"This is definitely the first episode!"
Description of the episode:
Welcome to GINA'S ROOM! In this first podcast episode, we are introducing ourselves first of all. And Gina as well. We are talking about Wacken, why hard music is always the right thing in the summer, Taylor Swift and techno and why lye rolls are a true form of art. And we are also answering your questions.If you really want to do us a great favor, save this podcast, follow us on our socials and check out the shop. Thanks!Lots of love!
Pi: Okay, wait, we still have to…. *claps hands like a clapperboard*
Jessica: That was synchronous.
Pi: That was synchronous, maybe we should form a band. Instead of a podcast.
Jessica: There is such a neat joke...
Pi: Why?
Jessica: If a drummer and a bass player simultaneously...
Pi: I see.
Jessica: No? Dudum.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Funny!
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: We could...
Pi: What has three legs and an asshole on top?
Jessica: A bass player?
Pi: A drum stool. *both laughing*
Jessica: A bass player in particular. Why?
Pi: *laughs* A bass player! Everything cool?
Jessica: I don’t know, but...
Pi: Everything is cool.
Jessica: Why should a bass player have three legs?
Pi: Hmmm, inclusion project.
Jessica: Okay.
Pi: I don’t know, doesn’t matter. Welcome!
Jessica: To Gina's Room.
Pi: To Gina's Room, this is definitely the first episode.
Jessica: But also...
Pi: The first take. *both laughing*
Jessica: Oh boy, no, the nice thing is, yes, we are an honest podcast and we love authenticity and honesty.
Pi: I think that is one of the most difficult German words, “Authentizität“(authenticity).
Jessica: Ugh, no, I know one that is even a bit more difficult.
Pi: Namely?
Jessica: “Hyaluron” (hyaluronan).
Pi: Hyaluronan oh boy.
Jessica: *laughs* Yes. Hyla...*laughs* Hyaluluron.
Pi: No, Hyaluron.
Jessica: Hylaly...doesn’t matter. *Pi laughs*. People, that also isn’t the topic here. We aren’t a beauty podcast, okay?
Pi: It can be, that is the thing, everything can be a topic. Ugh, unless a person doesn’t want to talk about it, but I have…
Jessica: I don’t want to talk about hyaluronan. There. *Both laughing*
Pi: You cannot talk about hyaluronan, that’s what you wanted to say. No, we can talk about anything and authenticity and transparency and so on is important and that’s what we would like to put forth on this podcast first of all, that we will talk about anything unless the guest or one of us says, can you please edit this out.
Jessica: Of course!
Pi: But actually, I don’t feel like editing *laughs*.
Jessica: No, first...
Pi: But I have to.
Jessica: Yes, I also think it’s important that you simply say in the beginning, listen, there are simply some things that you don’t want talk about and then we won’t even go into that direction.
Pi: That’s clear.
Jessica: Completely, completely cool. Well, I...
Pi: Yes, that’s clear.
Jessica: I would like to talk to you about anything...
Pi: We are…
Jessica: We are an open book.
Pi: Hm-hm. An open book.
Jessica: Hm-hm.
Pi: With a bookmark.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Okay.
Jessica: Well, what we wanted to say…
Pi: What?
Jessica: Well, we have… this is not our first attempt.
Pi: That’s true.
Jessica: So. And if we’re honest, that is also very good. I am feeling good with us recording our first episode again. Because we were a bit, well, we were a bit dazed the last time.
Pi: We were toast.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: Because last time took place a little over a week ago, because we were, well I...
Jessica: At Wacken.
Pi: At Wacken.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: Me and my band, Lord of the Lost, for all of those watching who don’t know it *Jessica whistling*. Would you like to, would you actually like to, sorry if I briefly get off point again, but would you actually like to… just like now, nice whistling, would you like to do that in the beginning of all the following episodes?
Jessica: Whistling?
Pi: Not anymore. *Jessica whistling, Pi laughing*
Jessica: I’d love to...
