Andrea Schroeder - The angel above Berlin

After the excellent debut called “Blackbird”, “Where The Wild Oceans End” is the second chapter in the solo career of German singer/poet Andrea Schroeder. The album, recorded partly in a very special location on the Norwegian coast and partly at the storied Hansa Studios in Berlin, features Jesper Lehmkuhl as co-writer of the songs (alongside Schroeder herself) and benefits from the expert production of Chris Eckman (formerly of Walkabouts and Dirtmusic). The synergy between these three great artists is once again the winning card of this project, which also boasts a wonderful version of David Bowie's "Heroes" by David Bowie. The German poet has a busy schedule ahead: a European tour and an appearance on a tribute album for Jeffrey Lee Pierce of the Gun Club (out in March 2014), on which Schroeder sings alongside such prestigious names as Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Debbie Harry and Mark Lanegan.

Andrea Schroeder has all it takes to become a leading figure on the international rock scene, and for that reason I went to Berlin to meet her in person.

How did you get into the world of music?

Ever since I was a child I've always felt a strong pull towards music. I loved singing along to my favorite programs on the radio. I had already started writing lyrics, and at the same time I was learning to paint. Since it wasn't possible to study music during compulsory schooling, in high school I enrolled at the art institute to fully enter the dimension I felt was most truly mine. During that period, I delved deeper into German literature and painting. I kept singing, but without any clear strategy, in the sense that I felt artistic impulses coming from different fields (painting, writing, music) but I hadn't yet decided which direction to take.

The turning point came when I underwent throat surgery that, for reasons still not entirely clear, caused me to completely lose the use of one vocal cord, leaving me unable to use my voice for several months. At that moment I realized that what terrified me most wasn't so much the fact that I could no longer speak, but that I could no longer sing, and I understood that singing was truly the most important thing to me. Fortunately, one day, almost as if by magic, I fully regained the use of my voice. So I decided to take lessons in classical singing as a mezzo-soprano. I began exploring the potential of my voice, even though, at the same time, I noticed that this training, so rigidly focused on the pursuit of stylistic perfection, left little room for improvisation.

What were you listening to during that period?

I really liked Cecilia Bartoli and Maria Callas, while Donizetti was my favourite composer.

And what about rock music?

Nick Cave, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, artists for whom lyrics are a defining part of their music.

And then what happened?

I felt a strong need to completely free my voice, and for that reason I moved on to singing gospel music, learning to use my voice in all its expressiveness and all its power.

When did you write your first song?

It happened more or less during that period. I recorded my first song at home, using a piece of software called "Garage Band". I then sent the track to a friend of mine who had a recording studio. He immediately urged me to write more songs, which, once produced, were put up on my Myspace page. And that's basically where everything started: I got a huge amount of positive feedback, and through that community I landed the dates for my first shows.

What kind of music were you making back then?

The music was shaped more by each musician's individual contribution and leaned more towards folk atmospheres. Not long after, I started playing the harmonium, moving towards darker, more melancholic atmospheres, and, most importantly, I met Jesper Lehumkuhl.

Can you tell me a bit more about Jesper Lehmkuhl?

Jesper is an excellent composer and has a great deal of experience as an arranger. We tried out some songs together, and I immediately recognised in his melodies and arrangements the kind of music I wanted to make. Jesper was my artistic other half.

How do songs usually come about between you and Jesper?

Jesper writes the chords on guitar and the arrangements, and I add the vocal melody and the lyrics.

After the magnificent debut of "Blackbird", now it's time for "Where The Wild Oceans End"...

Compared to the previous record, "Where The Wild Oceans End" is an album that reflects the band's energy and strong sense of cohesion. Every musician was involved more heavily in writing the songs, and I think that benefited the album's final sound too. The recordings took place partly at a very special location on the Norwegian coast, and partly at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin. Before going into the studio, the songs already had their own shape and identity, and simply needed to be recorded.

