Interviews

Klangstabil brings their emotional electronic music in Athens and Death Disco Open Air!

Klangstabil is one of those dark electro project which always deliver some really deep emotions through their gloomy beats, slow dance or powerful rhythm and. of course, their charismatic way of writing and expressing their lyrics. Klangstabil are Boris May and Maurizio Bianco and was formed back in 1994, when they started building their impressive sound upon strong experimentations and inspiring sounds and words. I first experienced Klangstabil's sound with the release of their magnificent "Taking Nothing Seriously" full length album, released in 2004 via Ant-Zen label, and it was an instant love. 

Some years later I met Boris May, the voice of Klangstabil. It was the year 2011 when they opened the festival's indoor stage in an amazing performance, one of those that many regret to have lost because of the early hours. During that weekend we had our first chat about their almost 20 years path, at that time, and the unique way they adopted their influences in their electrifying soundscapes. 

Now, with 31 years of music history I am more than happy that I had the chance to speak again with Boris May, but most of all I am excited to see them performing in Death Disco Open Air Festival, in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, September 21st. Before getting into this beautiful conversation and in the world of Klangstabil, the dreams and experiences that Boris May and Maurizio Bianco share with us, open Klangstabil's bandcamp page, and press play on their latest release "Chronik" which is the perfect background sonic landscape for the interview and in order to get into the words of Boris!

Enjoy.  

ES: Hi Klangstabil, hello Boris May! Thank you for this chat and while people wait for your long-awaited performance in Athens I will start with a question about this show! With a music journey that spanning over two decades, almost three I would say, how does it feel to be performing in Athens, Death Disco Festival? What is your relationship with Athens, the Greek audience and its dark electronic scene?

Hi Achilles, it’s hard to believe—it’s already three decades since we started making music together back in 1994. We’ve had the pleasure of playing twice at Death Disco in Athens, and it has always been a very special experience for us. We felt truly welcome and we really enjoy the city. A good friend of ours is currently moving from Germany to Athens, so perhaps I’ll be spending more time in Athens and Greece as well.

ES: Klangstabil's motto is "one step back, two steps forward." How does this idea depicts on your approach to a live performance that includes fragments from your entire music history? How do you prepare for a festival performance like this?

In a way, every performance is a step forward. As a German song once said: “Stagnation is death.” You can only keep going if you stay creative, innovative, and don’t rest on past achievements. Even when we take a break, the mind is always working on something new, something that can spark enthusiasm. 

Every show is unique. Personally, I always think about how to bring the current emotional state into the performance, so I can process it. The goal is to relive everything—both the positive and negative—that has happened recently, and the tracks become the catalyst for that. The overall mood for a performance is usually only defined a few hours before we go on stage.

ES: Many of your early tracks were experimental sound pieces that evolved into completed soundscapes. How do you balance playing the classic, more structured tracks with the raw, uncompromising energy of your older work in a live setting?

These days we mainly play tracks with vocals, which are generally more structured. The experimental phase was like the foundation—or as we like to call it, the “primordial soup”—for our current songs. I think we managed to carry that raw energy into the newer pieces, maybe even intensify it, since the vocals allow us to express emotions much more directly.

ES: Could you share a story about an unexpected or special moment that happened during a live performance?

Once, a woman was dancing with her eyes closed about nine meters from the stage. I noticed how she responded to every word, every modulation of the voice and sound. At the same time, the way the music guided her, she also guided me—I began to reflect her movements. It felt like an echo building into a feedback loop. Perhaps it’s comparable to a kind of mental, almost intimate exchange.

ES: You've been making music since three decades now. What do you consider to one of the highlight moments so far?

There have been many highlights, especially over the last year: getting back on stage after a long break, experiencing the support of the audience that has always been there for us, spending time with Maurizio, our friendship.
And of course, one major highlight is playing right before Anne Clark here in Athens. Maurizio told me he could never have imagined sharing a stage with her when he was buying her records on vinyl 35 years ago.

ES: What are your main musical influences, both within and outside the dark electronic genre, and how do you incorporate them into a uniquely Klangstabil sound? Which were the influences that dwel you into the dark side of electronic music?

We are children of the ’80s. We still love the richness and freshness that this era brought to music—movie soundtracks, innovative pop, the birth of hip-hop, and the rise of techno. Artists like Anne Clark, Depeche Mode, and even a-ha gave me access to deeper, sometimes darker emotions. For example, hearing “Hunting High and Low” as an eleven-year-old could easily overwhelm you with feelings.

ES: Is there a song from the early years that you feel has a different meaning to you now than it did when you first wrote it?

Yes, “You May Start” has gone through a transformation over the years, and its meaning has become even clearer. Back when we wrote it, it was during the era of the early mobile phones—people would sit together in cafés but spend their time making calls. That image inspired the line, “Everybody’s phoning, nobody is connected.”
Today, with smartphones, this has only intensified. I think we’ve become even more disconnected from ourselves.

ES: There is a new collection of your work released last April, titled "CHRONIK". This compilation highlights your evolution as a band. What is one thing you’ve learned about yourselves and your music by looking back on your body of work?

For me, the tracks are like a diary. I have a very poor short- and long-term memory, so the music gives me orientation in life—it shows me what I was thinking and feeling when each track was created. Writing every album has taught me a lot about myself and about us. It’s always a tough but rewarding process. I think we’ve managed to create a body of work that is honest, joyful, and something we can truly be proud of.

ES: For new listeners who are just discovering Klangstabil, which track from the “CHRONIK” would you recommend as a starting point, and why?

“You May Start” is a great entry point :). But to get the full picture, I’d recommend listening to the entire compilation, because each track is very different from the others.

ES: Are there any upcoming projects or new material on the horizon that you can tell us about?

Yes, we’re working on a new album. The original idea was to collaborate with external producers, but most of the people we contacted were too busy with their own projects. So we’re doing it ourselves, which takes a little longer—but it will get done.

ES: Thank you again so much. Is there any message you would like to send to your fans prior to your show in Death Disco Festival?

We are very happy to have been invited and are really looking forward to creating some unforgettable moments together with the audience.

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing you in Greece.Perhaps we could continue our discussion while you are in Athens!

Info:

https://www.klangstabil.com/

https://facebook.com/klangstabil

https://www.instagram.com/klangstabil_official

https://klangstabil.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1vprihttOzgoMYRe9gSBCC