EMQ’s With FRAU FLEISCHER
EMQ’s With Frau Fleischer
Hi everyone. Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with French Industrial / Electro Metal band, Frau Fleischer. Huge thanks to Greg and Franz for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Greg: Hi, we are Frau Fleischer, we play a mixture of Industrial / Electro Metal fused with Cabaret & Goth influences. Franz & I have known each other for more than 15 years and when he started this new project he just called me like “Hey I’ve got this new idea for a band, I’m working with a young singer wanna try something ?”. And here we are a year later we have released our first album & a new single and it’s only the beginning.
How did you come up with your band name?
Franz: After drinking several glasses of wine, beer… classical story…
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Greg: We come from France, but live in different areas. Franz lives in the South of France in the beautiful city of Nice & I live far from everything in the beautiful mountains called Les Vosges. The French scene is pretty small and it is still hurting from these last 2 years. Hopefully things will get better soon.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Greg: Our very last release is our single ‘Fashion!’. It has been released on digital formats on all the streaming platforms. It’s a great song that will allow you to bang your head and shake your ass! At the same time we are still promoting “When the Sun’s Down”, also available on streaming and it’s available in the physical realm. It’s a lovely digipack, we took the time to make a beautiful object that makes you wanna buy it and not just stay on Spotify only.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Greg: First of all Metallica and in particular James Hetfield. I’ve already begun to play the guitar when I discovered Metallica, but as soon as I listened to their music I knew playing the guitar was all that mattered to me. Apart from them, I listen to a broad range of music and influences can come from a lot of places. Today I listened to Napalm Death, Godflesh or Morbid Angel and then I switched to Nick Cave, the music of Philip Glass, Tom Waits and then bands like Hocico, Suicide Commando or Wumpscut. I’m even enjoying the music of Dua Lipa these days (laughs).
Franz: Lots of things from Faith No More to Madonna, from French Pop to Rammstein, or Industrial music, Electro, Gothic things… too many things to resume in few words.
What first got you into music?
Greg: My dad has always listened great music & has great tastes. I can remember finding LP & singles from Pink Floyd, Santana or Queen at home and the power, the voice of the electric guitar touched me deeply. Then I started to listen to bands like The Scorpions or Iron Maiden, but as soon as I discovered Metallica and the whole Death Metal scene from the late 80’s early 90’s I was hooked and all I wanted was to play guitar. Later I’ve found out I really wanted to learn all I could about music: song-writing, arrangements, the recording process…
Franz: Same things my family always listens to music at home, in the car during holidays travels…Lots of French music like Gainsbourg or Mike Brant, but also a lot of Classical music at home. I started to listen to bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden when I was 16 and later, like I was always in a record store when I was not at school I have discovered a lot of other things from Gothic to Black Metal.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Greg: There are many! At the top of my head, I would say Meshuggah, Chelsea Wolfe or Radiohead. I think we will challenge each other and come with a unique blend of music. If any of them are reading this, please send me a message! 🙂
Franz: RAMMSTEIN!!!!!!!!! Of course!!!!!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Greg: I would choose Glastonbury Festival as it is embracing each and every genre of music across the spectrum, from Rock and Pop to Minimal House, Techno and full-throttle Drum ‘n’ Bass. The audience is great and I’m sure we would have a lot of fun on and out of stage!
Franz: I want to play everywhere so I can’t choose.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Greg: Maybe not the weirdest but for sure it was very unusual and a very nice surprise. I was on tour in Japan with another band and a fan offered me a pendent he created himself. It’s got the shape of a guitar pick with my flames tattooed on my forearms. I was speechless and I still got a hard time believing it happened! A very unexpected and amazing gift!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Greg: Set yourself free, be who you wanna be, live and let live and the people who judge you are the jealous who are trapped. You know better, you deserve better, you are better !
Franz: Houaaaa….nothing else to say!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Greg: Only one is tough! Maybe Dimebag Darrel because his death makes no sense, he still had more to bring and Pantera would have reunited if Dime was still there. They would have, wouldn’t they?
Franz: Lemmy! But Lemmy is not dead cause’ Lemmy is God!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Greg: To be able to create is fantastic and what’s even more fantastic is to be able to share our creations with our fans and all the energy that goes back and forth during a show is insane. That’s the good part. “The music industry” is the most awful thing on Earth and basically a scam, but thanks to the internet, musicians can now take their business firmly in hand and do not need to rely on middle men to share their music. It’s a lot of work and during the day, you are lucky if you play a bit of music, but it is so much rewarding to be in control of our fate.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Greg: I would remove the “industry” from the “music industry”!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Greg: It is a very complicated question for me! My answer could change every hour of the day (laughs). Well, right now, I would say NIN’s “All That Could Have Been” because it’s like the best blend of a lot of things I love in music : it’s Metal, it’s Industrial, a bit of Goth, the 2nd disc Ambient is pure genius and all in all I’m a great fan of Trent Reznor.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
Greg: Vinyl of course ! Cassettes and CDs and even downloads are a thing of the past. Streaming is a great way of listening to music when you always are in a train or a car like me.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Greg: With Frau Fleischer, the last one we played in Nice was awesome! The club was sold out, everyone was dancing, screaming and jumping the vibe was awesome! We can’t wait for more gigs. Promoters who read this: we crave playing live, write to us please!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Greg: Even though I can’t really imagine doing anything else, I think I would still be a creative. Maybe a movie maker?
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Greg: It’s a tricky question as I’m not a social animal. When I’m not on the road, I enjoy staying home with my cats and my girlfriend.
Franz: Same for me, animals are welcome, people tolerated….
What’s next for the band?
We are already working on new songs & Madame la Bouchère (Die Frau Fleischer) is going to evolve. We can’t say much right now but prepare yourself for your fair share of surprises.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Franz: You can find us everywhere I think, on FaceBook here:
https://www.facebook.com/fraufleischerbandofficial/
Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fraufleischerband/
Twitter here: https://twitter.com/FrauFBand
But also buy stuff here: https://fraufleischerband.bandcamp.com
https://www.ftf-music.com/shop/shopfraufleischer/shopfraufleischer.htm
Or simply visit our page here:
http://www.fraufleischerband.fr
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Franz: I don’t like orange sorry….
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?Franz: Thanks for this interview and supporting our music… Follow us, listen to our music, buy music, watch videos… But the most important thing is to come to the concerts… we need you!!!!!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