Pi: Doesn’t matter.
Jessica: Whistling.
Pi: Well, thank you. We were at Wacken, we played there, you were a guest together with two friends of yours.
Jessica: Exactly, I had one of the best days of this year, I would say music-wise. So musically speaking.
Pi: Hm-hm.
Jessica: That was really balm for the soul because, you can totally… we, there is.., I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but I forget music very quickly, for example, I am a fan of collecting records so that I simply won’t forget specific albums, specific genres and so on.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Because I am consuming an unbelievable amount of music.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And this Friday at Wacken was simply death metal day and you could simply dive into bands such as Dying Fetus und Frozen Soul again and experience that live and I was unbelievably happy. Truly. That was such a wonderful day.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And well, the next day, my brain was simply a bit blasted, I would say, from all of these blast beats, yes?
Pi: Your brain cell, the blast beats blew up your last brain cell. End of quote.
Jessica: Yes exactly, well, if you are already a tattoo artist and look at skin for eight hours each day - to briefly introduce myself - so, I’m not really doing anything challenging. Accordingly, I have shrunk a bit in terms of my intellect in the last couple of years, I can really admit that. I used to be a smart woman. I studied cool stuff, I have…
Pi:
Jessica: Energy and resource management with specialization in material flow management. I can fantastically separate trash, but *both laughing*. The thing is, you are no longer interested, no idea. I am totally the nuclear... well, I was very interested in nuclear fusion and such.
Pi: That is intense.
Jessica: That is of course super intense, all of that has of course faded into the background a bit
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Because, as I had said, I am fully focused on art and people and creativity, accordingly, this pea that is my brain can still walk, can still tattoo, and, in the best case, talk. We are testing that now with the podcast.
Pi: That... exactly. That also is... well talking actually is a challenge for people like the two of us. We aren’t people that talk an unbelievable lot in their job or that is, it actually isn’t a part of our everyday life. I am indeed on stage, but I am not standing in the middle of the stage and I’m not the main, eh, person communicating with the audience. I, uhm, am hammering.
Jessica: You are hammering, whaaat?
Pi: I play guitar, hammer, hammer.
Jessica: Exactly and I...
Pi: That’s the legend now, hammering means playing guitar.
Jessica: We need to publish a dictionary with things so that the people will understand us.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Hammering and Lalolon and such things *laughs* Hyaluronan, doesn’t matter.
Pi: Hyaluronan.
Jessica: That is the same for me.
Pi: Hyalo...
Jessica: I am sitting with a client each day in my 40 sqm, and I also like to talk a bit once in a while, but the majority of the time, so six hours a day, I am focused and am a bit socially isolated, I do have to say.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Accordingly, this is also a small experiment for us here.
Pi: Sssso.
Jessica: Interesting.
Pi: It is, and if you imagine that after a Wacken, uhm, which was a whole day of noise and of course also a challenge somehow, because, even if it wasn’t as muddy as the days before.
Jessica: That’s true.
Pi: But there still was a lot of mud.
Jessica: *laughs* So muddy that I got stuck with all four tires within the first five minutes on these, uhm, festival grounds and I *Pi laughing* got pulled out by four very helpful older metal dudes.
Pi: They are nice there.
Jessica: They are very nice there.
Pi: The Wacken audience *simultaneously: WACKEN* is an unbelievably nice audience and, verifiably, one of the festivals where the least happens.
Jessica: Uhm, do you know, I believe, well these are all hypotheses here, but I believe that the Wacken audience is a bit older if you compare it with other commercial festivals, such as the Deichbrand Festival, or, I don’t know, Southside or so.
Pi: Hm-hm.
Jessica: So, and I believe the people there, they all have a bit…… they are there exclusively for the music, they are in a great mood, they are all true metal fans and there is also a lot of enthusiasm involved. They plan their vacation time a bit around it, they have their vests, everything is a bit love of the detail in some way and they are, I believe, relaxed in some way, you know?
