Wenn ihr ein wenig zurückdenkt, werdet ihr euch gewiss erinnern können, dass wir euch ja bereits an dieser Stelle von unserer Zeit während des Berlin Festivals berichtet hatten. Allerdings waren wir nicht ausschließlich auf dem Gelände des ehemaligen Flughafens unterwegs. Auch der Our / Berlin Music Week, die zusammen mit Nordic By Nature ins Leben gerufen wurde, haben wir einen Besuch abgestattet - und daran ist im Grunde nur Folgendes Schuld: Rough Days For Diamond Trade, ein Solomusikprojekt aus Kopenhagen. Dahinter steckt der Musiker und Filmemacher Frederik Sølberg, den wir einen Tag vor dem Berlin Festival zusammen mit seinen drei Freunden, die ihn in Berlin als Band unterstützt haben, vor einer Berliner Bar kennengelernt haben. Das alles war so nett, dass wir uns am nächsten Tag kurzerhand dafür entschieden haben, den Auftritt von Rough Days For Diamond Trade bei besagter Our / Berlin Music Week mitzuverfolgen. So in der Rückschau entpuppt sich dies sogar als eine der besten Entscheidungen dieser Berliner Tage, da wir selten so einen angenehmen Abend mit so vielen aufgeschlossenen Menschen erlebt haben. Das Konzert war ebenfalls große Klasse, weswegen wir euch RDFDT auch etwas näher vorstellen wollen.
Frederik ist so etwas wie ein alter Hase in der dänischen Musikszene. Vor seinem Soloprojekt spielte er bereits bei Ghost Society und Lake Placid, machte hier und da mal einen Remix und Filme für die ein oder andere angesehene Indie-Band. Seit 2010 macht er sein eigenes Ding als RDFDT. Seitdem kommt man an ihm im World Wide Web nicht mehr herum und auch The Guardian wählte ihn unlängst zur "Band of the Day". Seine Musik klingt so verträumt, wie Frederik selbst von Zeit zu Zeit scheint, wenn man ihm begegnet. Bass, Synthesizer und Gitarre sind die Gefährten seiner Musik. Vor kurzem erschien Somehow Remixed, auf dem u.a. Remixes von Unkwon und Gerald Donald zu finden sind - Reinhören wird dringendst empfohlen (wir mögen die Versionen von Legowelt, Yen Sleep und Elka 8 am liebsten). Nebenbei könnt ihr hier im Interview noch ein bisschen mehr über Frederik und Rough Days For Diamond Trade erfahren.
Who is Rough Days For Diamond Trade?
Rough Days For Diamond Trade is me, Frederik.
I write, play, and produce the whole thing.
Live on stage we have been playing as a quartet.
At the moment we are just my friend Thomas and me.
Thomas is in charge of synths and beats.
I play guitar, sing and dance.
How would you describe your music?
Like dreams marching in time.
Like Vodka Mate spiked with loneliness.
Like pink rain in a deserted summer resort.
Two months ago you released the remix EP “Somehow Remixed”. It consists of remixes from your debut and features well known acts like Legowelt, Gerald Donald or Unkwon. How did it get round to doing this EP?
It was my idea from the beginning.
I’m very much into electronic music and the whole idea of sampling, editing, and remixing.
I see remixes as today’s equivalent of cover songs.
Did you ask for remixes or were there some artists who came to you and said: “I HAVE to do a remix of … for you”?
I asked my heroes and friends and gladly they said yes.
Hand on heart: Do you like any remix of the EP more than the original?
It depends.
I’m very proud of the original songs on the EP but I’m also very happy to listen to the interpretations.
They give new life to the songs.
I don’t like to differ but at one point I had a serious crush on the UNKWON remix.
When did you record your first EP “Somehow”? How was it to do your own thing whereas before you were just a part of bands like Ghost Society or did remixes, music videos and live visuals for indie acts?
All songs were recorded in 2011 - mainly in Berlin and Los Angeles. Mainly on my own.
Doing a solo project is very different from being in a band but I have always been working on music on my own. The biggest difference this time was that I didn’t share it with anyone.
I did almost everything on my own and that’s pretty nerve wrecking.
Furthermore I have never felt like singing in a band - or singing in general.
I have also considered my voice to be annoying and I have never had the urge to stand in front.
But sometimes you have to push yourself.
Move and develop.
I’m still pushing.
Wherefrom do you take your musical talent? Did you used to play the piano or another instrument when you were a child?
I’m not sure if I understand the question - because I don’t think I take my talent from somewhere specific.
But I have been a huge music fan since I was a child.
Being touched and fascinated by music the way I was led to a point where I wanted to be able to express myself in a similar way.
At 13 I started to play guitar and formed my first band shortly after that.
What was the name of the first song you've ever written? Was it a good one? Do you still like it?
In my first band we wrote a song together called “The Escapist”.
My friend Andreas wrote the lyrics and I did some guitar parts and played the worst solo ever.
We thought it was pretty deep.
I havent’ listened to it for almost 20 years but I’m pretty sure it sucks.
Have you ever written a song for one special girl? If “Yes”, how was her reaction?
I have written songs about special girls but I’m not sure if they know.
What do you think about the Danish music scene? Do you think there is a genuine Danish or Scandinavian sound?
Yes and no.
There is something about a certain melancholy that seems to be significantly Scandinavian.
And I think that there are some similarities between the bands of the Copenhagen indie scene which I think has some really good bands. But at the same time there are bands in this city that suck ass big time. Really.
Are you more into Indie or also into House/Techno? Is there a genre that you hate?
I have been into indie for a long time. But I have also been into electronic music since I was a teenager. In general I don’t think so much about genres.
Nowadays I mainly listen to old Detroit techno stuff and mixes by my friend Kim LAS. Right now I’m listening to this mix which is awesome: https://soundcloud.com/kim-las/nobody-mix-one
Tak til Kim.
Why did you choose the name “Rough Days for Diamond Trade”?
Because of the sound of it.
And the images it creates.
You’ve been playing in lots of German cities. Where did you like it the most and why?
That’s a very good question.
I really like Germany and I’ve had a lot good experiences playing in Germany so it’s difficult to choose.
But I remember a specific concert with my old band Lake Placid in a bunker Bochum in 2005 which was wunderschön.
The people there were so extremely friendly and open, the place was packed and we played a great show. After the show we talked to a lot of nice people and danced to New Order until very late. We didn’t expect to be so warmly welcomed in Bochum.
What was the first record you've owned in your life?
I don’t remember the first vinyl but I think my first cassette was the “La Bamba” soundtrack.
What’s your favourite song at the moment?
Yesterday it was “Easy” by Son Lux.
Maybe today as well.
https://soundcloud.com/joyful-noise-recordings/son-lux-easy
Do you have any other obsessions except for music?
I really like sex.
And film.
Do you care about fashion?
Not really.
Do you have a favourite fashion designer? Who? And what do you like about his work?
I like Henrik Vibskov.
He is a nice guy and opposed to other designers he seems to have an agenda that goes beyond creating vain needs of consumerism and uniformity.
People ought to fuck fashion for a while and go out in the streets and fight fascism.
What's your favourite place in Copenhagen?
I really like the neighbourhood Nørrebro.
I also like Dragør Strandhotel (http://www.dragorstrandhotel.dk/)
And my friend’s Schrebergarten.
What are your plans for this year?
We are playing a few live shows in Copenhagen and some cities around Europe.
I’m also planning to visit my girlfriend’s parents.
And write songs for my next release.
Fazit: Ausschau nach den nächsten Auftritten in eurer Nähe halten. Und bis dahin hier weiterhören.
