Greetings Tilo. There are several Latin language countries where Lacrimosa has been appreciated for many years on a national scale among the (rock) music lovers. That is Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and… Romania. Have you ever pondered about this peculiar situation?
TILO WOLFF: Of course, but not in that sense, that I wonder… why?, but in the sense that I take it as a present. Something I never expected but mercifuly became.
Lichtgestalt is your most recent work. What is the key to “open” this album?
TILO WOLFF: To be honest I believe it has many different keys. One might enter the album because of the mixture between guitars and orchestra-instru
Heavy metal band Therion will soon play (likely in Bucharest) their first ever show with full orchestra. How come you have never performed live in such a formula, while you recorded music with orchestra. We know that Lacrimosa is a 100% independent band, where the artistic goals always “dictate” over other challenges (financial etc.).
TILO WOLFF: It’s easy to be answered: such a performance, such a production can’t be done quickly and loveless! It has to be perfect! And things only can be perfect, if everything connected is right.
Thus, when the time is right, when I feel ready, I will do it, but not before!
Do you think a pop-rock (pop culture) musician should also be an actor? How does this issue translate into Lacrimosa’s performance on and out of the stage?
TILO WOLFF: No… acting is a different pair of shoes. When you create a work, like a composer does, then you give something of your inner life to the people. You turn the inside out. There is no need to act then, except maybe, if your work were not honest or you can’t stand to it. But that is, I think, more the case in other music genres than hopefully in ours!
You have cited Charlie Chaplin as an artistic model. Will you, please, choose a Lacrimosa composition that best matches Charlot’s attitude?
TILO WOLFF: I think that might be the title Mein zweites Herz from the album Stille, because words and music have the charm and positive naivety of a Charlot.
Lacrimosa is most often linked with the Gothic scene, that nowadays spans over various musical directions and style trends. Where do you situate Lacrimosa’s artistic discourse in relation with what is called “the Gothic attitude & subculture”?
TILO WOLFF: Well, I never think much about the name of the styles and the categories of this or that. I come from the Goth-scene, also always had an affinity for hard and dark music, so my heart will always be black, just the same…
So, is it right to say that Lacrimosa’s music never truly “changed”, but has only “refined”?
TILO WOLFF: Yes! I see it pretty similar. My roots, my aims, my soul have never changed. It’s just the way of expression developed in that sense. Just as a human being develops. But the red line within my work is still the same. That’s why I also still love my first albums and I still feel what I was expressing at that time.
Your lyrics often include references to the Christian tradition, that is most often approached with a superficial outlook by rock bands (not to mention the generic non-Christian or anti-Christian stance of many rock-goth artists). Where does your interest in Christian symbols originates from?
TILO WOLFF: I believe in God, I go to church and I try to live in the transmitted values. When I write or talk about God or Christian values, I mean what I say and that’s also why I never use it as some kind of styling, image or anything like that.
Upon attentive listen one might feel Kafka’s influence on Angst. We know you have an affinity for this special writer. Tell us, please, some words about this. And, for the sake of the game, how about a concept Kafka album named, why not… America?
TILO WOLFF: Yes, Kafka was and is an important influence on my work since many of his thoughts and emotions that he wrote down are pretty similar to some of mine. But still, they are similar, and not identical. I couldn’t and wouldn’t like to write the music to the words of a stranger author.
For the past 16 years you have attempted (and succeeded) to build a brand of Lacrimosa around the clown allegory. Any future plans for “re-branding”?
TILO WOLFF: No! I am happy with my clown! Very happy!
Will you accept a little game? It is not a matter of hierarchy.
TILO WOLFF: Yes…
Violin or Piano
TILO WOLFF: Piano
Passion or Reason
TILO WOLFF: Passio
Sisters of Mercy or Bauhaus
Tilo Wolff: Bauhau
Metallica or Iron Maiden
TILO WOLFF: Metall
Van Der Graaf Generator or Amon Duul II
TILO WOLFF: Are these games? Well, if I had the time to play I would probably choose “Van Der Graaf”… the Count, that sounds cool!
You will soon play in Bucharest in front of more than 2000 music lovers. Unlike Western Europe, most of Lacrimosa’s auditorium in Romania comes from the “metal” public. Will you, please, address a message to those who discover themselves through your music?
TILO WOLFF: As I said before that I don’t care about the name of the styles I don’t care if our audience is listening to Gothic, Metal or Pop Music. If they listen to Lacrimosa, if they feel our music, they must have a good heart and than I’m looking forward to meet them, especialy in a country, I have never been before. But I have always wanted to visit it because one of my best school-friends was from Romania!
By the way, have you experienced and liked any Romanian musician or artist?
TILO WOLFF: Unfortunately not yet, but I love the tragic folk music from the Balkan area. Maybe someone will suggest me something beautiful during our stay in Bucharest.
That should be Maria Tanase, “East Europe’s Edith Piaf” as some call her. Vielen Dank!
TILO WOLFF: See you on July, the first!!
2006, muzicisifaze.com
This page is also available in: Russian