Milky Chance Organizes Creative Mayhem in Living In a Haze: ‘New Chapter’ [ENTREVISTA]

Leaving the filters aside, the German band milky chance took advantage of the years of isolation to experiment and launch freer projects, giving vent to the creativity repressed during the extensive tours. In this context, Clemens Rehbein It is Philipp Dausch released two mixtapes: trip tape (2021) and Trip Tape II (2022).

“We look at the beginning of the pandemic as a new chapter for us. A lot has changed, we weren’t touring anymore. We rethought some things, changed the structures, because we wanted to be more in line with the project we started 10 years ago. This influenced our work, and the Trip Tapes were the first results,” percussionist and bassist dausch explained in an interview with Rolling Stone Brazil.

The desire to share the band’s evolution with fans quickly also put the idea of ​​releasing an album aside at that time. However, Living In a Haze, an album released on June 9, took advantage of part of the compositions and ideas that emerged during the less pretentious production of previous projects. “To the Trip Tapes came, and the process continued. We were writing and producing constantly. We reached a point where the album was ready,” the musician added.

Living In a Haze did not leave aside the search for experimental sounds. One of the examples of this are the collaborations with Fatoumata Diawarain “flicker in the dark,” It is Charlotte Cardinin “History of Yesterday.” According to rehbeinvocalist and guitarist, the contact with the artists came in an unusual way, but “gave a new color” to the songs: “We talked to both of them on Instagram, somehow it worked.(…) Fatoumata, we did everything remotely, but that also works nowadays. Her voice singing in her mother tongue sounds very special. She is also an amazing instrumentalist and a sweet person.”

music and activism

Clemens highlighted that shows and compositions are the main focus of milky chance, but the band is not alien to the environmental issues involved in touring. Carbon emissions from commuting, garbage disposal and the use of plastic are some of the artists’ concerns.

The debate has gained strength in recent years, and great artists like Coldplay promoted shows with sustainable alternatives. However, even before the pandemic, the milky chance already made efforts in that direction. Currently, the group continues to promote partnerships with NGOs: “Our main activity is to meet with leaders of NGOs and show their work during tours. In addition to the little things like reducing plastic use and making sure we source material and sell licensed products; we try to use our platform to amplify other people’s work, to discuss.”

“For example, we partnered with an NGO called Wilderness International to protect native forests. We collect part of the ticket value of each show on the tour for donation. It’s an ongoing struggle,” added the vocalist.

“Stolen Dance”

Sadnecessary (2013) was the album responsible for launching the career of milky chance. The hit “Stolen Dance” took the band to radio, festivals and tours around the world. After 10 years, Clemens It is Philipp don’t seem tired of playing the album tracks. Unlike artists who reject their own works when they reach high levels of popularity, they showed gratitude and attachment to their own compositions.

“We played several songs from the first album, ‘Stolen Dance‘ is not the only one. I think it makes no sense to reject our work. (…) Why reject a job that drew so much attention and opened many doors for you?”, rehbein argued.

Brazil

The only passage of milky chance for Brazil remains in the memory of the Members. They performed on the main stage of the Lollapalooza 2018, and were impressed with the number of people at the Interlagos Racetrack. “The crowd was insane at Lollapalooza,” rehbein described.

The duo even found some time to participate in Mamba Negra, one of the most important parties in the São Paulo scene, in a night that was “very fun. It was a good party. We had a lot of fun in Brazil.”

The next trip to the country is not confirmed, but it could happen in 2024, according to dausch explained: “We would love to come back because we had a great time last time. We are currently focused on touring North America. Next year we will try to turn our wishes into reality [risos].”

Check out the full interview with Clemens Rehbein It is Philipp Dauschof milky chance:

Rolling Stone Brasil: Em Living In a Haze, there are some songs you guys have been working on since the two mixtapes released after the pandemic started. Tell us a little about the disc process and the differences between it and the Trip Tapes I and II.
Philipp Dausch: We look at the beginning of the pandemic as a new chapter for us. A lot has changed, we weren’t touring anymore. We rethought some things, changed the structures, because we wanted to be more in line with the project we started 10 years ago. This influenced our work, and the Trip Tapes were the first results. We felt there was an evolution in us, in our music. We wanted to share this with fans without them having to wait three years, or the time it would take us to finish an album. We didn’t feel like it was a complete record. The Trip Tapes came, and the process continued. We were writing and producing constantly. We reached a point where the album was done.