Pi: Totally, that is a lifestyle, that they can live out there.
Jessica: So, plus, I believe drugs are not an issue. Not so much.
Pi: Aah, well you could smell such a large cigarette here and there and...
Jessica: I am talking about...yes a joint,
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: I am talking about drugs! *laughs*
Pi: So, hard drugs, you mean.
Jessica: Hard drugs, chemistry.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Exactly, I believe those are rather... or things that potentially make people a bit more aggressive, said very cautiously, and they drink their beer, then they may do a “Spuckerle” *laughing* That is Swabian for throwing up. Do a “Spuckerle”.
Pi: A “Spuckerle”.
Jessica: And I also believe that everything is far away from seeing and being seen.
Pi: That’s true.
Jessica: And that’s what I like. You can be totally free without anything. I believe it’s exactly the opposite from a Coachella or Primavera or such. You are of course going there to show your outfits and, hey look, I am here with this or that person. I am hanging here with Pi from Lord of the Lost, hmhmhhm, you know.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And that is such a relaxed nice atmosphere. I really liked that and we got home very late. Accordingly -
Pi: 5 a.m.
Jessica: - we were not up to par the next day. Well, we tried and then we didn’t feel alright with it.
Pi: After all, this is also about the experience of the listeners and viewers and I think this here is the better approach. I believe this is -
Jessica: Definitely.
Pi: - the better approach. Yes. And therefore, here is the first episode 2.0 and, before we keep talking about Wacken, because I have a couple of questions about it, there are some essentials about Gina’s Room. About what we have standing around here, because we have these, you just hid it, these beautiful goblets, unfortunately without straws today. We forgot them, but doesn’t matter, because this is about the contents. They always contain favorite drinks.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Or fancy drinks.
Jessica: Yes, no. I wouldn’t say that, uhm, because the future guests will bring their favorite drinks along.
Pi: Exactly, that’s what will happen. We will always drink the favorite drink of the guest.
Jessica: Yes, exactly. We gladly go along with new things and like to try something new.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And that’s what we will have.
Pi: What are we tasting today? You have mixed that.
Jessica: What are we tasting today, we have, well we are a fan of bitter stuff…..
Pi: Mmh.
Jessica: I would say and-
Pi: Bitter.
Jessica: -today, we are drinking a non-alcoholic Negroni, I’d say. Well. I improvised it a bit. It has San Bitter in it.
Pi: Mmh, love that.
Jessica: Exactly, tonic.
Pi: Love it.
Jessica: So, it has nothing to do with a Negroni, please don’t hate on me if there are any...
Pi: Oh please
Jessica: This is a Svartvitoni, uhm, it’s bitter lemon juice, so San Bitter lemon juice, tonic, a shot of Aperol spritz.
Pi: A spritz.
Jessica: A spritz, a ready-made Aperol spritz actually, let me think. I think that was it.
Pi: Oh, but it tastes good.
Jessica: Awesome.
Pi: A taste in such a watering can, that is the most modern sippy cup. *drinks*
Jessica: Yummy!
Pi: Tastes really yummy.
Jessica: Hey, if you want, you can also write us and we will put the recipes into the show-notes for you somehow. We can gladly do that.
Pi: Yes, sure. If people are really interested in that, ooooh what did you drink there and a guest is asking for coke, then it will say “coke” in the show-notes.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: I have just learned this fact. There are only two people on this earth who know the Coca-Cola recipe and they are contractually bound not to fly together on the same plane.
Jessica: and in one bus? Or on one ship?
Pi: I don’t know, maybe they haven’t thought this through and have only said plane.
Jessica: Well, I would circumvent this legal loophole.
Pi: Yes, well, if you are listening - we have tips. Safety tips. I just have to take a look if the red lights are still illuminated.
Jessica: Do that.
Pi: They are illuminated.
