“Music helps us a lot to deal with anything that we lived through and that we will live through in the future.”
video directed by Sander Houtkruijer in Seoul
It almost happened that I overlooked this wonderful musical pearl ABBY, amongst all the mails that I received that day and only a few days later I saw that by mistake I hadn´t listened to this album teaser Hexagon that landed in my inbox. But luckily I realized and catched up on it. And when the first tender sounds of the first track Hush started, my world stopped. In a good way. I was totally captured by it. And addicted immediately. I could go on forever about each of the great and diverse tracks on it ( one is even feat. the great Pan-Pot!) and why Hexagon is one of my favourite albums of this year so far, but I wouldn´t know where to start and much less when to stop. And I don´t want to bore you with words, when Abby managed to say everything already so beautifully with their music. A sound so full of emotions, Berlin vibe and the journey of four really good friends. We spoke with singer Filou about the very personal topics that are being dealt with on this album, about being in love and what they meant by saying: “We tried to eat up Berlin. But no chance.”
Hey dear Filou, I am listening to your new album Hexagon. I truly love it! And it evokes a whole palette of emotions within me. You said it´s an album about love, death, suicide, war and peace, friendships and family. Intense topics. Is music a catalyst for all your emotions?
Hey Sigi, music definitely is something like a catalyst for our emotions and it also helps us a lot to deal with anything that we lived through and that we will live though in the future. Music is something we work with nearly every day. I think none of us could be happy without it.
Love is always a good theme for songs. Are you currently in love?
In general I would say we are always in love with what we are doing even though it sometimes demands a lot from us. We are all dedicated to music and I think you don’t need to be in love to write a great love song. But I can speak for myself that I am in love and I can also say that it’s inspiring.
“When we first came here we were overwhelmed by the possibilities. We wanted to try out everything but we soon realized that it’s simply not doable. We are still sometimes on it but we all no we have no chance against Berlin. So try to deal with it in a respectful way.”
And if I may ask, did you include the term suicide as it was an issue that you had to deal with in your personal surrounding?
Yes of course you may ask. I had to deal with a case of suicide amongst my very old friends. He suffered from a severe depression. Actually the moment everyone thought everything is gonna be fine he took his life. This was a very sad time in my life and I still don’t fully get what really happened to him. He made a decision for himself and the only thing you can do is just simply trying to accept it.
Hexagon is the most stable form that exists in nature. Why did you chose that name? Because you are also at this point in your life where you feel stable within yourselves… a sort of feeling of having arrived?
In a way I guess we feel individually stable within ourselves but this is something that can change. I don’t think that anyone of us feels like he has arrived and I doubt that anyone of us is searching for this particular feeling. Hexagon is a symbol for our friendship which has always been stable and consistent. It’s a frame to something that will always stay but within this frame (friendship) everything is possible and free. Good friendship gives you freedom.
“Most personal song or favorite track on the album? It´s very hard to point out just one track. I think all the tracks together make the journey.”
Who did the artwork?
It’s a Berlin based company called “Eikes grafischer Hort”. The illustrations were drawn by Merlin Fluegel. Great company and a great artist.
Most personal song or favorite song in general on the album?
All our songs are personal. So there is no more or less personal. But HALO for example is one of the tracks we have created at the beginning of HEXAGON. It was the first song we finished and it gave the whole album direction and a vibe. We think it’s a very special song and we are still surprised by it whenever we listen to it or play it live. But it’s very hard to point out just one track. I think all the tracks together make the journey.
What is the song that contains the lyrics that are the most near and dear to your heart or that you simple think are the best ones you have written so far?
This is a hard one. I am really happy about the lyrics of HUSH. It’s the first time I dealt with a topic that follows me throughout my life in a way that I am hundred percent behind it. I lost my father 16 years ago and despite the fact that this was the worst time of my life I grew strength out of it and I am thankful to still have such a great family and such good friends.
Berlin influenced a lot your music. Amongst other things it sounds more electro now. What would your music sound like now if you would have stayed in the place where you are originally from?
I don’t know how to answer this properly cause no one knows. But I guess we would still try to push ourselves to create something unique. I also think that it wouldn’t be very far from what we actually did on HEXAGON referring to the vibe. Berlin definitely means a lot to us. We all feel free here and we made a lot of good and very talented friends. But still I think you have to create something out of yourselves. A place like Berlin just gives a group like us the perfect environment.
“Berlin gives you the possibility to listen and dance to electronic music every night of the week. You can easily get lost here. This is something very inspiring. Dark and very enjoyable at the same time.”
You said for your new songs you took your 70´s heart (musical influences from the 70s psychedelic sounds) and the feeling of being in a club which is very Berlin influenced because partying here is so unique. What is the thing exactly that inspired you about Berlin´s nightlife for your music? I know that going out here can be an amazing experience but I have also seen this other side of the reality that comes with a lot of craziness, drugs and people losing themselves, which of course can also be inspiring for writing…
As you say there is a scene that involves drugs as a common thing. This is also a part of Berlin and the way people celebrate here and of course there is always a down side to it. Berlin gives you the possibility to listen and dance to electronic music every night of the week. You can easily get lost here. This is something very inspiring. Dark and very enjoyable at the same time. But Berlin offers in general a lot of art and music not just electronic music.
Best place to go out over here at the moment?
Berghain is still a crazy place in Berlin but we also like Watergate a lot. It depends on what you’re looking for.
How will you celebrate your album release?
We will have a party with all our friends and there will be music ;)
“Good friendship gives you freedom.”
In the beginning of your promo video you say: “We tried to eat up Berlin. But no chance.” What do you mean by that?
When we first came here we were overwhelmed by the possibilities. We wanted to try out everything but we soon realized that it’s simply not doable. We are still sometimes on it but we all no we have no chance against Berlin. So try to deal with it in a respectful way.
What do you think nowadays youth and current society mood will be mostly remembered for?
I have the feeling it depends very much on where you are living. I guess for some it’s war and racism for others it’s fashion, beauty and party.
Do you have any life ethics that you live by?
I certainly do believe in Karma.
