?
A: We recorded some of the songs a year before only with guitar and piano. So it was a big difference to play the same songs with a complete band. Songs became different and some changed colour. In the end, we had a different album than we expected.
Q: Now that the album’s done, and ready to be released, what are your plans? What are the next steps?
A: We definitely want to play shows! For us this is the best and most thrilling way to present an album, to present music. We did quite a lot shows in the last years. We mostly played in smaller clubs, with committed people and a lot of “real-on-the-road”-feeling. And definitively want to continue with that because it’s where the handmade stuff comes from. But as a next step, we hope to play some bigger venues too and to do some support-shows in different countries.
Q: Do you have any exciting plans to take this album out on the road?
A: The road is exciting.
Q: Where does the album title, “House of Cards”, come from? What’s the story behind this?
A: This Album is a very personal thing for me. So for me it reflects parts of my life which seem to be different from each other but if you see them in a whole they become my home. And this home stands on thin ice. So I choose the picture of that “card-house”. You can find the phrase in the song “Why do I”. But this is my meaning. The band already interprets some songs or maybe the complete album in a different way. And so every listener does. And that idea I really like.
Q: Which of the songs on the album is the most fun to play live? And why?
A: That depends on whom you ask. For me it`s “Why do I” because it’s a really sad and emotional song and I love the different musical facets from the beginning until the end of the song. If you ask my band, you will get a smile on “Why do I”. I think they prefer the ones with more rock´n roll.
Q: What are the main influences for your sound and songwriting?
A: Our sound is related to all kind of handmade music. We started as a true acoustic duo and became a band with a rock lineup including electric guitar and a full drumset. So our influences are lying somewhere between Singer/Songwriter and a Rockband. Authentic music is what all of us unites, although we come from different kinds of musical backgrounds. My personal influences are mostly female singers such as Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Sophie Zelmani and Shawn Colvin but I also like the thougher voices of Melissa Etheridge or KT Tunstall. And they influence my songwriting.
Q: Who would you love to play a show with, if you could pick any band or musician in the world?
A: Simple question, simple answer. Me: Sarah McLachlan!!! The Band: AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Dream Theater, Metallica, Elvis, Tom Waits, Anouk, Calexico, you name it.
Q: And if you could also pick the location of the show, where would you want to play it?
A: Me: Everywhere, with Sarah. The Band: Wembley, Rock am Ring, Madison Square Garden, again you name it.
Q: Today’s music business is a tricky one? If you could change things in the current music business, what would you consider changing?
A: Sounds boring, but to give more bands the chance to move from the low level where nobody gives a damn about their music to a level where they get recognized. I think to much money is spent on one-day-wonder-college-beauty-boy-and-girl-groups to sell clothes and ringtones. Dont take me wrong. It is fine with me, when these bands exist. But the big amount of attention, money and support they get, is missing on the other side. And people got used to think that casting-shows are the real life of a musician. But honestly, I believe that this is already changing. Slowly but surely.
Q: Is there a song by another band or musician that you wish you would’ve written? Why that song?
A: Me: I wish I wrote “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan. This Song is just amazing emotional and there is so much beautiful sadness in it. The lyric, the piano and this uniquely melody is unbelievable to me. The band: Maybe Suspicious Minds by Elvis, or Enter Sandman by Metallica or Thriller by Michael Jackson. Could be everything.
Q: Where can we find out more about the Nadine Kraemer Band and where can people purchase your music?
A: You can find more about us on our official website www.nadinekraemerband.com or www.myspace.com/nadinekraemerband
The new Album “House of cards” will be available from the 7th of November on Amazon and itunes as well as physically in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. And next year also physically in the Netherlands and some other European countries.
Q: Okay a few random questions now.
Q: Are there any movies you recommend? If so, what movies?
A: Me: I am a big fan of daily soaps: Friends, The Band: Maybe: Lock, Stock & Two smoking Barrels, The Usual Suspects, The Godfather, Spinal Tap
Q: Day or night?
A: Me: Night, The Band: Night
Q: Club venue or arena venue?
A: Me: Arena, because I didn´t yet, The Band: Arena, because they didn´t yet.
Q: CDs or digital music?
A: Me and the Band: CD’s – definitively. It is a complete different feeling to go to a record store than login into an online-shop. In a store you can hear, feel, see and even smell music and in the end you go home with something in your hand, that somebody made and put in a box he created and that is something complete different than to download songs. It is like a good diner compared to a fast-food restaurant.
Q: Okay, final question. What are your thoughts on people downloading music, both legally & illegally?
A: I’m not quite sure … On the one hand the digital way of spreading music, both legally and illegally, is able to make your music reach a lot of more people than before. A lot of bands built their fan base on that fact. But on the other hand illegal downloading does harm to all the musicians who work hard, who bring their patience and talent to make music. And I think if you like what somebody does why not pay for it. That is usual in every other business. I do not point the finger on people who download music illegally but sometimes I get the impression that people getting so used to it that they forget that behind every song there are people who composed it and that this is work and you should pay for somebody’s work especially when this work pleases you and makes you feel good. If I want to give my music as a gift it should be me who chooses the receiver.
Thank you Nadine Kraemer Band for this interview. It was great talking to you.