At the end of last year LACRIMOSA, without big announcements or sold-out headlines, quietly added a new album, Leidenschaft, to their discography. To support the release, I sent Tilo a number of questions by email… and here is what came out of it.
First of all, my congratulations on the release of Leidenschaft. Are you happy with the feedback you’re getting from the public so far?
Yes, absolutely. It seems like many people find this album the best one in over twenty years, which is pretty cool! I can’t wait to share these new songs with the live audience.
It’s not really common for bands to release albums around Christmas and New Year, since everyone is involved in holiday activities. Moreover, few tours happen at this time of the year, so it requires a different promo approach. To be honest, I didn’t see news about the album release in major metal media; the LACRIMOSA wiki page also hasn’t been updated for quite a while… so I guess most of your promotional activities are more or less connected with the band’s social media accounts. Is it your choice (targeting primarily your own audience), or simply a matter of limited resources? What is your main promotional strategy?
Yes, we are mostly writing about this new album on our social media accounts, which is due to the pandemic, because we had to reduce our staff and as a small independent label — there is no one involved, no manager, no other company — we are dependent on what we can do in the time we have, which means that we concentrate on our fanbase first.
Did the ongoing pandemic, lockdowns, etc., influence the working process, your lifestyle, mood, and the writing of this album in any way? Did this period make you learn anything new — about people, the world, or yourself?
Yes, yes, and yes. Firstly, I learned that the impossible is possible. No one ever would have thought that the entire world would close down. We know that shops have their closing times, or that one or another business is closing down, but I never thought that the world would hang out the sign: “Sorry, we’re closed.”
And then I learned (again) that people and governments don’t learn. After the first arbitrary and panicked reactions towards the pandemic, I was pretty surprised that in nearly no country any experiences led to moderate and deliberate consequences, and that no one was and is able to see the big picture and not just the daily incidences. No one seems to see all the people suffering from their loss of work, their loss of social life, their loss of hope and help, their loss of education, and their loss of culture.
And of course I had to learn and accept that we couldn’t release the album in 2020, which was the original plan, but was not possible due to the restrictions.
I know LACRIMOSA managed to do a couple of shows last year. Are you positive about returning to the stage in 2022? Are any tours in the works? Are you missing live shows?
Of course. We are constantly planning shows, only to reschedule over and over again. Some few shows we could play, but most of our work to bring LACRIMOSA on stage fizzles out and then we have to start all over again. Now we are planning shows for autumn this year. Let’s see…
What were the weirdest presents from fans you ever got? And what kind of presents do you prefer?
Actually, the biggest present people can make me is buying our albums. This is what I am working for — that people like our albums, and if they buy them, they show their respect for our work. Therefore we have our shop which is delivering worldwide, and buying our original albums is the biggest present and respect people can show.
Can you describe your regular day?
Every day starts with coffee! While drinking coffee I check my messages, then some sport, and then either desk for label work or studio for music — and in the evening either nice people, nice food, nice wine, or all together!
I saw LACRIMOSA live a couple of years ago in Minsk (that was a fantastic evening!) and was surprised by you not changing visually and still looking so young. Are there any “Dorian Gray”-style secrets of yours? How do you manage that?
You know, on stage there are many lights which hide a lot. But thanks for the compliment — at least I take it as one.
How many stage costumes do you have? And where do you keep them all? Do you ever wear something… bright? In your everyday life, I mean 😉
To be honest, I never counted the stage outfits. But there are more or less one or two for each album, which means there are many. And one day I might use them again. And no, I don’t wear bright stuff — I wouldn’t know why!
Looking at the audience at live shows and at comments in your social media, how would you describe the most common LACRIMOSA fan of 2021–2022? Speaking very generally — who would it rather be?
I see some statistics on different platforms, but when I look at the audiences during concerts or go through the social media posts and letters, I have to say: I don’t know — and I like it that way.
If we were producing soap or shampoo, it would be pretty relevant to know the potential customers, but we are producing emotions and art, and this can affect everyone who is open to pure feelings. In the scriptures we can read: “For not as man judges — for man judges according to the eyes, but the LORD judges according to the heart.” It is not about age or sex or education or whatever — it is about the heart.
Your top albums of 2021? What was the last album that really impressed you? And any musical disappointments lately?
To be honest, I didn’t have much time to listen to many other bands last year. But I spontaneously remember that I very much liked the new one from THE PRETTY RECKLESS, the new IRON MAIDEN of course, and the EP from BILLY IDOL is pretty cool as well.
What is the most personal song on Leidenschaft for you?
There is not just one, but “Exodus” brings it all together — though I very much love “Liebe über Leben” as much as “Raubtier”, “Führ mich nochmal in den Sturm”, and also “Celebrate the Darkness”… you see, it is difficult for me to say, because I live in all of these songs.
Anything you would like to add for your fans?
I miss you! Stay safe and healthy and sane until we meet again!
