Oops!

It looks like you don't have flash player 6 installed. Click here to go to Macromedia download page.

Revamping old Clichés for a new generation is no easy task, but Germany's Melotron seem to be doing a good job with their new album Cliché. For a decade, the synthpop trio has epitomized the rewards of determination and hard work, producing five albums, touring with the likes of And One, In Strict Confidence, and Covenant, and even starting their own record label. Having made their way to this side of the Atlantic and signing with Metropolis Records with the 2003 release Sternenstaub, and the new Cliché, Melotron are steadily carving their own niche in the modern American club and synthpop underground. Vocalist Andy Krüger speaks with ReGen about what inspires the band and their music, their recent appearance at Wave Gotik Treffen, and just how they feel about the almost constant comparisons to Depeche Mode.

Take for example a song like "Der Anfang" from Sternenstaub. The chorus is pure bliss and makes even the most tone-deaf person think they can sing beautifully. Hey, it's one of my favorite songs for singing in the shower. How does it feel when you come up with a perfect chorus like that?

Krüger: Of course I have a good feeling. You always looking for catchy melodies and if you find something like these you are happy, but only for a moment, because you try to make it better and better. In my mind I think it's good that you sing during the shower. I like it too.

Making music and writing songs is a time-consuming endeavor. It's a major decision when a person, or group, decides to really start doing it. When did you decide that you had to make synthpop for a living? Was there a certain moment or song that triggered the decision?

Krüger: Not only a song or a moment; we start to make music when we were very young. The main thing was that the normal life is to boring for us. We were children and big fans of electronic music. Our dream was to make this too. But in East Germany it was not possible to do this. No money and no instruments. After breaking the wall, we used the chance and now it's our life (a big part of our life). I think at the first time, it was cool to play in a band, but now we know it's hard, hard work.

Is there a specific source from which you draw inspiration when writing?

Krüger: It depends a lot on your own situation. If I'm a lucky man then I have no reason to make music. And it's important too, in which area you are. Our new record is not so powerful like others. I was on small islands, or in South America , so I had a clean head. I think next time we'll go to wild Russia to make music [smiles].

What are your favorite themes to write songs about and why are those your favorites?

Krüger: The whole life in general; love, the death, moments, that's all. We are always collecting impressions during our traveling. Last time we were in Afghanistan . It was crazy but good to see these things with our own eyes.

I'm sure you've been compared to Depeche Mode 10,000 times in your career, but you have to admit that you have the David Gahan look pretty much nailed. I could make an argument that you guys have the Martin Gore vibe covered too. Talk a bit about your look and image.

Krüger: Oh, 10,000 times is not enough [smiles]. But I don t care. Some people love it, some others hate this. But most is funny. If some people see me the first time, they say, ?Oh my god, is this the young David Gahan?' We are big fans of Depeche. All our life, and of course we learn something about the business the last years too. So I think image is a very important thing for making music, but our image is not to be the second DM. Our music is not the same and some other things too, for example, we are friends. So at the end, it's important to make good music and we make this.

There is an old organ/sampler type of instrument called a Mellotron. You've tweaked the spelling a bit. How did you settle on this as your band name?

Krüger: Yes, we used samples from this old and legendary instrument, but we have not one of this. We want an international name for our group, where we can sing in German or English! That was most important for us. The name is now after five albums our family name, not more. And hey, it looks good!

You choose to sing all of your songs in German. I speak German so I love the sound and get the meaning. But do you think it limits your audience or does it allow you to really convey your meaning better by singing in your native tongue?

Krüger: Yes, there are some limits for the audience, because they don't understand very often what we sing. In Germany , we have our success because we have some nice and important lyrics. Maybe we sing some English songs in 2006. We never expect the success in other countries like in Germany .

You're now a decade into your musical career. How has the process changed the most for you and how have you grown as artists? Did you have certain goals when you started out and have you met those? What goals have you set for yourselves now?

Krüger: Now, we take most things easier than in past. At the beginning we were very wild and do a lot for our music, but now we are getting older so we take everything easy. I think we are not artist, the people say that, but we are totally normal like everybody! For me, it's an art to go every day to work. I hope that we can make a lot of records more and maybe we can go on tour in the states in 2006, so step by step!

In Germany you appeal to a broad cross-section of fans from pop to alternative to electro. However, in the USA your audience is mostly goth/industrial. Why do you think that is? Does it change how you view the American market?

Krüger: And in Germany many ?normal? people love our music! So how we said, we don't care. Everybody can hear our music. We have absolutely no problem that in America many gothics love our music. We have a dark side too. And about the market: At first we make our music, and then we'll see who buys it. It's not the right way to make music only to sell it. At first you have to make a good job, and then you can try to sell something!

What's different about the new album Cliché versus any of your other releases? Is there a special signature you've put on this one?

Krüger: Not really. It's a typical Melotron album. We try to find some new ways, like always! I think in 2006 we'll change something. We want to work with other people. It's good to do this, so your mind gets more open and we don't get tired of ourselves!

You recently played Wave Gotik Treffen. It sounds like great fun but so few of us Americans are lucky enough to get over there for it. Describe that experience for us.

Krüger: The WGT is one of the biggest festivals here in Germany and in the world. For us is fun, right. We played this year after 2004 and 2003. No other bands do this, so they like us. The festival is in Leipzig in every club. It's not only one or two clubs. That's great; you can walk or drive through the city and you can see black-dressed people everywhere. It's really funny! Another big festival is M'era Luna. It's great too.

Do you plan on visiting us in the U.S. again soon?

Krüger: Oh yes! We want, we must, we will! I hope in May 2006!