I came across this weird looking duo some months ago on Facebook.
Calling themselves ‘Easter’, with one of them carrying an ‘Ian Curtis’ hairstyle and the other sporting a British Chav look, I knew that this band was somewhat special.
From their crazy/trippy idealistic music videos to their outrageous lyrics, the Berlin-based Duo took some time to answer some questions for indieberlin.
indieberlin: With the music scene in Berlin getting healthier and healthier, what are your thoughts on how to break through, and make your own mark?
Stine: Stay healthy or let me put it like this, when you are lying in a hostel room full of russian baby brats and trying not to make a sound but sleep with all your clothes on and dreaming about drowning them all in red wine later and piss with the door open, this is what you have to do. Live that dream
indieberlin: Your video are quite original. Who comes up with the ideas?
Max and Stine: Thats us. We ride the whale.
indieberlin: Did you work with the same director for all your videos? If so, is he on something? as the ideas are just so surreal.
We are The Director
We never felt like working with anyone else than us. We made videos together before we made music together so it comes as natural. All natural and like a hot knife through margarine.
indieberlin: Your lyrics from where the hell do you come up with such ideas? Funghi Baby?
Stine: Just keeping a varying diet. Fresh in the heart, free to die
indieberlin: What’s a perfect night out for you?
Stine: It’s summer and hot and i walk out in shorts and my belly out. I carry a bottle of wine and 3 more in my bag. I find a 100 euro note on the street and take Max out for dinner. The moon is full. All dogs are wild and free and nice to each other
indieberlin: Do you both party a lot in Berlin?
Max: It sounds funny but
Actually I’m coming straight from Berghain after catching a friend’s set
I love the people there. While taking a piss I got approached and asked for permission to drink straight from my stream. But overall I think this was my last visit as a guest. I admire the concept and get the appeal but the totalitarian vibe is not for me. I get the feeling it paralyzes the crowd. The dj sets often seem like a spectator sport for a rest who craves membership. The BCR parties are where we had the most fun recently. Even when clean.
What inspires you?
Max: Answers and animals. I have diffuse anxiety. Shifts in brain activity inspire me. Maladaptive responses of the Amygdala. When you realize that the rush of creativity during a fever is not coincidence, but consequence. Simply another scheduled cerebral mode of action. Full frontal lobe nudity.
Stine: Max inspires me, and the idea that we are supposed to be doing exactly this
indieberlin: Favourite movie and why?
Stine: Smileyface. Because it makes me laugh all the time every time. I try watch it at least once a week to stay happy
Max: While Stine watched Smiley Face twice in a row the other day I watched Stalker in the next room. I think I never before had that feeling of suffering through a movie and never wanting to watch it again, but still be happy I did. And giving it a good rating, too! Just because of a few elements being so severe. How Tarkovsky usually handles wetness, wet grass and nature in general deeply resonates with me.
indieberlin: Any crazy fantasies/dreams you had lately or like to acquire?
Stine:
Kissing in public
Max: Often thinking about deep dental cleaning. Performing extensive body care with someone.
indieberlin: Favourite breakfast/food?
Stine: Dinner for breakfast. Spicy, savory, fat, vegan
indieberlin: If you had to be a character from a disney cartoon or fairytale, who would it be?
Max: Let it gooo! I guess I might be a homosexual supporting role in the first Disney film to star a down syndrome person in the lead. Google the petitions for that. Really good question by the way.
indieberlin: A country/city you’d like to do a gig at?
Max: Take us to Portugal. To the British Isles. Take us to Japan. Let us ride through the Kazakh Steppe, the Arctic Tundra.
Any advice for any young aspiring musicians out there?
Stine: Don’t smoke crack before soundcheck
Max: Let everything that’s been planned come true. Let them believe. And let them have a laugh at their passions.Because what they call passion actually is not some emotional energy, but just the friction between their souls and the outside world. And most important, let them believe in themselves, let them be helpless like children, because weakness is a great thing, and strength is nothing. When one is just born, one is weak and flexible, when one dies, one is hard and insensitive. When a tree is growing, it’s tender and pliant, but when it’s dry and hard, it dies. Hardness and strength are death’s companions. Pliancy and weakness are expressions of the freshness of being. Because what has hardened will never win.
Tank you for the interview!
Interview: Shawn James
