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Interview
NIKKI PUPPET
(Questionnaire by STEFAN)
METAL TO INFINITY
Via Dutch Distribution / Promotion company Rock Inc., I received the new album from a German band named Nikki Puppet. Back in 2005, we at Metal To Infinity reviewed their debut album entitled ''Puppet On A Strong'', I wrote it myself - I was a satisfied man who heard a great band busy playing a mix of Hard Rock and Metal music, spiced with influences coming from the world of Classic Rock. Well, we're three years later on now - see what's going on these days in the house of Nikki Puppet...
Q: Sincere greeting from Belgium to the entire Nikki Puppet camp - hope everything is going great... what may bring a day like this, what's on the bill to realize today?
A: Well, NIKKI PUPPETs mood is great - some headache from the last party days celebrating our album release. Now we make some interviews - like this haha - and do much radio work. We're almost ready to make a video trailer for the main Theme ''Power Seeker'' - Song Nr. 3 on our new album - to load it up to YOUTUBE very soon. Later, later - when the headache is gone. Yes, and this song will be on the sampler CD of the next ROCK HARD, coming out October 22 - 2008. I think this is much for one day haha...
Q: Hey, 'gluckwunsche' with the new album ''Power Seeker'' - already unleashed... what are the expectations?
A: Getting rich and famous very quick and entering the Charts to buy more beer... haha... ok, let's talk in reality. Our expectations are that the name NIKKI PUPPET will be known by everybody who likes some good Rock n' Roll stuff. The album POWER SEEKER is the most interesting album we made, because you can hear many different kinds of songs, for example the good old heavy rockin'stuff like the opener 'Destroy this Toy', some modern Rocksongs like 'Pricks'...
... the Holy-Diver-Dio-Styled song '300 Warriors' about Leonidas fight with his Spartians, a 1-Minute-Acoustic-Guitar-Solo from our greek guitarplayer Christos called Yia Sou Saloniki. Well, some fast heavy songs like 'I Spy' and 'Scream' - and finally an acoustic ballad 'Turn back time'. We hope, people will realize that we made our songs in our own style, you can't say... NIKKI PUPPET sounds like this band, sounds like that band.... This is our aim. And to show that live on stage to the people.
Q: I've heard the songs (review follows real soon) and yeah - I'm happy again with the end result of ''Power Seeker''. Your first album ''Puppet On A String'' stole my attention in 2005, the second ''Militant Mother'' I haven't heard so far. Can you bring on some words about that second effort? On the cover a picture of singer Nicky Gronewold wearing a war helmet... great image - an explanation.
A: Yeah, I'm your militant mother and you're my angry little brother! Militant Mother is our hardest album. Most of the songs are very political and there's one cover version from Billy Joel 'We didn't start the fire' - (some people love it, some people hat it) it's fast and punky, not like the original. We like the lyrics of this song, because in these days it's very interesting again. A very good adjustment to the wars of today. But maybe we have to write 'Georgie's in Iran, Germans in Afghanistan'. So, you see it's an album with much Anti-War Songs. But songs about love and relationship, too. This is because Nicky's wearing a helmet and the rest looks sexy.
During the European tour with the Michael Schenker Group we wrote some of tzhe album songs, for example 'Militant Mother', 'Paralized' or the most interesting Song 'Turning in circles'. You have to listen to it on our myspace-page! We played them live and people liked it! Hard stuff mixed with punk rock.
Q: Have achieved these first two albums the result which you had expected?
A: I think in these days, where millions of bands are existing - we got some respect and some people got to know us. With this two albums we had the chance to go on tour with MSG, Victory, Rose Tattoo, Jane - this would never happen without an album, I think. For an unknown band it's great to grow step by step. It's not that easy like in the 80s because many, many people burn their Cds, so the new bands have to play live to be known. The label is the platform from where you start.
This is what we wanted. First people have to realize that you exist. This is for what one or two albums are for. With the third album, you can be sure, everybody realizes that you still march on. What did Bon Scott say? ''It's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock n' Roll''
Q: To produce these outputs - legendary Herman Frank (Victory / Accept) helped you out. From where the collaboration between him and Nikki Puppet? What can you tell about Frank?
