Klarstein.rocks On the Making Of Demos '96
Can you tell me more about Demos ’96?
JC: It’s us not knowing what the hell we were doing. Just a cassette recorder in a rehearsal room, too much noise, too little clue.
Kalle: Too much noise, yeah.
Einstein: That’s what makes it special. They were fragments, not songs for release. We just kept the feel and made it listenable now.
Charlie: Funny thing is – I wasn’t even born when those demos were recorded. Back then it was Paul on drums, and he passed away in 2015. For me, it’s like stepping into a memory that isn’t mine, but somehow still feels part of who we are.
What impact do you hope Demos ’96 will have on your audience?
JC: That people laugh with us. Because half the time we didn’t even know the chords.
Kalle: Speak for yourself. I knew three.
Einstein: It’s about imperfection being part of the beauty. Music doesn’t have to be polished to feel alive.
Charlie: It should feel alive, not perfect.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on Demos ’96?
Kalle: “Ling Lu.” That groove still surprises me. Like we almost knew what we were doing.
JC: Nah, “Burning Matches.” That was chaos and now it’s huge. Kathrin shouting “Stop!” turned into the best hook we never wrote. And man, Kathrin’s got lungs – when she sings, the walls move. Charlie says she can sing too, but trust me, better keep her behind the drums.
Einstein: Don’t forget “Someone.” That one shows we already had a sense of structure in the middle of the mess.
Charlie: “Matches” is the most honest one.
What is your creative vision as a band?
JC: Vision? Survive rehearsal without killing each other.
Kalle: And find beer afterwards.
Einstein: It’s about making something meaningful out of fragments. Old tapes, new songs, whatever we stumble on – as long as it feels true.
Charlie: Songs that live longer than we do.
JC: See? That’s why she shouldn’t talk too much. Makes the rest of us sound dumb.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as a band?
Kalle: By mistakes. Lots of them.
JC: And by accidents. Usually mine.
Einstein: By listening. To each other, to what still feels alive. Growth isn’t about getting bigger, it’s about staying curious.
Charlie: By knowing the notes.