Jessica: Right, this is also something new for you in terms of the technology. We just wanted to figure this out, we wanted to simply do new things out-of-the-box, something that does not primarily have anything to do with hammering, so playing guitar and for me not primarily with art. And therefore, we, well primarily you, had to figure out the whole technology business. You are doing a great job! I’m a fan. Look, all the lights are still red.
Pi: Hm, so far.
Jessica: The microphones are working, so I am a fan.
Pi: Well, in terms of microphones, I am, you would say, yes, educated *laughs*. I do have knowledge of that somehow, I am not just a guitar player but also a sound engineer. So that’s alright, but you’re still thrown into the deep end if you set up two cameras plus recording equipment. I do have some experience from filming TV Of The Lost ourselves, our tour TV, but Lennard and Jan are doing that much better, they are our camera mice.
Jessica: Yes, they are cute.
Pi: Yes, and they are doing that much better, which is why they are always doing that, but, of course, there were times where we had to do that ourselves because it was sometimes not financially possible for the band to get people on board and to appropriately pay for their expertise. Ergo, I do have a bit of experience but this is something completely different nevertheless, especially because a podcast in itself, just listening, just a listening experience… I believe most do it like that, that they are only listening. You’ll always miss out on something.
Jessica: Eye candy.
Pi: Eye candy *both laughing* OK
Jessica: You did make an effort for all of those just listening.
Pi: I will get right back to that. So, you are missing out on a bit, but it’s something new. An exciting something. And the deep end is always there to learn something. Well, I have never been thrown into the deep end without learning something from it. Or without being able to do more in the end. I don’t know if that is the same for you. But now you said, something that does not primarily have anything to do with art. But to that I have to say, the design of the whole thing, I don’t know much about this. Well, I can say yes and no, I like this, I don’t like that if I see it, but it has to be created in the first place. Therefore, we are a good team, I believe.
Jessica: Yes, exactly. So, cut us some slack if not everything goes perfectly right from the start. It’s the internet. We’ll be getting better. We are making an effort. Above all, we already have a lot of fun. We have already recorded the one or other episode, or...
Pi: Whaaaat?
Jessica: What, we simply notice that we are having a lot of fun with this.
Pi: It’s really nice.
Jessica: And, uhm, I think it is beautiful, if you have been doing a specific thing for a long time and are also getting good at it. After all, it would be strange if I had been drawing for ten years and would not be able to draw. You are continuously getting better in something, and I think especially, if you are, I am saying this deliberately in a negative way, caught up in a skill. It’s a nice thing if you are maintaining the LLL - lifelong learning - or are reviving it. Because that’s what is so great, what gives you new drive and new motivation to… by the way, we didn’t start the clock *laughs*
Pi: I got an eye on the clock.
Jessica: All right. I just think that is great and I am also certain that this keeps your head fresh, yes? So that you…
Pi: Definitely.
Jessica: Look. For example, I know a lot of colleagues, and I don’t really mean this in a mean way, who are good in their thing, but of course you are getting a bit comfortable if you’re good at something. And I just find it wonderful to try out new things, also gladly in your field, yes? So...
Pi: Yes, of course.
Jessica: …and then experiment a bit. This is of course something that’s completely new, that gives you even more enthusiasm and new feelings. Yes, and we hope that we can take you with us on this journey a bit.
Pi: Above all, this is not just the whole podcast game here, but if you are just now watching this, or are listening to this - well, there are also shirts that we wanted to do, speaking of design and art aspect. We were really up to creating something to wear.
Jessica: Not only things to wear. You won’t believe the ideas that I have in my head.
Pi: I’m anxious to find out.
Jessica: There will be such beautiful things, people! Or maybe even already are when you are listening to this episode and are clicking on our Shopify link.
Pi: Which is here somewhere, you can click on it somewhere.