A: Hannover is village, you know. Here live the Scorpions, around the corner Victory. Haha, so we thank god that Herman Frank came into a venue where we played live in 2004 and offered us to make an album with him. He was impressed of the combination with two girls and two man in a band playing Rock n' Roll. For us it was like a lottery win the HE asked US to produce our first album! Without thinking we met him one day later in his ARENA 20 Recordingstudio in Hannover, Germany.
Whow, there was one golden Record in the studio with Herman Frank and Accept. Yes, he was very famous with Accept, with Victory... and during recording PUPPET ON A STRING we found out that he had very good ideas, he was able to make us giving the best. He had the overview, the experience, the soundideas... so, it was magic, you know? Still crazy magic.
Q: The new album - is Frank still involved?
A: Never change a winning team! We would't make a record without him. We want quality and somebody who is looking from outside. Now, Herman wrote some songs together with us, POWER SEEKER or I SPY, for example. And he's still singing backround together with his wife Martina on the album. When you listen to the opener DESTROY THIS TOY there's a 'yeahyeahyeah' after the intro on it - this is Herman! Haha, we had much fun together. He's a punkrocker!
Q: You broke up with Armageddon Music - what went wrong actually?
A: We had just a better offer for our third album ''Power Seeker'' by the Artist Station. Nothing went wrong, we don't broke up, ''Puppet on a string'' and ''Militant Mother'' are still at Armageddon Records.
Q: ''Power Seeker'' is a product released through Artist Station Records. I'm completely unfamiliar with this label - can you give me some more information? Who's the leading force behind?
A: Artist Station Records is the new platform by the Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, leaded by Frank Bornemann and Martin Kleemann. I think Frank Bornemann is very well known, in the 80s he had much success with his band ELOY, later he became a poducer and formed the HORUS SOUND STUDIO, where many known bands recorded their albums. Frank Bornemann brings out GUANO APES for example. And many other successful bands. He knows the music business at its best.
The Artist Station is the first institution that made the modern kinds of label-contracts. They give their knowledge to you, are helpful and have big partners in music business like distributions, Online-Marketings, Promotion companies and they offer you a deal to release your CD where the bands earn money from the beginning. If they like your stuff. The bands and the Artist Station work and invest together - and share their gains. But I think the best idea is to make an interview with Martin Kleemann - he knows better to explain.
Q: Started a few years ago - is the line up still intact? Gimme a few line of the present band members if you don't mind.
A: NIKKI PUPPET is still the same line up! Nicky is screaming her power-vocals, Anke ''Basspuppi'' is grooving like shit on her pink bass, Flo is drumming like never before and Christos is still burning on his Les Paul Guitar. Flo, the drummer, came in 2006 after Michael Wolpers was leaving. But since than nothing changed, we're still the same female-fronted-heavy-rockers.
Q: In my review for ''Puppet On A String'' I compared the way of singing with other female singers like Linda Perry (Four Non Blondes) and Jutta Weinhold (ex-Zed Yago / Velvet Viper and Weinhold). Can you dug this comparison?
A: I'm sorry but - Sometimes I ask myself why all the time comparisons exist? Tell me, who sings like Curt Cobain? Who sings like Sandra Nasic? Who sings like Bon Scott? Do people want to hear this for sure? Human beings are always thinking in narrow-minded categories... when will this ever stop??? Its not against you personally, but everybody gives me a big list of female singers you can compare with me. But my opinion is, that everybody has a very individual voice.
Q: On the new album, the vocals sound better to me. You can hear the progress, Nicky's vocals are very important in a band like yours. She can walk through different ways of vocal use. What's the secret behind becoming a great singer like this?
A: Thank you very much! Nice to hear it. On your development you have to grow, grow grow and work, work, work with yourself. Taking lessons for some years was very important for me. In the beginning I screamed until my voice broke up. So I had to learn how to breathe, how to catch the tones exactly and dealing with my power. And there's always something inside yourself what wants to learn more. It never stops and you're never content. I like to sing different songs and lines, I don't want that everything sounds the same. I love it to try to sing in a old-fashioned hardrock-style, but I like it punky and modern, too.
Q: Vocal influences - what about that? Name a few of your idols please.
A: I love Skin (the singer from Skunk Anansie) , Sandra Nasic (the singer from Guano Apes), Bjork, Mothers Finest, Ted Bullit from Thunderhead, David Bowie, David Coverdale and Dio.
