Im Interview mit THE GUILT

Festivalstalker: The title „Naked Rat Dance“ is extraordinary – what’s the meaning behind it?

Emma: It’s the merge of some of our core elements. The song „Naked on my own“ stood out as a title track, sound defining. It was originally called „Rat dance“  because Lizzy used a Rat pedal on this dancy tune. When picking our brains for the album title we felt these words and the mentalisation of naked rats dancing, rather than racing, completed the look.

One thing we actually didn’t mention yet in previous interviews is our general fascination with other species, Like rats for example. I would say that it’s one of our major common grounds where me and Lizzy can spend many autobahn hours exchanging animal facts. Last time in Karlsruhe we had an altercation whether a specific bird we saw was a rook or a black crow.

Lizzy: It was a black crow. Like Emma said.

Festivalstalker: Which main message or atmosphere runs throughout the album?

Emma: We take everything we feel and we run with it. Or no, we dance with it. Creating these songs is for me a process of sniffing out the emotional drive in it. That could be anything from “leave me alone with your showering and just let me rule like witches intended me too“ or „we will not take part of the war-mongering capitalist meatgrinding machine“ or „I love you“.

Festivalstalker: Which musical influences have inspired you by writing this album?

Emma: Anything stupid, off the rails but forcefully dancy. I love the album “Disspassionate furniture” by Adult. But also the epic strokes of “First last and always” by Sisters of Mercy. I have a strong childhood connection with that album.

Festivalstalker: How does your performance change while a running tour?

Emma: It can be hard to maintain focus when you are tired. We always enjoy playing the songs and meeting the audience but loosing some lyrics, pushing the wrong buttons, getting the giggles etc. that can of course happen more frequently.

Lizzy: I very much enjoy the differences between gigs. It makes the individual gigs stand out and be unique and brings something new to the set every time so the diehard fans that follow us around gets something fresh. Since I handle a lot of the talking I like to find something special about the particular city or place we play in and make something fun out of that.

Festivalstalker: How are you dealing with the pressure of playing new songs for the first time live?

Emma: We’ve spent a lot of time with these songs already, so we have them in our backbone. We’ve however upgraded this set with sounds and live noise that requires a bit more focus from me, less dancing. And then, every venue have different technical situations, that can be a challenge.

Festivalstalker: If you would have to describe your artistic phase at the moment with three words – which ones would it be?

Emma: I, want, candy.

Lizzy: I. Want. Currywurst. (Vegan)

Festivalstalker: What is the perfect place to listen to „Naked Rat Dance“ in one piece?

Emma: Someone reached out to us to tell us they’ve spent hours blasting it at the gym. That sounds about right. We wanted to deliver major emotional output. So wherever, whenever you need to tap in to that kind of mood would be the good setting. Like, maybe at your day job, in your cubicle, staring intensely at something you despise and/or love.

Lizzy: In your choice of car on the A7 autobahn, somewhere between Kassel and Würzburg. But I guess the gym works fine too.