Jessica: Exactly. I am so excited, because we are not setting any boundaries for ourselves. This is a barrier-free podcast. We are not setting any boundaries such as - we are only doing clothes. We are solely doing a podcast. And I find it so beautiful that if I have an idea, for example to sculpt a vase.
Pi: Like the heart vase that you have sculpted.
Jessica: The heart vase that I have sculpted, which is standing here on the table, or which Gina… oh, now I have spilled the beans.
Pi: I think everyone has figured this out by now.
Jessica: Which Gina is also holding in her hand. And I would love to customize it and sell it, if you are interested in it, we did not place any limits on ourselves.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: That’s exactly how this works, and it’s the same with our topics. And here we could talk about what actually you can expect in this podcast.
Pi: Yes. Definitively. Well actually, this podcast - and this exception with only us two will happen once in a while, and there will be topics that we would love to talk about just by ourselves - is centered around guests. So, there will be different guests from the music scene, of course from the tattoo sector, obviously, but not exclusively, but... ah no, I don’t want to spoil this, but as of today, we have planned ten recording dates. Ah no, I am just talking now on September 9.
Jessica: Doesn’t matter.
Pi: Doesn’t matter.
Jessica: I love it, as of today, how many different characters we had already sitting on the couch and how many different aspects, all these contrasts that we have already experienced through the guests is for me simply … - I just really love it. It is so interesting how many different people in the creative process or generally in this wide topic that we, let’s say, want to discuss, so for example downsides of creative work, where do you get inspiration, do you even have to get inspiration at all, does it come from… what does all this have to do with devotion, what problems are there. And these things. I am already in awe.
Pi: What’s the view of one’s own sector, I am already curious.
Jessica: How great is this that we already have so many different perspectives and you can always…well I love to do that. I am listening to a lot of different perspectives, I am open, and then pick the smartest and most interesting things and combine them for myself. So for example the ease from guest X and the discipline of guest Y whom we had just now.
Pi: yes, yes, impressive *laughs*
Jessica: Yes, we are laughing. But you will get what I mean.
Pi: Definitively.
Jessica: And, great. This combination, insane. And it’s only the very first episode, people. And it is already so awesome.
Pi: And above all, not only that. It is already generally nice to have an occasion at all to speak to so many people for more than just one to five minutes. Or to talk at all, because you meet people through what we do, through internet contacts, Instagram or whatever, or you know people and you meet them e.g. at festivals, at Wacken or on tour. And at tattoo conventions. Whatever. But because you are working there and are busy there yourself, you don’t really have time to do anything, to talk somehow. But you need, or want, I really, really wanted to have an occasion to take the time to get to know that person better and to get exactly these points out of this person and to talk about them. That was for me one of the greatest inspirations to do such a podcast. And that you have an occasion.
Jessica: Absolutely. For once a step further than, let’s say, this self-taught small talk.
Pi: Exactly.
Jessica: Everything is so cool and nice and I am really interested in people, how they are doing and what’s new. But that’s usually how far you get because there is always little time. And I love it that we have created a small timeless zone here for us.
Pi: Because we didn’t start the clock. *both laughing*
Jessica: We didn’t start it on purpose so that we didn’t have any stress. And I like that. But that truly was enough self-praise I would say, how great this podcast will be.
Pi: Yes, we are simply looking forward to it a lot. But we are also very critical.
Jessica: That’s true. Yes, and we will also learn to find a good middle ground. As I have just told you earlier on our way here, I am a big fan of balances.
Pi: True.
Jessica: I am admiring people who manage to create a balance, e.g. between ease and discipline. Best example, I love it when people are doing sports. I am an athlete since recently, if I haven’t mentioned that yet.
Pi: What kind of sports do you do?
Jessica: I am running.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: I am jogging and eat such a protein bar once in a while.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Yes, I think it is totally great if you pay attention to your diet, do sports, but if you also sit freely on the terrace with friends and drink wine until 5 in the morning.
Pi: And just eat a pizza and whatnot.
