REVOLUTION IS COMING!

In the past few years Culture Kultür was considered as the one of the most promising (so called) ‘future pop’ bands from Europe. While signed to German Out Of Line label, they have released a couple of crucial CDs of the genre. We've found them very busy preparing for lively end of the summer ( INFEST, Bradford UK along with Seabound, Cut Rate Box, VNV Nation..) and active early autumn(North American Tour including USA, Canada and Mexico). We simply couldn't resist not to ask for the interview in order to get first hand information about this exciting forthcoming adventure and the new album that is being finished as you read these lines.

Welcome to Electromeda!

Hello to all the American readers and thank you very much for your comments and interest! We are really looking forward to do this second visit to your country.

First of all, I am so thrilled to do this interview with you guys. Your upcoming North American Tour makes me very happy! I'll finally have the chance to see you live! You guys have already had few gigs here in the US on the East Coast, one of them at legendary "Das Maschine" club (FL). This upcoming tour looks like it will be the biggest tour CK ever had. Was it hard to arrange tour like this and what was the main reason for you to decide doing this kind of tour in North America rather than in Europe? US breakthrough perhaps?

The main reason is that we had such a good time in our first concerts there that we want to repeat! There is also the plus of playing in Mexico, something that we wanted to do a long time ago. We had some unforgettable moments when playing on our last visit, so since the gigs there we always looked forward to play again. Europe is having a hard time concert-wise now. Some cancellations and a not clear vision of the whole thing have limited the big concerts to a minimum. Of course you have the clubs route, but even that has become a bit “strange” lately. Since the beginning we had positive reactions about this tour from the promoters, so it wasn’t very difficult to organize. The main problem were huge distances we have to deal with. In fact, though it may seem crazy, it's much easier for us to do touring in USA rather than in Europe. We are used to work through Internet, and the promoters in the old continent seems not to be too much involved with the new technologies.

In the past few years bands like ApB, VNV Nation and
Covenant have had more than successful US tours. It seems that American fans like sound very similar to yours, but it is well known how demanding and unpredictable US audience is. Does that fact make you a bit scared and anxious or you are landing on this continent pretty confident in your success?

Well, as said before, we had a very positive experience from our last visit. In fact, we had our best concerts ever, due to the enthusiastic reaction of the audience. That time we really felt like at home, and we hope this time will be the same.

Planned Mexico City gig sounds intriguing. How does it feel to go there and do the concert as a spanish band, considering all the history and heritage that two countries share?
I can imagine how great it will be play at Dada X, that legendary place where all the huge names of world's industrial scene played live… Did you get any information from your label mates Hocico, about what to expect in Mexico City?

From the beginning of our relationship with Hocico, they insisted in that we had to travel to Mexico. Through them and others mexican friends, we know that our music is played there and that people will enjoy a concert from us. So, now that the moment is arriving, we are excited to play there and have a great time with our friends. Of course we have a very nice “connected” feel to our Hocico friends thanks to the language and some past experiences together. Seems that playing there will mix music and friendship in it’s best.

Speaking of Culture Kultür's club impact it's impossible to miss how you guys have the magical ability to make everyone dance. "Revenge" album (out of line 2001) was, at that time, the most danceable EBM I have ever heard. It was timed perfectly to hit the clubs along with other bands of the same ‘orientation’. DJ Kultur is one of the biggest names of spanish techno/trance clubbing scene and you have a long history in electronic music. Has 'Future pop' movement had any impact on you?. Did the idea of making crossover between EURO TRANCE and EBM got on your mind before Stephan Groth released "Welcome To Earth" album?

When that album hit the stores (Apoptygma Berzerk - "Welcome To Earth") we already had several songs in progress, so the idea (and the music) was already in our minds. Call it a cosmic conjunction. Anyway we must say we had a strong change after our “Tierra Elektrica 1999” Europe tour. Those were our firsts live acts and we had
lot of time to discuss together and confront the audience about what we were, what we wanted to do, and where should our music go. I must agree with you that those two years compressed some of the best albums ever released, and that confluence of sounds and rhythms is difficult to achieve again. Anyway, we confess we are changing always, and that every song we face is taken as unique Just wait for the next album to see what I mean.

Speaking of Wolfran (DJ Kultur), is he going to tour with you guys or he is only involved in studio work?

Now he is more and more involved with studio and with dance scene in Spain, so he doesn't form part of the concerts any more...

After "Revenge" came "Combat" in order to win this race with insanity and hate in the world in those days.
Both releases had an anti-war idea. Is there any anti-political anarcho background that incites you write very strong lyrics and messages? Do we have to wait for some
’anti hero’ to come out of your "Combat" episode and lead us to the final battle with the Evil or we are on our own, like we are all part of that 'Combat hero'?

We think that every public place, as dance floors, are good to transmit ideas. We don't like to talk in our lyrics about the colour of void. We think that mankind has a very long way to run and to evolve, and is a work for everyone if we want to be more than a bunch of savages, like we are now. Yes, "Combat" talks about the inner war inside us and the war on the outside between man and mankind, mind and body, ideas and facts. From that war, some kind of beginning should be born. We don’t know if good or evil, probably both. We have questions, but we have too some responses, something not very popular today on these “media moderated days”. Politics are part of us. If you don’t feel the urge to do something or your small part to change things you are technically mind-dead. The anti hero lives inside us every day, you only need to free him and let him fight.

When we can expect new CK album? After I heard a couple of demo tracks I can say that it is more than interesting material. Is there anything you want to reveal, or you are going to keep us excited and intrigued?

We HOPE to have it ready for October/November, we really aren’t sure as some tracks are not decided yet, and we are working hard now on the live shows too, so it depends. In any case we will only release it when it is ready the way we want it.

What will be the title of the new album? Do you plan to make any videos in order to help it’s promotion? Can we expect Culture Kultür to be more present in media than before?

This is a secret, so don’t tell anyone OK?, It will be called “REVOLUTION”. No videos are planned at the moment, but we expect to have strong publicity on the media.

Nowadays' remix albums become more and more boring when
releasing of the remix album means putting one track on the CD along with 15 remixes of that very same song done by 15 similar bands. There is one unprofessional,
‘fan type’ question that I simply cannot resist not to ask: Can we except some unique remix release from Culture Kultür in the near future ? (I got this idea after I listened to "COMBAT" for the first time!).

I can’t agree more with you on the actual remixes albums. We have done lots of remixes in the past for Spanish bands and of course we love to remix ourselves. In fact I must say that the tracks for such album are already
done!!!. In any case this is something where our record company has the final word. Just let’s see (Hmm perhaps an ultra-limited version????)

At the end what can we expect from Culture Kultür live on stage on this forthcoming tour ?

Lots of energy and commitment, some surprises and your feedback!!!!

Thank you guys and see you soon!

Really looking forward to it!!!!!!!