RAUBERHOHLE

The Winter was definitely turning into Spring and the warm wind brought us a new kind of alternative fairy... The rioting punk electro pop star landed with her bear and her puppets in Oslo for two crazy dates of pure energy and political fun wit. Both Mir and SKA were glittering with her ladyship’s magic and her tamed dancing grizzly who presented different tales to the astonished Oslo. We met the fairy crew for an interview at the Ya Basta collective, right before they headed north to carry on their magical mysterypop tour.

OA: Two concerts in Oslo and two different stories, how many more tricks do you have in your magic bag?
Krawalla: Two in English and three in German.

OA: Are they translations?
Krawalla: Well two are, but the third one is for Germany only because it is this Idol thing in it. It is called Superstar in Germany, so it is kind of the Krawalla Mädchen going to Superstar.

OA: That sounds like something all western countries can relate to...
Krawalla: Yeah, but it is a bit special in Germany... Do you know Modern Talking?

OA: I am afraid so
Krawalla: Well, the guy who was doing the music is in the jury, and he is playing a big part in this puppet show. That is the reason why I think it is not really possible to understand in other countries. He is speaking in this really weird northern German slang, telling stupid stories all the time. He even wrote a book and he recorded himself reading it. You can buy the cd, it is terrible. I cut all this stuff together and I used some statements of his that are really stupid. I do not think it would work in English, and I do not think I can force him to tell it in English either (laughs).

OA: How do you work to set up the show, is it the two of you? Is it your project alone? Do you make the music, and then the show or the other way around?
Krawalla: I did the music and then I thought when I wanted to play live that it was too boring to do it alone. I the beginning, the songs should fit to the puppet show, so every time I was trying something, it should have something to do with the police. That’s how the story came up, but now I do not think it has much to do with the music anymore. People want to have more and more new stuff, and I cannot come up with a whole lot of new stuff about the songs.

OA: So you started on your own, but how did the two of you start working together?
Krawalla: I asked another guy first because he was sad, and alone in Berlin, so I asked him to do Räuberhöhle with me. Somehow it did not work out. I ended up taking this one, and he is really good on tour (laughs). That is how we started playing together. He is very patient.... and he makes a good bear (laughs)

OA: What about your DIY distribution, how does that work?
Krawalla: It is too much....

OA: You are in charge of everything throughout the process, right
Krawalla: yes, that is what I want, but it is getting too much. I cannot do anything when I am at home, I get up really early in the morning, and all I do is writing letters, e-mails, sending cds, preparing the next tour....I am going crazy with all this work, so I guess I should think about doing something else.

OA: What are you thinking about, starting a label?
Krawalla: That s more work I guess.

OA: Would you try to be signed on a label, then?
Krawalla: No, but maybe getting some distribution, selling the cds for me, or something.

OA: I guess you have a nice list of contacts to help you do that distribution.
Krawalla: I do, but so far I always said it was ok when I was asked, but now I think I am going to end up doing it.

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