Jessica: Yes, in sweatpants. Just feeling blah.
Pi: In sweatpants.
Jessica: Totally fine.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: That is an example, these balances just fascinate me. I love it when people manage that. What was the point I wanted to make?
Pi: I don’t know.
Jessica: That we will handle this in the podcast in exactly the same way. That we will have easy, funny topics from everyday life, no idea, but that we will also go in depth a bit sometimes. And address the problems for example in our sectors a bit.
Pi: Exactly. This is not a consistently serious podcast, it’s not a consistently funny podcast with only chatting. Everything has its place. On the topic balance, is that your approach, for example on the topic of health as an athlete *laughs*... Being healthy is important and I just said to you yesterday, a healthy person has many wishes and a sick person only one.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Which sounds totally cheesy but is factually rather correct, I think.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: What is your approach for the whole thing with nutrition and I am asking but I am totally interested in nutrition and I somehow celebrate following a healthy diet but also celebrate it when I have a Neapolitan Pizza in front of me and devour that and am so happy about it, it brings me so much joy.
Jessica: Alone the fact that you can find joy in that is awesome, I think. Many people cannot find joy in good food or sunshine or so. So these small things that we do on a daily basis. To make them nice for ourselves. I am always ridiculed a bit when I put a raspberry in my drink or so. It’s the small things that I simply find awesome. That is the same with food. And food or nutrition is only fun for me if you don’t put completely rigid limits on yourself in terms of the amount and such. That you break free once in a while and drive to Burger King and get chicken nuggets, no idea. It’s like that for me, well I have stopped eating meat 15 years ago. That is my definite thing and I don’t want to experiment there and open that limit because it is simply good for me and I don’t want to for ethical reasons. But in itself, a healthy diet is only fun if I know that I can break free once in a while and I don’t think about it. And, above all, I don’t have a guilty conscience. That’s the same with not doing sports once in a while. I just say that where I have only been doing sports for two weeks.
Pi: Well, you can find a routine even after two weeks.
Jessica: Yes exactly, and routines are an awesome thing. I am generally a big fan of routines, but only if you break them once in a while. Except brushing teeth. That you should do every day.
Pi: At least twice.
Jessica: At least twice, that’s an important routine, otherwise, please! Sleep in on a Sunday. Drink coffee in bed for two hours and, yes, don’t do sports. Do what you want.
Pi: Unless you want to do sports.
Jessica: Yes, yes, certainly. But I find it difficult when people are very, very strict with themselves and a bit… *laughs*… Just try to treat yourself with something nice.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: That is important because you have to face a lot of nonsense every day and you have - you just need to open the mailbox. How many people are afraid of opening their mailbox? I myself rarely have nice mail. I tell you totally honestly. Well, since I have been self-employed.
Pi: Nobody ever sends you a letter “Hey, you’re so totally cool”
Jessica: That are bills or payment reminders or, that now sounds as if I totally….no. But you usually have bills, some stuff that is not pleasant in the mailbox.
Pi: Yes, yes, of course. Or LIDL advertisements or so… *laughs*
Jessica: LIDL advertisements. No idea.
Pi: You also don’t need that. A waste of paper.
Jessica: And if you walk down the street nowadays, we just had this topic earlier. How rarely does someone smile at you or even give you a compliment or something nice “hey, neat Don Bronco cap”. You don’ receive that. Except from me, yes.
Pi: Don Bronco, cool band.
Jessica: Hammer. And I think, well you have so many negative…. You are faced with so many negative things every day and you even get used to that a bit, I think. To the mail, to people who look a bit grumpy maybe, to problems that simply pop up. Well, many things don’t always run smoothly and it is the most important that you are not so strict with yourself, I think and sometimes, I don’t know, maybe order two times twenty vegan chicken nuggets to your home.
Pi: Two times twenty?
Jessica: Of course!
Pi: Which sauce?
Jessica: Sweet and sour.