With "Blackbird", on the other hand, all the songs were written at home by Jesper and me. Once we got into the studio, we had no idea what final shape they'd take. It was actually during the recording process that we started changing them and adding new tracks, right up to their final version.

Chris Eckman produced the record again this time.

Chris gives the artist a lot of expressive freedom and doesn't usually interfere with how the songs are written. At most, he might tell you to play something slower or faster. During production, Chris only uses analog gear, and I think that's part of what gives the record its warmer sound. He's also an excellent string arranger, which you can hear on both albums.

What is "Where the Wild Oceans End" about?

It's a record that's very much influenced by the magical atmosphere of a city like Berlin, whereas the themes of the previous album were generally more intimate and, in some ways, more romantic.

And what do you think is the energy that a city like Berlin gives off?

I'm not originally from Berlin — I only moved here a few years ago — and it was love at first sight. It's a city with a truly unique atmosphere, constantly changing, where history, ruins and memory intersect with modernity. It doesn't have the glitz of other major European capitals, and that lack of opulence works in its favor. Berlin is a real, genuine city where people speak to you honestly, without needing to hide behind a mask, without judging you, showing off their wealth, or expecting too much in terms of material things. In Berlin, nobody will ever look down on you for your social status.

It seems like everything you touch takes on a really special color. Take, for example, your version of David Bowie's "Helden". How did that come about?

To be honest, it wasn't my idea, it was Glitterhouse Records'. When they suggested I reinterpret "Heroes", I'll admit I was intimidated at the thought of tackling one of the greatest songs in rock history. It wasn't easy — it took a while to get such a perfect song out of my head. I eventually found my own version of "Heroes" by letting myself be carried away by the words and the story the song tells. In the end, I think I did a good job, to the point that "Helden" almost feels like one of my own compositions.

Have you found any benefits from being online?

The internet has given me a lot of opportunities, especially during the Myspace era, which is where I got the contacts for my first live shows. I'll never forget all the messages of support I got for my music from Myspace users — they gave me the strength to keep going through the most uncertain moments of my early career as a musician.

And what do you think of Facebook, then?

Since it's a general-purpose platform, I think it's less effective and doesn't offer the same quality of interaction as Myspace, because it doesn't make it as easy to spread and manage information. To make sure my followers actually see the news I post, I'd have to pay to promote it. Since I post my updates without paying, I've noticed that a lot of them get buried. Let me explain: when I post something — say, about a radio interview airing that same evening — I notice it doesn't reach everyone who follows me right away, so a lot of my friends end up seeing my post only the next day. So it all comes down to chance, which means I end up having to post the same piece of news several times a day. If you think about it, that's the opposite of what a social network's mission is supposed to be. It makes it really hard to manage news about myself. In general, this really penalizes artists who, for budget reasons, don't have other means of promotion and can't afford to pay to have their news posted on Facebook. Even though it takes a lot of time, I'm happy to run my Facebook page myself, since it feels less impersonal that way.

Will you be touring with the new record?

A tour is starting soon that will initially cover Germany and Austria, before extending to the Netherlands and Belgium. I'm hoping it will eventually cover the whole of Europe. I'd really love to play in Italy, since it's one of my favorite countries.

How are things going with Glitterhouse Records?

They're simply wonderful people, and musically very savvy, giving artists great support by encouraging them to produce their own music without interfering with their creative choices.

I know you sing on a track included on a tribute album called “The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project”, dedicated to the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce, frontman of the legendary Gun Club. The record features artists of the calibre of Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan and Primal Scream. Can you tell us about this project?

The record is called “Axels & Sockets” and will be released on 21 March. It isn't really a tribute album in the strict sense, since the material consists entirely of demo tapes of unfinished songs that were found by her friend Cypress Grove in Pierce's apartment. So the spirit of the project is a kind of work in progress, where each artist completed a song, ultimately turning it into their own definitive version. I can tell you I'm proud to be singing alongside the cream of rock'n'roll.

(Berlin, 16 January 2014)

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google