RASPUTIN interview by Gothtronic

Could you tell me something about Rasputin?

I am anger; I am joy and fun at the same time. I was frustrated with our society for years until I recognized that life is not a fight but a game. From this moment on I started to do lyrics and spoken words. I met P.Muench 1 1/2 year ago and he liked my ideas. About my person there is nothing to say. I am a voice among countless others and it’s not important to know my face. I am anger; I am joy and fun at the same time.

Could you describe the general theme behind the project? What are you trying to say with “Das Leberwurstbrot”?

It’s simple and easy. It’s not a dogma telling people what to do – it’s a kind of report about myself, my opinions, fantasies and thoughts. Maybe my thoughts can make it easy for other people to discover their own standpoints, or in difficult times like these just to get amused and gain a bit fresh energy for their own way. My lyrics are fun and for me it’s the simplest way to get rid of sorrow. So after playing these games I feel inspired to go on with life.

What is the relation between the album theme and the title “Das Leberwurstbrot”?

Before it was released on Invasion Wreck there was a small CDR on sub.ver.siv with the same title and it contained some songs of the actual release. The Song ‘Das Leberwurstbrot’ is maybe my best result of transferring pure madness into energy. People are impressed and have fun with it. It’s also because it was the first ever made Rasputin recording.

"RASPUTIN stands for madness, weirdness and energy direct from the belly without intellectual ballast.”
The ‘madness’ from the belly you describe above, how do you think this is achieved on the album? Is it an album for the dancefloor or for the slow Sunday morning?

This depends on you or the people who listens to my music. I never made thoughts like this, because I don’t care. Unfortunately independent music got pseudo commercial attitudes. If you look into German goth-magazines you realize that every crappy band can have good stories or reviews if they pay big advertisements. This is just one point of several which really annoy me so I decided not to care anymore. This saves a lot of energy which I can spend on more useful things.

Your album has been in the stores for about two months now. How is the response?

I don’t know and I don’t care, honestly.

How did you came in contact with Phillip Muench (Synapscape)?

By accident or destiny if you believe in that.

Did you like the way his work came out on the record?

Yes, he’s a good musical partner, in a way as weird as myself. I did not need to explain that much. He just did it. Ok, my music is made quite simple but it’s the attitude and feeling that counts. And he gave me the possibility to record my stuff in a better quality than I was able to do it.

Besides Muench, where there other people involved in creating the music for the album?

No. That was definitely not necessary for doing the album (the first 12 songs). In a way there were some people involved by doing remixes. Philipp knows a lot of people from his presence into the ‘industrial scene’ and he asked them for remixes. They said yes and I like all of their results very much. So thank you: CTRLer, Iszoloscope, Punch Inc., Asche, Ambassador21 and of course Hell-G!!

How about the lyrics? How do you come on the ideas for them?

My life and everything around me may inspire me. But I don’t care. Doing is the point, not thinking. I never wrote any lyrics onto paper, I always improvise. So my ideas are recorded fresh and unfiltered.

How is it to have your CD released on a record label from Belarus?

Good, because these guys are kind, unconventional and very idealistic. I love them.

The disc is distributed by some very famous distributors; Ant-Zen and Ad Noiseam, to name two; even though the music isn’t necessarily for the die-hard noise- or industrial fan. What do you think is the market for this album?

Who knows? Things will evolve somehow. Do I need a market?? It’s an offer, an invitation to share some moments with my weird mind. Not less and not more!!

Last but not least, how does one make a perfect leberwurstbrotchen?

I hate Leberwurst. I hated it when I was a child to now on. The same is for cheese. Maybe I do an anti-cheese thing in the near future. But I think it’s easy: Take a slice of bread and put Leberwurst on it. Maybe scatter fresh pepper on top and then – you have it.

Any comments? Things you’d like to say or add?

Sie zeigt ihr nacktes Bein. Weisst Du, was das bedeutet??

Interviewed by Eelco for Gothtronic, March 2005