Pi: Ah.
Jessica: Mmmmmh.
Pi: Barbecue, Dear. Well, I haven’t eaten at Burger King for years, but I know from my childhood days, when I didn’t have that down yet with the balance, but in the direction that I went to Burger King not only once per week. The week has seven days, after all. Yuuuum, barbecue sauce.
Jessica: Barbecue sauce.
Pi: Absolutely.
Jessica: That says a lot about you.
Pi: What?
Jessica: No, that will be in the next episode. The next episode with just us two.
Pi: UUUh, Cliffhanger.
Jessica: You will be analyzed.
Pi: Based on my choice of sauce. That sounds like a Facebook Quiz: What Burger King sauce are you? *both laughing* That sounds like that. We did that in the past. And then you share it on Facebook, heeeyyy, I’m also barbecue.
Jessica: I don’t know, I’m no longer in the Facebook game. You’re still in the Facebook game, I’m out.
Pi: That’s a bit job-related.
Jessica: OK.
Pi: Yes, because the majority of the LOTL fan community is still active on Facebook and Facebook is still also a relevant tool.
Jessica: If I may, LOTL is Lord Of The Lost, that’s Pi’s band, in case someone is listening and doesn’t know that.
Pi: Exactly. LOTL.
Jessica: LOTL
Pi: LOTL for friends.
Jessica: In case my tattoo artist buddies are listening and don’t know that.
Pi: LOTL
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: LOTL. Exactly. Topic: Balance, simply because I don’t know anymore where we were. But the topic of balance. I think that describes you pretty well. Balance also has something to do with contrasts because you can only create a balance if you introduce a contrast.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: So. And if we now, for example, look at your taste in music, then we have everything there, from electro acts such as Moderat or Roosevelt to bands like Nails, everything! *laughs*
Jessica: That’s true.
Pi: Everything. Which I find totally great, because it’s similar for me and I like it if you don’t have to stay in one direction. I would get bored personally if I would listen only to metalcore hammering the entire day.
Jessica: You miss out on a lot of great music, that’s what I always say.
Pi: And probably a lot of inspiration.
Jessica: Especially if you make music yourself or, I find that even more wacky if you… I think it’s difficult if you play in a classic metalcore band and exclusively feed on metalcore.
Pi: Malnutrition.
Jessica: Then, I’m sure that you do exactly that or that you do music accordingly. But if your horizon extends to other genres, then your songwriting will certainly subconsciously be influenced by that. And then there are so many cool bands emerging that mix stuff and I am sure...no idea...if we are now talking about the new Sleep Token album which everyone is talking about. But which indeed is fantastic.
Pi: Rightly so.
Jessica: Absolutely rightly so. But here I am certain that the person didn’t only listen to let’s say, Heaven Shall Burn.
Pi: Greetings to Heaven Shall Burn, they are fantastic.
Jessica: That was not meant in a degrading manner.
Pi: No, no, that’s clear.
Jessica: But you know what I mean.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Well, I am always afraid of missing out on great things.
Pi: Is that Fomo?
Jessica: No, not really. I know that there are genres that I don’t listen to. I won’t get into a reggae to be honest. That’s nothing for me.
Pi: I feel similarly.
Jessica: That makes me aggressive *imitates techno beats*, that makes me totally aggressive. I cannot listen to that. I cannot listen to techno. Totally blunt…well
Pi: Hi-hat and bass.
Jessica: Yes, I find that difficult. I do need some aspiration *both bursting out laughing* Now it’s getting spicy here. No. There are also techno acts that I listen to, but very few.
Pi: For example? Now I want to know.
Jessica: Christian Löffler, him I like a lot.
Pi: Christian Löffler?
Jessica: Christian Löffler is uhm, he kind of makes minimalistic techno.
Pi: Like all of them?
Jessica: Yes, totally, it’s also like that with Souvenix, now I’ll get… if the people listen to a lot of techno and are really into it, that is a very commercial thing.
