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Friedemann: I was seriously ill. I had time. I needed to distract myself. I started playing guitar; I always have enough lyrics. Suddenly, there were many songs that a lot of people around me liked. And my friend Andreas Kohl (Exile on Mainstream Records) wanted to make a record out of it. The Rügencore Records guys liked the idea, and so it came to a joint release. Musically, it might be a solo album, but when I think about how many people helped realize “Uhr vs. Zeit“, it’s almost a big band album.
Frank: How did you come up with the title of the album? What does the title express?
Friedemann: Time is what each of us can manage. Actually. But the system we live in allocates it to us, turning it into a precious commodity. Hustle, pressure, and the “everything always the same” mentality weigh heavily on people. And the clock represents the control mechanism, the metronome. When you get the chance to break free from it, you realize how trapped we all are. And how beautiful it is to have time for oneself, family, friends, and life.
Frank: How did the songs come about?
Friedemann: As I said, I needed to distract myself and had a lot of time. I love playing guitar, even if I’m not really good at it. And so, through constant jamming, tinkering, and writing, I put the songs together. Just like that, it grew from day to day, from week to week.
Frank: The first song of the album “Lied aus Stille“ is not by you. Why is the text so important to you, and why did you choose “Lied aus Stille“ as the first song?
Friedemann: Because the text is so beautiful and has accompanied me for a long time, deeply touching me. I wish I could write so beautifully. Eva Strittmatter was a great poet and deserves to be discovered and read.
Frank: You dedicated a song on the album to Conny Ochs. Please tell me about Conny and why he is so important to you?
Friedemann: Conny is just good. He is a great singer and guitarist. Conny draws wonderfully; the cover of “Uhr vs. Zeit“ is by him, and he is a valuable human being. Unique and quirky, sometimes like from another world. His music accompanies and grounds me. I am often loud and rough, while Conny is more gentle and quiet yet still convincing. My acquaintance with him has strongly influenced me, given me strength, and perhaps even the courage to make quiet music myself. It’s worth discovering a great artist here as well.
Frank: I find the album quite melancholic and dark in places. How do you see that?
Friedemann: In contrast to the mood I was in when I wrote the songs, the album is pure spring, and I think my zest for life always resonates. I love life, even if it often consists of struggle and strife. The fundamental message is: Life is beautiful and worth living. I also left out the really dark songs.
Frank: What was it like for you to record the songs alone in the studio?
Friedemann: Hard work. I am not a good guitarist and had to concentrate extremely. Additionally, I couldn’t delegate any responsibility and had to make all the decisions myself. That was very difficult but also a good feeling. However, I think I wouldn’t have managed it without Janko, who recorded the album, and the support of many friends, or I would have done it much later.
Frank: How did your bandmates from C.O.R. react when you said you wanted to record a solo album?
Friedemann: I think they are quite glad that I am keeping myself busy elsewhere because I can become quite unpleasant and build up pressure when I get musically bored. The solo project relieves the band structure a bit and creates space and desire for and on C.O.R. Moreover, the guys supported me during the recordings and think it’s pretty good what I did with “Uhr vs. Zeit“.
Frank: You were in Cuba with C.O.R. in January 2014. How did Cuba affect you?
Friedemann: Oh man, I would have to elaborate a lot. The impressions from three weeks are extreme, and we are currently trying to sort everything out, while the filmmakers are sifting through several hundred hours of footage and sorting it because we will be releasing a documentary on DVD about the tour. This will happen in September 2014.
I was deeply impressed by the kindness of the people, their hospitality, and their hunger for our music and way of life. The Cubans are very poor and very proud. And they make candy out of shit. I had many moments of humility and shame in Cuba.
We drown in abundance here and still complain very often; there is real scarcity there, and people smile! Maybe more Germans should take an educational trip there to learn to appreciate their own prosperity. The trip was very good, very educational, and formative. But this country is in transition, and everything is in motion, and one can only wish the Cubans to find a societal form that allows for more justice and equality than our perfect capitalism. It will be exciting to continue observing this people.
Frank: Cuba is a hopeful island for many socialists. How do you see that?
Friedemann: I believe the revolution has had an extreme impact on the Cubans. In the end, they were slaves in their own country, without education, without hope, without chance. They gained dignity, pride, and identity. But I think this system is now at its end. It reminds me a bit of the end of the GDR. Much scarcity, much poverty. Especially the young people want to see the world and participate. Cuba will open up, and we should support them so they are not overwhelmed, bought out, and exploited. And to the idealistic socialist, I recommend living in Cuba for a year without bringing finances and goods. Just to be under the living conditions of ordinary, non-privileged Cubans. Without constant internet, without luxury goods. To live with occasional hunger and need and scarcity.
Cuba needs support and new ideas, but no clinging to dreamy ideals that do not correspond to reality.
Frank: How can one defend against the daily hamster wheel and the horror of everyday life, as sung about in the song “Nackenbrecher“?
Friedemann: I don’t have a universal recipe. I can only say how I do it. I have lowered my expectations, live well off used things, and refuse unconditional consumption. I don’t need much to live, I have a good family and good friendships with like-minded people. I repair what is broken and don’t throw everything in the trash. I do a bit of farming and have some self-sufficiency.
That’s a brief outline of my life plan. Whether my way is good and right, I cannot say; I hope so!
Frank: How can this world be made better?
Friedemann: Damn, what a tough question!!!! Maybe through love for one’s neighbor? Yes, through lived love for one’s neighbor!
Frank: Will you also perform live with “Uhr vs. Zeit“? Are there plans for that?
Friedemann: Yes, I will. Starting in August 2014, I will be on tour for a few weekend gigs, and from October 31, there will be a European tour with Conny Ochs and Kristian Harting. You can find the exact dates on the big net.
I highly recommend the album “Uhr vs. Zeit“ to everyone. It is an album that touches. Probably it does so because someone sings on it who does what he does with all his heart. More information about Friedemann and “Uhr vs. Zeit“ can be found at:
http://friedemann-ruegen.de/
The album touched me, made me reflective, and so it was natural to send Friedemann a few questions about the album.
Here are his answers to my questions:
