Melotron are back with their third German album "Weltfrieden (ist kaeuflich)", that means World Peace (is purchasable).

I got the chance to do an exclusive interview with Edgar of Melotron.

Please tell me something about the history of Melotron. Where did you met and how long has Melotron existed?
It is a long time ago. We really knew each other before our voices changed. When we were 14 to 15 we met at the Depeche Mode Fan club in Neubrandenburg. At this time, Hilde bought his first synthesizer for making music with a couple of friends. Andy often visited Hilde and nervously asked him to establish a band. Well I have to mention that Andy was nothing like he is today and after all he was not a singer (at any rate not in Hilde's eyes). But he was very besetting, when something got into his head. Almost the same time I bought a synthesizer and Andy also visited me very often and he always told me to establish a band too, but without Hilde. The reason was, that I disliked Hilde and we tried to avoid each other. When we met, it sometimes ended in a fight. But at any time we met by chance at the Music Town which is a huge music store in our town. The store had just opened and they were seeking for some bands to play for the opening. Andy agreed and it suddenly was an obvious fact that we are a band and we should play together. Well, I have to mention that Hilde and I needed much pressure but finally we agreed with Andy, as Hilde's project did not really work during this time. We really have not thought that this cooperation was for eternity and that we would grow up to be best friends. Well, life sometimes goes in strange ways. Finally, Melotron was founded in 1995 and was developed from our formation "The Vermin".

What meaning does your band name "Melotron" has?
Melotron does not have any philosophical meaning and it does not have any wisdom. When we established Melotron, we tried to find a neutral name under which we can make music. Meanwhile Melotron is just like a last name, but it sounds much better than an ordinary last name and besides we were able to choose it for ourselves J.

What are you doing when you do not invest your time into music.
Do you have other jobs? If so, which ones?
When we feel bored, Andy and I rarely study. But at the moment we have so much work, that studying is our hobby. Hilde is a real computer freak and therefore he works at his own computer company besides making music. During our sparse free time we spend our time with our wives and friends, visit parties and let lovely God be our good man.

Why do you only use German lyrics for your songs?
That is very simple. Our parents only taught us the German language and in school we only had the chance to have some trial courses in English or Russian. Therefore singing in a language that you do not know and most people around here wouldn't understand?!?

What are the sources of your lyrics?
Own experiences, disaffection with existing situations or pure Fiction?
Everything you mentioned. I had so many thoughts that I simply started to put them down on paper. My thoughts deal with life, universe and all the rest. In my lyrics they are like a thread running through the story. In each lyric you will find an element of reality and fiction. But, please do not ask me how you will be able to distinguish between both, because each person differently perceives reality.

Why have you decided to make electronic music?
As I told above, we were and still are big fans of Depeche Mode. When we started making music, we could not imagine any other kind of music. At that time our skills did not offer any other choice, as programming songs. Well, we did not have and still don't have the ambition being masters of all categories of instruments. But meanwhile we have a good command of our instruments that we can play live (really live!!!)... at least, that's what we enjoy!

Who inspires your music?
All artists who are passionately making music.

Which audience do you want to reach with your music?
Everyone, who likes our music and much more.

Which are your plans for future? Will you release further German albums?
We are planning to release our fourth album in June/July next year. Therefore we are in studios again. Furthermore we will perform some gigs in Germany and several foreign countries during this winter. We will have a lot of work but I am sure we will enjoy it.

More and more labels are releasing audio CDs with copy protection mechanisms which prevent playing those CDs on PC/Mac Drives (De/vision Remixed, VNV Nation Genesis).
How do you think about the necessary of copy protection? Do you think that peer-to-peer tools will effect financial damage to the artist?
At the moment it isn't easy to sell audio CDs. In my opinion the offenders are not people who are copying CDs or downloading MP3s. It is more the retail trade who demand too high prices for CDs. Well, you can worry about both I mentioned but it is more intelligent to think about how to offer something special and marvelous, which is worth buying.

What is your opinion about the current music scene, where stars get pushed by media and future artists are found through TV-Castings?
Days are changing and I am sure there will always exist bands who are surviving all media trends. Music is here for everyone and everyone can try it. Finally having a breakthrough is another question! At the end only one thing will count for all efforts and attempts: Did you produce a good or bad song? The audience is neither deaf nor stupid, even though some professionals think different.

That's all. Thank you very much for the interview, live long and prosper!

Lets enjoy the below MP3s from their latest album "Weltfrieden (ist kaeuflich)".

• Wach Auf
• Wohin?
• Folge Mir Ins Licht
• Gib Mir Alles

The copyright in these sound-files is owned by Melotron, Germany. For all files I got the exclusive authorization of Melotron. All sound-files are only for private use. Any commercial distribution and copy is prohibited.

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