Name: Shatten
Members: Jonas Kohlschmidt, Stefan Kühl, Kristian Kühl, Danny Steinmeyer
Nationality: German
Current release: Shatten's Group Chat EP is out via Misitunes. Order your physical copy here.
Recommendations:
1. all works by Isa Genzken. Decent, intelligent and funny.
2. the movie Black Cat, White Cat by Emir Kusturica.

If you enjoyed this Shatten interview and would like to stay up to date with the band's music, visit them on Instagram, and Facebook.
 


For a while, it seemed as though the model of the bed room producer would replace bands altogether. Why do you like playing in a band rather than making music on your own?

Because of the surprises and frictions that arise when making music together. Your own idea of a song collides or complements the ideas of others and this results in songs that are not perfect in the best sense of the word.

The idea of a musician/producer who controls and does everything himself also has a lot to do with effectiveness and optimization. And I can't do anything with that in terms of music and art.

What, to you, are some of the greatest bands, and what makes them great?

Oma Hans, Blondie, Madness, Erregung öffentlicher Erregung.

Before you started making music together, did you in any form exchange concrete ideas, goals, or strategies? Generally speaking, what are your preferences when it comes to planning vs spontaneity in a collaboration?

Spontaneity is definitely the driving force behind even starting to write a song, record or play concerts. Planned strategies usually go wrong anyway and feel like work that you don't feel like doing.

At some point, it's all about working through plans, not about playing.

There are many potential models for creativity, from live performances and jamming/producing in the same room together up to file sharing. Which of these do you prefer – and why?

I prefer to make music together in one room. No deadlines and playing. Showing each other things from time to time, but only to then play together again. Trying things out, making mistakes.

How do your different characters add up to the band's sound and in which way is the end result – including live performances – different from the sum of its pieces?

It's not so easy to break it down.

My impulsiveness, combined with Stefan's sharp thoughts, paired with Danny's pragmatism, Jonas' irrepressible desire to play and Kristian's expertise and feeling for good sound form what shatten is in the end. Whether live or on record.

We throw ourselves into it and in the end shatten comes out.

Is there a group consciousness, do you feel? How does it express itself?

Don't get on your own nerves, then everything will be fine.

What is your sense of ownership like as part of the collective songwriting process? What is the balance between the lyrics, melodies and harmonies, and the groove in terms of your sound?

Lyrics and production are shared between me and Kristian, everything else is shared by everyone. We share the common view that we can and would only make this music as a collective. that's why it doesn't make sense to divide it up at this point.

It's a bit different with the lyrics and the production. The lyrics are often written outside of the collective, but this has to do primarily with the activity of writing itself. It is a solitary thing.

What are your thoughts on the need for compromise vs standing by one's convictions? How did you resolve potential disagreements?

A band is a band and as an individual you can and must make compromises within this work. But that doesn't mean that you have to make compromises as a band. Only the compromises of the individual make up the attitude of a band.

Working in a band means trust, if you don't have trust, then quit the band.

Do any of the band's members also have solo projects? If so, how do these feeds into the band's creative process?

Yes, each of us has other projects, but they don't have any specific influence on our band. At least I couldn't localize them clearly.

Have you worked with outside contributors - from sessions musicians via producers to other songwriters? How did this change, improve or challenge the established dynamic and how do you look back on that?

In the past, we worked a lot more with other people. Right now, that's limited to the label, videos and distribution. We're doing the music, the recordings, the artwork and even booking the concerts ourselves.

There's no rule behind it, it just happened that way.

Most bands eventually break up. What makes you stay together? What are essentials for a successful band?

By giving each other space. We still have ideas and fun together. As long as that's the case, we'll stay together.

If that doesn't happen at some point, we'll have no problem ending things. After all, we're not in prison.