A Kraut Tale with Demian Sky Interview
When and where were you born? What was growing up like for you? What was your household like and do you have any siblings? When did you first begin to fall in love with music?
I was born in Zagreb, Croatia. I pretty much grove up alone with my mom for the most part and that’s who I got the love for music from. My mom had a quite respectable tape collection, so there was always a music at our home. Mostly traditional Yugoslavian music, pop and disco. When I was 4 years old, I realise that I’ll rather listen to music, then watch a tv. Which is pretty unusual for a four year old kid, I guess. I have a 12 years younger brother. In the early 90’s we came to Germany, where we all still live.
You're a manager of the record store where you live, correct? Have you always tried to keep as close a relation to music and records as possible? How long have you been working there? You are also a DJ, can you tell me how you got into this and how DJing is different from writing/performing your own music?
Yes, I’m a store manager at the local record store for almost seven years now. Before that I was working as a store manager at the local skate-shop, for 14 years. Skateboarding and street culture in general are pretty tight connected to music, so even it was pretty different from the record store, I guess you are right: It was always important for me to be surrounded by music and records. That’s all I know and beside a very few more things, all I care about. I’ve been a record collector for the most part of my life, so I was known around the town to be that guy with a lot of records. That’s when people started to ask me to DJ at their birthdays and house parties. Soon I realised that I could actually make some money with that and buy even more records. I started DJ-ing clubs and bars and make my own parties. Any money I would made, I was investing in more records and that never changed. For over 20 years now. To me, there is no big difference between DJ-ing and playing/performing my own music. If you wanna make it right, both is gonna be very time consuming and demanding, but at the same time very blissful and soothing as well.
What initially inspired you to begin music yourself? When exactly did you set out on this cosmic journey and how did you want to pursue the craft yourself? What would you say is your overall vision and drive behind what you do when creating?
It all started with metal for me. I was a bass player in a death metal band first, then in a punk band after that, but it wasn’t until I discovered all the 70’s heavy/psych bands that I started to take my playing more seriously. That is so cliche to say, but it actually started with Black Sabbath, to be completely honest. First time I heard NIB, I knew I had to step my game up. Thats when I started my heavy/psych band Orcus Chylde. After awhile, I felt the need to make more than just playing a bass. That’s when I bought my first Akai MPC Sampler and started to make my own beats, combining samples and live instruments. My overall vision and drive? I wish I could say it’s money hahaha! But I’m not clever enough to care about that. Really, it’s just pure love for the music! Simple as that. When I catch a vibe and the inspiration comes, I’m gone.
Tell me about writing and recording your most recent release, “A Kraut Tale. When and where did recording start and when did you initially begin writing the music that would be released on this album?
Oh man, I worked on that album for 3 years. The whole idea was born at the record store I work at. We had a sale on 45’s, for like really dirt cheap prices. After a few weeks, we packed the remainders and were about to drive them to dump yard. Those records just didn't interest anyone anymore. It was nothing but old German Schlager, Volksmusik and some really odd records like 60’s fitness music, horoscope reading and stuff like that. But I felt bad, couldn’t throw them away, so I decided to keep them and make something out of it. I took the records home, looked for samples and made the entire album just from those records. I played some bass by myself on some tracks and sampled a few kicks and snares from somewhere else. Beside that every sound you hear on that album is made out of records from trash. Out of something that was of no use to anyone. I recorded everything at home on my AKAI MPC 2500 and edited it later with a little help from my friend at his own studio.
How did the deal with Dedicate come about? What did you want to explore with this album while introducing elements such as 60s and 70s psychedelia and hip-hop on this record? I heard that it's already sold out and you guys are working on a second pressing. Congratulations, that must be a great feeling!
Those guys live in the nearby city. I knew Dirk (Phonk D) , who’s a half of the Dedicate Label for a while. He is a badass DJ and he was selling his mixtapes at the skate-shop I was managing back in the day, so that was kind of a natural choice. I just told them about the idea and they agreed to release the album even they never heard a single note of it before it was completely done. Yes, the album was sold out after only a few days, so I guess they didn’t regret it. And since it took me so long to answer this interview, the repress is already here, so the record is back in stock. I was on some kinda absent state of mind during the entire recording process. I was painting pictures in my head and transferred them in my music and didn’t realise what the album is gonna sound like, until the last song was done. That’s actually when I realised that the record sounded not only hip-hop, but also trippy and psychedelic. That wasn’t intended, it just happened. I guess I’m just inspired by the 60’s and 70’s music so much, that I just can’t leave it out, no matter what I do.
How has the pandemic affected you both as an individual and as an artist? How have you managed to stay not only positive, but above ground during these insane times? Are you planning to perform any of the record live for an audience in the foreseeable future? Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?
Like for many of us, my entire life turned upside down from one day to another. Our record store had to close and there were no gigs for nobody, obviously. So, the first few months felt really terrible. The whole situation probably played a role on my absent state of mind that I mentioned before. So yeah, I guess it did affect me, both, as an individual and as an artist. Family, music, friends and weed: that’s what kept me above the ground. The guys in my band had offered to play the record with me for some live shows. That’s something I would really love to do if we ever catch the time to rehearse it properly. Most of us are fathers and we are all having jobs and playing music actively in some way or another, so our time is very limited, but if I ever do live shows for „A Kraut Tale“ its gonna be with those guys. Until then I’m working on my next sample based record, But this time, I didn’t limit myself. I’m sampling anything that sounds right and I’m using much more live instruments this time. I’ll probably record some vocals too. We’ll see where the journey takes it. That’s what’s so exciting about sampling. You never know what you gonna find and what its gonna sound like after you are done with it. It’s a complete journey into the unknown. Thank you for your time and interest. To you and the readers.
