Interview with German Alternative band AFFENTANZ

German band AFFENTANZ has been making waves in the electronic music scene with their unique sound, which is slow but danceable. With inspiration drawn from a variety of sources, the band is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with their music. Recently, the band released their latest single, “HUNTER”, which has been generating buzz among fans and critics alike. In this interview, we speak to the band about their creative process, inspiration and plans for the future.

Q: What inspired you to make music?
A: In the past, I was inspired by several bands like Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, and The Prodigy to name a few. Nowadays, I am inspired by people, situations, feelings, and nature. I like to leave the city and look at the lakes or trees.

Q: How would you describe your sound?
A: AFFENTANZ is Downtempo Electronica. Our tracks are really slow but very danceable. We try to reach our audience on an emotional level and when they move their feet, that’s even better.

Q: What are your plans for future/upcoming releases?
A: We just shot our high-end music video “HUNTER” which is directed by Cyprian Hercka. So don’t miss it and have a look at our YouTube channel. In addition, we want to play more live shows. Live, we are a blast with our drummer Moritz Zielke. So if you are interested, get in touch with us.

Q: What has been your proudest moment as a musician so far?
A: When I unpacked my first vinyl when I was in my twenties. That was unbelievable. I produced a track for a DJ for the clubs. That was really great. I will not forget that moment.

Q: How do you plan to keep your fans engaged?
A: We decided to release a new single every two months although our album “Follow Their Words” is finished. That keeps us busy and the audience always hears something fresh. We just released “SAFE PLACE” which went to the DAC (German Alternative Charts) Charts at position 16. We are very proud.

Q: What other genres of music do you enjoy listening to?
A: I love good music. The genre isn’t really relevant. I still listen to the Industrial Legends Nine Inch Nails or the new album of Depeche Mode. When I’m in my car, it’s mostly pop music. I am interested in their arrangements, sounds, and mixing skills.

Q: What elements do you draw inspiration from when creating your music?
A: When I go into my studio in the basement, I turn on a bunch of synthesizers. Then I play around with them. Sometimes it works, and I get to something interesting, and sometimes I do record/program nothing at all. When this happens, I just go upstairs for a walk with the dog or play something with my daughter. Family is very important to me.

Q: What is your music creation process like?
A: I use soft synths and external hardware synthesizers to create our sound. I like the very analog sounding Diva or the Waldorf Largo that has very unusual sounds under the hood. I always try to find a sound that I haven’t heard before. After I programmed and recorded everything, I use a lot of granular plugins for sound design. The external synthesizers Access Virus, Roland JP8000 or the Yamaha DX200 are a huge inspiration too. They offer a few happy accidents when tweaking their knobs. When everything is recorded, I do a lot of sound design, but I am not alone.

Q: Are there any other musical projects you are currently involved in?

A: Besides AFFENTANZ I am into Film- und TV-music under my Name Martin W Hillebrand. You can find my music on German shows like Bachelor or I’m a celebrity – get me out of here and many more.

Q: Tell us about your upcoming releases and provide further details about them

A: We have written a huge variety of Styles. They are dark Ballads, stomping Techno Tracks, even progressive Songs or catchy Singles on FOLLOW THEIR WORDS. We decide very spontaneous wihch will be the next track to be released. So you have to stay tuned.

In conclusion, AFFENTANZ is a unique German downtempo electronica band that creates music to inspire and move people. With their latest release, HUNTER, the band has showcased their versatility with a range of styles from dark ballads to catchy singles.