header photography by Jesse Lirola
other image Martin Piekarski

“Stay basic and honest. Pretty much all a music video should achieve in the end. Showing a bit of our world.” That’s the message Markus Nikolaus wants to deliver with his latest video release for his new song HOLD ME CLOSE, in which they re-created the vibe that you feel when you are with friends. For the vision of his upcoming album The Acid Kids, he carefully picked out songs that are equally important to him and that we eagerly await to have a listen to. He explained to us why releasing under his own name was an important step to him, why he pursues creativity mostly during the night, and about trying to save lost souls with music.

What was the motivation for you to release your own music alongside Lea Porcelain?

Well, first I thought its all gonna be songs for the Lea Porcelain “Choirs to Heaven” release but soon after I figured that it was something completely new, like a new form of me that didn’t fit any more to the old but symbolized a new phase, I had to make it under my own moniker. A fresh start without disguise or filter. Something no one ever could take away from me – that’s why its being released under my own name. Markus Nikolaus. No more hiding. And the backing band who supported me – The Acid Kids – are all friends that helped me making and bringing out this record.

Your new song HOLD ME CLOSE is about going out, take your sweet by the hand, look into each other’s eyes and dance all night. So are you still a pure night owl and do you prefer to write songs at night?

Honestly, during lockdown – I became literally a techno promoter throwing illegal raves called PORZELLAN BAR to survive and also to bring back events back to people. Since then I love the light more than ever and I cherish the day. Nonetheless I pursued creativity mostly during the night and most of the experiences I sing about are still from the night – basically recorded on the day(s) after. Some days I recorded music in funkhaus and there was basically a party happening behind me – people playing records, throwing wild parties, me on headphones – but it was all feeding into the vibe of – YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO – no prejudice nor did we have to justify anything. It became what we all felt in that moment. A beautiful piece of music. Everyone who could participate during that moment did. No pressure, just feeling. That’s mainly why I love the songs so much.

“A fresh start without disguise or filter. Something no one ever could take away from me – that’s why its being released under my own name.”

I think the video gives off a retro 90s vibe. In an interview you once said that spontaneity and DIY is the beauty of film. Was that also the concept behind this video?

The concept was to deliver a vibe of the live performance and portray that within the video as well as us being ourselves – making music, hanging out, driving around, painting stuff. We looked for some beautiful shots and the backwards scenes went pretty Godard style, which I like, so it’s all down to delivering a message through creating or rather re-creating the vibe that you feel when you’re with your friends or peers. Stay basic and honest. Pretty much all a music video should achieve in the end. Showing a bit of our world.

Your upcoming debut album The Acid Kids will be a very personal one. Which of the songs on it makes you the most – let me say nervous – before the release?

I’ve asked myself, asked my friends and The Acid Kids about it. Everyone has a different answer. These songs were carefully picked and produced and I think there is something special in each of them but you should not have a favorite. You should love it as a whole. All of them are worthy but if you ask me – PURE TEARS – is a song so vulnerable, so fragile and honest – it will take the most to release it early next year – because it means so much for me even though the song is just a one cut with voice and guitar only. As for the album all songs are important. Bicycle Day as the first one recorded is a start, “HOLD ME CLOSE” is the party, YOURE THE ONLY WAY is the climax and DESTRUCTION, “THE OTHER” (coming spring 2023) is all about pace. They seem to have just different forms of the same as a whole within construct that feels to make my vision complete.

How important is the feedback of your fans to you?

I care a lot about the opinion of fans. But what I care most about is the opinion of friends. That’s how it all started.

“It became what we all felt in that moment. A beautiful piece of music. Everyone who could participate during that moment did. No pressure, just feeling.”

Is being on stage one of the most enjoyable feelings for you as an artist?

Being on stage is taking the lion for a walk outside or the grizzly bear. On stage, we’re all monkeys in a cage – trying to break out of our shells. It’s all about convincing that one person in the end and about changing their life the way ours was changed when we were going to gigs and having epiphanies about our path. It’s nice to play to a crowd of thousands but how many lives have you changed performing – I ask myself. I love playing Live. There’s nothing more real to me.

What do you value most in a friend?

The truth.

Apart from your music, what would you like to leave this world with that has a positive impact?

I’d like to leave this world – especially this album – having the positive impact it deserves. And it will. And until I leave I want to make a lot more of those.

Where do you see yourself in about 10 years?

Making records, being on stages, organising events, having the label and collective with PORZELLAN BAR that has a positive impact on me, my band The Acid Kids and Lea Porcelain being in harmony together and my art, bringing people together. Trying to save lives and spirits that would be lost otherwise as we all were so many times over. And keep reminding myself that this is supposed to be fun, CREATION. Enjoying it while it lasts.

Thanks for your time!

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