Interviewee:: Torben Wendt
Q: Hello Torben! First off, let me thank you for your time and the opportunity to interview you. Tomorrow you are going to play live in Mexico.
What are your feelings before departing for tequila land?
Torben Wendt: Curiosity. And anxiety, because the moment well step into the plane, a war will start on another end of the world.
Q: Your albums are full of single-worthy songs. So far you have released only one single, "Device". Why so few?
twn: Why not? This is not a concept, just lack of appeal.
Q: Except for a minor emphasis on "Device", until now we've never heard any remixes for Diorama. Do you especially avoid remixes of your works?
twn: As for own remixes, I prefer spending my time thinking up new material, rather than working on already existing ideas at the moment.
Other bands haven't been that interested in remixing Diorama songs, yet, but there are in fact some current projects going on, like an Angels & Agony
remix of "Howland Road".
Q: Why the name "The Art of Creating Confusing Spirits"? What meaning does this title hold?
twn: It reflects our basic understanding of music. Sounds - embodied by confusing spirits - surrounding your own spirit while you're
creating or listening to music. Evoking these ghosts is our greatest passion in life.
Q: Would you ever call Adrian Hates a Godfather of Diorama in a certain sense? How great is his contribution to the formation of your band?
twn: I don't know if I had found the courage to start my own band and to produce my own records without his support and friendship.
He was a very important input at a time, when I was (like we say in Germany) completely green behind my ears and when making CDs didn't
seem worthwhile even dreaming of. Anyhow, it was never planned to make Diorama a Diary-sidecar and his influence ended with the release
of "Pale".
Q: You've been a Diary of Dreams insider for quite a long time. What ways do you use to make your music sound different to DoD's?
twn: You wouldn't believe how pointless this is to me. I don't think of Diary Of Dreams at any time when I'm in the studio making music.
Q: Sporadically you infuse the virtues of the German language into your songs. Do you think it's a good contrast to performances in
English?
twn: Yes, I think the contrast is groovy. We're planning to use more German lyrics in the future.
Q: Among others, your favorite authors are Franz Kafka and Charles Bukowski, the fantasy-monger and the hooligan novelist respectively.
Does their peculiar literature influence your own art somehow? What else influences your music?
twn: Sure. Especially Kafka has influenced my whole way of thinking. You are what you read to a certain extent.
There are so many influences on different layers. Friends, nature,failure, envy, sex, articles in newspapers, drugs, a certain smell, whatever you can think
of. Music is my way of uttering emotions, whatever touches me can result in a line or in a song.
The classical synth pop groups of the 80s have obviously contributed to where Diorama stands stylistically. There are also a couple of other artists who
have been truly important for my (musical) development, like Leonard Cohen, Bjork or Ben Harper.
Q: Aside from "Pale", "Her liquid Arms" album was rather smoothly dark and strong like an authentic black coffee, metaphorically speaking.
"The Art of Creating Confusing Spirits" appeared a tad experimental and "decaffed". Are you gradually tending to make a "Pepsi"-like music?
twn: If there is one thing that I absolutely hate on this planet, it's decaffeinated coffee. This is even worse than light beer. When I think of
Pepsi music I see a gay emergency room doctor and two virgin-teenage-sexbombs. Hmm, anyway, isn't it a bit rash to base a tendency upon one
single item?
Q: It's known that Toronto, Canada is a really important place to you. Why? What does it mean to you from the point of view of Howland road?
twn: I've been studying in Toronto for half a year in 2001 and Howland road was the street I used to live in. Yes, this was quite an important
experience for me, as it was the first time I've left my hometown for more than a couple of weeks and as the trip was an urgent break at a point where
I was physically and mentally completely exhausted. My apartment at Howland road became a quiet home to a newborn creativity and to somewhat
strange ideas I put down in words and drawings which I added a soundtrack to, when I was in Germany again.
Q: It seems that you wholly "usurped" the leading role of being responsible for the conceptual development of the band. In fact Diorama is still a trio,
thus do the other two members have creative influence, or do they just do the second part?
twn: I don't see myself in a dominating role. The new album is truly a band effort, as most of the songs derive from jam sessions rather than
pure composition work. A process of complementing one another. Felix and Bernard are outstanding musicians. All of us are contributing our personal
ideas and likes and that's what makes the result quite unconventional.
Q: Your debut album "Pale" definitely justified its title and concentrated strongly on endless melancholy and "weltschmerz". Can you explain where so
much of this desperation came from?
twn: I believe there is some form of everlasting sadness in everybody growing up with only one parent, apart from that... nothing I can
mention here.
Q: There's a song on "The Art of Creating Confusing Spirits" called "Home To Millions" that is a narrative about human limits and restrictions.
Do you place any personal limits on the amount of interaction with, and/or influence third parties have on your ideas and their incarnation?
twn: From my point of view, "Home To Millions" is more about the frightening recognition of having no or almost no limits at all, like
having a body without borders, accessible to everybody. Yes, there is a clear restriction to allowing influences from third parties. I have to like it.
Q: Your latest album has more social appeal than the previous releases. Now what is your attitude towards the Iraq crisis?
twn: I'll make it short not to bore everyone with what has been said a thousand times already. This war is a violation of international law,
as it's not permitted by the Security Council. Therefore it is a major crime and threat to global peace. Its justification is based on ongoing deception
and manipulation on the highest scale, while the actual reasons for this mission are obvious. It's almost unbearable that they're simply getting away with it.
Q: It's been announced recently that you are working on new material. When will the raw stuff become the final product and what will it be like?
Could you describe Diorama's future?
twn: I'm crap at venturing reliable predictions, but we're trying to deliver a new album by the end of 2003. You can expect some
downloads in advance. One track per week, until the album is available, something like that. It will also be preceded by a single.
At the moment, we're trying to get some new influences into our sound by working more intensely with acoustic instruments and by featuring other
artists. We're experimenting a lot with different approaches to music and some unusual stuff. However the result is going to sound like, we'll probably
stick to our principle of surprising ourselves and others with every new release.
Q: You often used to support Diary of Dreams live from early days. How do you feel about touring with them? Any plans to play gigs in Russia
someday?
twn: Touring with Diary Of Dreams is always a good experience. Communication works perfectly on a musical and personal level and
Adrian & co are excellent people to hang out with.When I was a member of Diary, myself, being the support act was fairly logical. At this
time, Diorama's stage appearance was a one man/one piano show, hence easy to get Diorama on stage when I was at a certain venue anyway...
Yes, Russia is one of our next targets. If we find the right booker(s), it's only a question of time, provided that you still want us, there.
Q: At last, is there anything you'd like to tell your fans and readers of this interview?
twn: No, nothing.
interview: synthpop & diorama [torben wendt]
quelle online interview: synthpop.ru - august 2005
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