Q: The German Hard Rock and Metal scene is a 'big thing' for decades. How hard to survive these days - it's definitely not easy to keep heads above the survive in the nowadays Rock scene.
A: Very hard. Fighting every day. Promotion. Radio. Releasing Cds, playing live - people forget you very quick if you don't do anything. The music business is changing these days, everything goes through the internet. Myspace, Youtube, Downlading music, films, videos, ringtones... you sell your CD at its best when you play live concerts and the people come to shake your hand or make a photo with you at the merch. How can people put their focus on a band if there a existing millions of it? And thank god - the Rock Scene is not formed by the normal television.
Only by MTV or VIVA. They can be the biggest support maybe, but they don't play newcomer-bands very often. So, the only chance for an unknown is going on tour and work hard every day! Musicians survive with other jobs like driving taxi or working in a factory to earn money for life. Well, you're happy when they pay you after the concerts and buy many Cds. Look, if you buy one original CD there will 3 copies follow. How can bands earn money when they get only 1/4 from their normally sold Cds? Playing live, selling t-shirts, buttons and other merch bring the money back to the bands.
Q: Okay, let's talk about the newborn baby ''Power Seeker''! As told before, I'm satisfied with an album like this. It's a refreshing album loaded with a lot of Power and tons of energy. To keep a long story short - a band with potential that knows how to amuse their true fans. Please, introduce in your own words this new silver disc?
A: POWER SEEKER means one thing: POWER. Full of energy we put in every song our spirit. The opener DESTROY THIS TOY is our song against the machine-world we live in and we stand up for nothing! So, Revolution-Song. I CAN DREAM - that I'm someone else - the message is: You can only be yourself, like it or hate it, but realize it. POWER SEEKER - against the business-man who always think they're something special but getting rich by making others poor - hey, political again, hm? PRICKS again a song about leaders and the crowd.
FALLING IN 2 PIECES - somebody turns mad 'cause of some assholes beat him up on the street. 300 WARRIORS is Leonidas fight with 300 Spartians against the Persian king Xerxis, like the film 300 told us. It's one for Christos from Thessaloniki! Yeah, after 300 WARRIORS we say HELLO to THESSALONIKI with Christos acoustic-guitar-solo, fast and wild! I SPY is a song about a spy who's watching you all the time like a stalker. COME BACK is influenced by ROSE TATTOO, on tour we wrote them a song with Slide-Guitar. And BLIND RACE OF ICE means Hey, Baby, don't leave me - let's ROCK.
DADDY YELLS, a song about a young girl in the chains of her daddy and SCREAM - the fast one, is about the film Scream. The white mask will catch you, be careful!! TURN BACK TIME is a ballade, no metal, people! Just acoustic guitar and vocals!! Turn back time - being young again and start everything again!
Q: How long has it takes to complete everything? Can you tell me exactly when you start working on it at first?
A: In our practise-room in Hannover we started in October 2007. Cubase was our friend and many, many ideas were recorded by ourselves to show Herman Frank our ideas. In December we worked together with him one week in our room to finish the rest of the list. In 2008 we took the complete Febuary to record the songs in the Arena 20 Recordingstudio. And we finished in the beginning of march 2008. And - it was done! POWER SEEKER was ready to rumble!
Q: What about the lyrical subject? Guide us through a few of the songs?
A: Oh yeah, I did this in your question before. Only me was writing the lyrics. And some titles were formed by the band, I SPY was the name Anke gave for this song. Sometimes I'm looking for a title - than the band must help.
Q: How important is the content of a particular song?
A: I think the lyrics are important but the music is important, too. Sometimes, if you have to say something, you write it down like a message to the people. Well, it means something, you know? We did this very often... and on the new album 'Destroy this toy' has a message. Other songs tell just a story about love and happiness or hate and bitterness, some historical lyrics we made with '300 Warriors' or we invite the people to come with us into hell like 'Scream' is about (Scream, the movie) . And if some lyrics are not that important, whatever - it makes no difference if the music grooves.
Q: Speaking for myself, my faves are: 'Destroy This Toy', '300 Warriors', 'I Spy', 'Blind Race Of Ice' and the fast one called 'Scream'. What about yours?