RS: Did you enjoy the Trip Tapes to release some fun covers like “Lost In Yesterday” by Tame Impala and “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell. How did you arrive at this tracklist combining original compositions and versions? Are the chosen bands influences on Milky Chance’s sound?
Clemens Rehbein: We always like to do covers. Before the Trip Tapes, we had only done it for the YouTube channel, acoustically. It was the first time we recorded and released it and it was fun. There’s a lot of good music out there. When you work on a track that’s already been written, you can put all your creative energy into interpretation, production… a new outfit. It was very funny!

RS: Talking again about Living In a Haze, the disc features two guest appearances: the unique voice of Fatoumata Diawara on “Flicker in the Dark” and the collaboration of Charlotte Cardin on “History of Yesterday.” How was working with them?
CR: We spoke to both of them on Instagram, somehow it worked. We found Charlotte in Berlin. We wrote the song together in the studio, we had two days to do it. She is an excellent vocalist and a very sweet human being. The work flowed well, it was the right energy.
It was the same with Fatoumata, but unfortunately we didn’t meet in person. We did it remotely, but that also works nowadays. As you said, her voice singing in her mother tongue sounds very special and it gave the song a new color. She is also an amazing instrumentalist and a sweet person. We received many lovely audio messages from her. I hope to meet her in person one day, but we are very happy with the result of the work so far.

RS: Perhaps a live performance.
CR: It would be insane!

RS: Now that you’re on tour, how do you feel about playing the songs from the latest projects – written in a more intimate space – for concert and festival audiences?
CR: It’s exciting! It’s always exciting to see people’s reactions to new songs. Our setlist is a mix of everything we’ve done. The quantity has increased, so it’s getting harder to choose. But the fans are picking up on the music, and it’s cool to see that they’re still following what we do. [risos]. It brings confidence and makes us happy.

RS: Before the pandemic, you mentioned concern for the environment and sustainability. Now, we see all the big bands talking about it, not that you guys aren’t a big band…
PD: [Risos] Alright, it’s reality.

RS: Well, I was thinking of Coldplay with the bikes on the track to generate energy during shows. On a smaller scale, have they made any progress? How are you dealing with your carbon footprint?
CR: Our main activity is meeting NGO leaders and showing their work during tours. In addition to the little things like reducing plastic use and making sure we source material and sell licensed products; we try to use our platform to amplify other people’s work, to discuss. For example, we partnered with an NGO called Wilderness International to protect native forests. We collect part of the ticket value of each show on the tour for donation. It’s an ongoing struggle.
Maintaining a dialogue, talking about the subject is important. But, first of all, we are musicians, we are a band, so our work is more in that area. We’re not so activist – that’s there, but it’s not the main focus.

LOL: Sadnecessary is turning 10 in 2023. How do you feel as you reflect on this album after the last decade? Are you planning something to celebrate?
PD: We released acoustic versions of the entire album, which served to live a new experience with it, in a different phase. It was amazing. That was our idea as a celebration, a small gift to the album and fans for the 10th anniversary.

RS: Still about Sadnecessary, how do you feel about the hit “Stolen Dance”? Do you still like to play this one live?
CR: Do we like. We played several songs from the first album, “Stolen Dance” is not the only one. I think it makes no sense to reject our work. These are the songs we’ve made so far, and we’re still making new songs. Of course, at shows, there’s a mix of new songs and songs from old albums. We like it. The fans, the public, the audiences like it too. Why reject a job that got so much attention and opened so many doors for you?

RS: The last Milky Chance show in Brazil was in 2018, when you performed at Lollapalooza and took the opportunity to enjoy a party, the Black Mamba, right?
CR: [Risos] Yes! That was really fun. It was a good party. We had a lot of fun in Brazil. The crowd was insane at Lollapalooza. It was on a race track in São Paulo, right? From the dressing room you could see everything. It was crazy to see so many people, especially on the way out, all heading in the same direction;

RS: Do you have any plans to come back?
PD: Nothing specific. But we are willing! We would love to come back because we really enjoyed the last time. We are currently focused on touring North America. Next year we will try to turn our wishes into reality [risos].