1.   First of all congratulations on the brilliant 5th album you have recently finished. Der Scwarze Schmetterling V. How did you get the idea to release a series of albums about the same or at least one connecting theme?

Thank you very much.
I have to confess that I didn´t really have a choice. The story about the the strange creature with the even stranger name Schwarzer Schmetterling/Black Butterfly has been fluttering in my head for many years and the development therefore was a very…compelling.

2.   Was there a complete story (for all five albums) from the beginning or did it grow along the way?

There was a rough plot from the beginning, the backbone of the story, but the whole flesh of the story formed in progress.

3.   I read on your website that this is going to be the last album about “Der Schmetterling”, do you feel you have used up the theme or is there another reason?

I think there is a certain danger in telling a story over so many years, watching ist grow and getting quiet successful. I personally dislike authors who do not know that to every good story there has to be an end, wether it is good for the commercial result or not.
And the other reason was, that there are too many good ideas for a new story.

4.   The album is titled Requiembryo, combining death and birth in one word, is this the way you feel about ASP as well. With the finishing of the Schmetterling series a part of ASP has died and now it is time for a rebirth with new inspiration?

I couldn´t have described it better.

5.   Do you already have ideas in mind for an upcoming album, and is it likely to contain a progressing theme spread over multiple albums?

The problem about this question is: I could not answer it without unveiling too much of the new concept. I apologize for this! But befor the next regular ASP-Album will be released ther will be another great project we are working on: Krabat. I´ve been working on this rather discontinuous for many years and released the first four Songs last year on our Single “Ich bin ein wahrer Satan (I am a real Satan). This year I would like to finish it and then I will write the new Songs for the next real Asp album.

6.   The first track of the 2 ^nd CD is almost half an hour in length, but is slit into seven subsections, what is the reason to create it like this instead of using separate tracks?

All the parts build the “Requiem” . I have learned a lot while writing it about the classical requiem and the work is very allusive. You can find a lot of the catholic liturgy in it which may sound a little paradox as I´m not very wellknown for my deep religiosness., haha.
But if there is a   résumé about this issue: I love the possibility to learn something while developing a song.

7.   The pictures in the booklet are dark and impressive, do they tell their own story connected to the tracks on the album, and if so could you explain them a little?

The visual realisation are very important for the project. The scenes in the booklet are little extra hints, like a key to the storylines. I have worked on the artwork with my friend Ingo Römling as long and intensive as I did with Matthias Ambré, the producer, on   the arrangements for the songs. Making an   ASP-Album is very exhausting experience,but the Artwork is very important not only for my artistic ego, haha, we have a record company which supports this efforts in the Artwork, because it is also a good argument extra argument for buying real CDs and not download the songs, legally or ilegally.

8.   How is this latest release received by the press and the audience?

The reactions in the Gothic- and Alternativescene is overwhelming. But as usual everywhere else nobody realised it. Maybe that´s better this way, but it can not be by accident that even if the commercial success is really okay that no one in the “normal” music business is interested in us. So what.

9.   You started back in 1999, not even ten years ago, how do you feel about your success in the dark music scene you have had since?

I think we have earned every bit of it. We worked very very hard and the fans feel that we are true. We have played many shows and that´s where I we had the chance to prove that we are real and know what we do.

10.   Did you expect to reach the german charts with the new releases, and is it important for you that you do?

It´s not important for our work. But it´s very satisfying to see that by hard work and a good fan-base you can penetrate the major companies´world.
You wouldn´t believe what happened some tv- and radiostations just left out the number of the position in their countdown as it didn´t exist! That proves how lying and corrupt the system of the charts is.

11.   Most of your lyrics are in german, do you think this is holding you back from a larger audience outside your own country?

Maybe. Most of the lyrics can not be translated because they use allusions and word plays that can not be translated. But on the other hand: If you´re interested in good music and lyrics you will occupy yourself with ist, no matter what the language is.
I also think that our songs are strong enough to overcome the language barrier even if you never have one hundred per cent of the meaning.

12.   I noticed you have planned several shows in Germany, are you planning to visit the rest of Europe?

Yes. We have some plans for springtime 2008.

13.   You have mostly planned festivals for this year. What do you enjoy more, small intimate concerts or big festivals?

I like both. But if I had to make   a decision, I would prefer the more intimate club shows.

14.   Anything else you would like to say to conclude this interview?

Come and see us live. You will not regret it, will you?