Multiple bands, new albums, long tours. Rammstein guitarist and Emigrate front man Richard Z. Kruspe is a busy man. On November 30th his band Emigrate released their third studio album ‘A Million Degrees.’ This album has been years in the making as Richard originally started the process in 2015.
Metal Wani’s Jessie David had a chance to chat with Richard Z. Kruspe about the album process, collaborating with multiple musicians and what’s in store for Rammstein as they prepare to go on tour in 2019.
Originally the process for ‘A Million Degrees’ began in 2015, but due to flooding in Richards house he had to start from scratch. As Richard said “Life has its own plan, and you have to follow it.”
[metalwani_content_ad]
In Richards words “Every song has a different story” making ‘A Million Degrees’ an eleven chapter book. The album features multiple musicians. Including Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann, Billy Talents Benjamin Kowalewicz, and Ghost’s Cardinal Copia. Each with a very unique story of how they came together. When first approached Cardinal Copia didn’t want to collaborate until he heard the song that Richard had in mind, birthing the song ‘Im not Afraid.’
During the interview Richard talks about working with longtime friend Till Lindemann. The two work together in Rammstein, Till is featured in the Emigrate song ‘Let’s Go” which is one of the first songs that him and Till wrote together, but the two have a bound that started much sooner. In the interview Richard discussed how Till was the one there for his first heart break, they’ve had wild experiences together one that even resulted in the two of them stealing a cow!
Unfortunately, there is no plan for Emigrate to go on tour, but there is hope that Rammstein could potentially play some Emigrate songs.
Rammstein are preparing to release a new album in 2019. At first Richard was a little hostile about the idea, until they tried with no pressure to create a few songs. Once they started rehearsing they found that there was a respect and good chemistry which reminded him of the first time Rammstein started.
The goal is to focus on the music, not their pyro work but to create “Rammstein 3D”. Currently, Rammstein has recorded 16 songs, the plan is to cut it down to 11, but the end goal is to release the new album in April, then begin their stadium tour.
[metalwani_content_ad]
Earlier this year Richard said that Rock is dead. During the interview he was asked if he thinks it could be resurrected and why he thinks its “dead.” He said “Rock music has a certain kind of energy to rebel against parents. Young people they have to rebel that’s how they operate. Rock music or the sound of the guitar is not what it used to be. Where you put out rock music and parents say ‘It’s too loud.’ Now a days parents are saying make it louder.” Does he think that rock music will come back? – He says “Everything goes against it. All the big bands the stadium bands don’t get invited anymore. It’s like the dinosaurs dying at the moment. The only advance that we have is that rock has good live shows.”