By:Cinthya Bolado
Tell me what about crystal breed (before this upcoming recording) , how did you find the musicians to make this project that, for me, sounds like Progressive but at the same time songs like "The Place Unknown " make me feel that it has pure hard rock old school in its soul?
I've known Corvin since my earliest childhood. And we've played music together since we were little kids in all kind of bands. After some years of studying in different citys (I went to Hanover, Corvin to Hamburg) we decided to do a band again. He also introduced me to Uli Jon Roth.
I met Thorsten (drums) and Nico (bass) while I was studying music in Hanover.
I'm really a fan of old vinyls from all the classic Bands I like Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Genesis, Led Zeppelin and so on... On the other hand there are the more modern progressive bands like Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree and Spock's Beard for example.
…who have a huge impact on us.
The band was founded in 2008 by Corvin and you. What expectations that you had for the band in 2008 had been reached and which others have changed or even appear?
Back then in 2008 we didn't really had high expectations. We did'nt even know if there are any people who would like our music and we also didn't know if we would have been able to perform these songs live.
This band helped everyone of us to become a better musician.
On the other hand, let's face it, every band in the world has the highest expectations when it is founded. But we weren't aware of that ACDC's "long way to the top" is that long! So we decided to just keep on doing our thing, take our time and have fun.
Do you remember your fist Crystal Breed show? , How it was?
Of course I do. It was a tiny little festival near Hanover and we all did many funny little mistakes, so that it was quite entertaining to listen to the recordings afterwards!
But we also felt that it somehow worked pretty well live.
I've seen you were touring in France, Netherlands, Austria etc, Have you thought on touring in Latin america, or have some promoter called you in order to perform here?
Not yet. But we would love doing it one day!
As a musician, I guess you've dream about playing with one of your idols at least for a show, or maybe only a song, who would you like to join on stage?
I think I really would like to play with Paul McCartney!
Going back to the recording of new album, What changes have you found since the first album to this one in the band's sound?
I think the first album contains ideas we collected in years. The songs of the second album were written within a shorter time period so although there's still a huge variety of sounds and styles it seems to me like being more in a certain flow.And there are some really tricky and fast guitar parts which I had to practice a lot.
Do you write all Crystal Breed’s songs?
Corvin and me write pretty much every song together. As we've known each other for so long one of us always has the right idea when the other one is stuck.
Do you have a favorite Crystal Breed's song to play on stage?
Yes. I still like playing "the place unknown" because at the beginning I make the audience sing along with us, we jam in the middle of the song and doing this guitar-keyboard-battle and play some little Pink Floyd and Deep Purple-Phrases. Thats always a kind of party time in our set.
Will the new recording be ready this year?, Do you have already a name for it?
We have no name so far. But we really try to finish in the late summer or early autumn.
What label are you working with? and what can you say to fans about what they are going to listen in the late summer or early autumn ?
We're still searching for a label to work with.
The album will be very colorful with tight rock songs, bombastic ballads and some longer progressive rock-tunes with lots of vocals, choirs and some funny instrumental parts.
This time you have no doubts about the band performing that songs on stage? (because you said that this time there are even more difficult guitar parts that you're practicing)
We will try to play them all. Even if it takes more practice hours for me. The interesting thing is always if I can manage to sing and play these sings at the same time.
Talking about that, what is the highest risk you've taken at playing and singing a song on stage?
With Crystal Breed? It was a song called "worshiper". I needed to practice singing the verse and playing the riff at the same time - I first started with 40 bpm.
With Uli we sometimes play a tune called "a day late and a dollar short" he once recorded with Ian Gillan. That was quite hard as well at the beginning.
What are the most important things you've learned being a musician?
Of course you need to be capable of certain skills like timing, groove and intonation for example. But you don't have to be a virtuoso. That usually impresses people in the first place but it can get very boring after some time.
You need to be authentic in the things you're doing on stage and never forget the people in front of the stage - try to please them, to suprise them, to provoque them but in my opinion it all has to be in a certain balance.
But the most important thing is: You can't avoid mistakes on stage, so stay cool and play on!
Could you say something that makes you feel proud of your band Crystal Breed and that you think make the band be unique ?
Actually I'm very proud of being able to play with these fantastic musicians on stage, who are also very close friends of mine!
I think one trademark of the band is the capability to create different sounds because we have two lead-singers and sometimes the guitars are characteristic in one tune and sometimes the keyboards play a main role in one song. That gives us the opportunity to play almost everything that we want or at least hear in our heads before it's actually composed.
At least we can pretend.
Corvin was working with Uli some time, and you are, what about the other guys, are they with another music projects or they are Crystal Breed's full time musicians?
Nico and Thorsten also have other projects besides crystal breed. Nico plays in a German pop-rock band called "wishless" and both of us play in a jazz-rock-fusion band called "Special Treatment". That's fun, but we only had two gigs so far.
Thorsten's other band is "Counterworld Experience". Pretty interesting stuff, they call it jazz-metal.
Corvin is doing a lot of arrangement- and studio-work. He played Keys on the new Gamma Ray-Album for example.
He also still plays with Uli whenever it's possible. In the winter we, as Crystal Breed, supported Uli on his European tour through France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Netherlands. That worked quite well - we sold a couple of CDs each night and Corvin and me just stayed on stage to go on performing with Uli.
On two nights in France Uli's original drummer couldn't make it so Thorsten substituted him. I'm still waiting for the day when our complete band will be the backing band for Uli.
What about inviting Uli to participate in a Crystal breed's song for next album?,have you thought about it?
Not yet. But it's a great idea! Maybe I will ask him when he's not too busy.
Imagine that somebody asks you : why should I listen Crystal Breed?,What would you answer?
That's a hard question! Maybe because when you can listen to it you eventually get the feeling of hearing something familiar and new at the same time.
You also should listen to it more than one time and you will hopefully still discover some little things everytime you're listening.