A: Oh, as different as Anke, Christos, Flo and me are - we agree with you! You forgot POWER SEEKER, I think haha
Q: All these songs remind me to other female fronted bands like Meanstreak or Phantom Blue and believe me, contemplate this as an honourable compliment. Are You agree?
A: I think GIRLSCHOOL is the one we agree with. The others I only know the names but I don't know very good their music, sorry.
Q: Last one of the album, 'Turn Back Time' is a breakable, nice and tender song but I guess that the meaning behind is more than some people might think. Am I right?
A: This song is untypical for a Rock Band, we know. But it is opened for every illusion you have. Think about the past, learn from it. But don't hang on it. So, is this a simple or a deeper meaning? Everybody has to find it out by themselves.
Q: I'm a fan of great moves, tactics that conquer my heart by pilling strings in a way both acoustic or electric. 'Yia Sou Salonski' is a short but full of technical played demonstration of Flamenco picking. Only the best can play like this - an explanation please.
A: Haha - Salonski is geart - but he don't come from Croatia - but it's SALONIKI, the short name of Heavy-Rock-City THESSALONIKI. Haha. So the story is that Christos Mamalitsidis is really not a typical heavy-metal-guitarplayer! His god is Paco de Lucia. Guitarplaying at its best! And Christos loves quality and knowledge. Paco, Anguss Young, Zakk Wylde, Rhandy Rhodes, Slash and Vicente Amigo make a very good job. Christos is practicing every day on his acoustic guitar with his fingers, and the right hand without a pick.
Q: From where the album title, ''Power Seeker''?
A: Inspired by Bon Scott - ''man in blue, it's up to you - the guitar man gets famous and the business man gets rich'' Seeking for power inside human beings is the inhuman way of living. Again some politics from NIKKI PUPPET.
Q: By the way, who's the song writer in the band. What is the basis to write a song?
A: Nicky and Christos, sitting together, drinking some wine, playing some accords, singing some melodies, writing some - important or unimportant - lyrics, laughing, throwing ideas into thrash... others we keep and try to form a song. So, Christos and Nicky are the main song composeres. After the framework is done, Anke, Flo and Herman put their opinion and their ideas into this work. That's it.
Q: Is the new album traceable both national and international? Who's in charge to distribute?
A: Germany, Austria, Benelux, Greece, Spain, France and England will release POWER SEEKER now. NIKKI PUPPET and Martin Kleemann from the Artsit Station are working together on the plan to release POWER SEEKER worldwide. So, keep your fingers crossed that it happened to many more countries. Thank you Belgium very much, that you release POWER SEEKER!! We'd love to come and rock your great GRASPOP Festival if we have the chance to, to say hello for the Belgium Rock Kids!!
Q: Your meaning about the final result please? Fully happy, mid ranged satisfied or ''hell, what in the name of Christ is this''?
A: As happy as we'd been on every album release we had. It's a privilege for us to have this possibility! And we'll go on! The fourth CD follows next year.
Q: What are the touring plans? By the way, tell me about Nikki Puppet's live experiences both good and bad.
A: Festivals, Festivals, Festivals - this would be great. We send our POWER SEEKER to all the small and big festivals and - keep your fingers crossed - we will be booked by them. We're still looking for a support-tour now... but for more information please click www.nikkipuppet.de or www.myspace.com/nikkipuppet .
Q: Plans to stop by in Belgium to burn down the roof while playing your stuff?
A: Yes, we'd love it to play in Belgium! With MSG we had been very near to you, in the Netherlands we played, in France, England... but we hope to rock in Belgium soon! You will know at first!!
Q: Okay than, thx for your precious time - don't stop playing music like you did so far. Stand strong and fight for your own rights. Great Hard Rock and Metal music is here to stay so we need outfits like Nikki Puppet. Wish you all the very best - speak some final words of wisdom to our readers. Tschuss!
A: Thank you very much for the very big interview - it tooks months to make it haha - no, we overcome our headache now by concentrating on your questions! So, Belgium Heavy Rockers - we would love it to come to your country!! Something truly to you: Be careful for yourself, for other people, for animals, nature, drink only the best stuff you can find, buy original records, give no power seeker person a chance t steal your money and blow George Bush away!