Pi: On the topic of techno: I just don’t get it. I would be very glad if someone would really explain it to me for once.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: No really, we have to invite someone from the techno sector at some point.
Jessica: Very gladly.
Pi: Who explains it to us.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Because we are too stupid to understand it, I’d say.
Jessica: No, you maybe. Well, I can understand it, but it is simply not my taste. Ask the techno DJ what he thinks of Nails.
Pi: I’d love to.
Jessica: What the heck is that, dudette. That’s noise, the vocals sound as if he had swallowed a lawnmower, no idea.
Pi: That’s not healthy.
Jessica: No, it also doesn’t sound healthy how he sounds * imitates the singer* Really strange, as if he had something stuck deep in his throat.
Pi: Yes, a lawnmower.
Jessica: But the genres that I have discovered for myself.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: I really love to dig deep into them and go a bit to the right and to the left and take a look around a bit, sometimes a bit more in the direction of indie, sometimes more in the direction of electro, no idea. I also have listened to Neocrust, Doom Extreme, I don’t know. I dug into that a bit.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And, you also had a great experience last Monday, a new one, a musical one, didn’t you?
Pi: What happened on Monday? Oh, yeah.
Jessica: ooooh
Pi: Yea, right.
Jessica: Do tell!
Pi: Watched a fantastic band that I didn’t know before. But we went to see Russian Circles, that is, if I may quote the internet, a post-metal and rock band from America. Uumm, instrumental and I personally find instrumental music often difficult if it isn’t a theatrical movie soundtrack. *Jessica spilling her drink* Oh no, the modern sippy cup has failed.
Jessica: I’m wearing white pants.
Pi: The drink is red by the way *laughs* Exactly, I am not so thrilled with instrumentals, unless it is a movie soundtrack or so that I find totally epic. I love that. But I don’t know much other instrumental music that I truly love. There is Polyphia, there’s Philly Dilly because they have guitar riffs and I love it and it totally blows my mind
Jessica: Uuh
Pi: *both laughing* what’s going on there. Russian Circles, that is, if I may describe it this way for the people who don’t know the band, a mix of Gojira, Meshuggah, plus a lot of atmosphere.
Jessica: And it goes so deep and it is so unbelievable how it goes right through you.
Pi: And unbelievably awesomely arranged songs, cool lightshow design. Well I’m… The lightshow was almost the most awesome thing of this show.
Jessica: One could tell looking at you.
Pi: Yes, I was, I am such a fan of that lightshow, it was designed so that they put up moving heads, so movable spotlights, to the left and right of the drummer. And during a drum intro, they illuminated one half of his face when he did this and that and then it turned dark and then the other half of his face was illuminated and nothing else. Otherwise complete darkness and that was what I did not expect at all.
Jessica: There you go.
Pi: And that was totally cool and each song anew was an experience, that was awesome.
Jessica: Absolutely. And that’s the thing. Maybe you didn’t really have any contact with instrumental post-metal but you immersed yourself, exactly as you did with your new favorite artis Rosalia. Would you have thought when the little metal core Pi, I don’t know, was listening to…
Pi: Bullet For My Valentine,
Jessica: Bullet For My Valentine good….
Pi: *imitating Bullet for My Valentine*
Jessica: eh, Hand of Blood
Pi: duidudidel , Need For Speed, Underground…
Jessica: Alright.
Pi: I have played PlayStation 3.
Jessica: Awesome, yes. Now look, can you imagine that the little metalcore Pi would become an unbelievable fan of and really dig into a Latino artist?
Pi: Latino pop?
Jessica: Latino pop artist named Rosalia who does wacky Spanish pop music and, that’s what I mean, if you’re open to new things, you will discover such awesome new artists.
Pi: I absolutely would not have expected that.
Jessica: Well, I also wouldn’t have expected that from you, I got to be honest.
Pi: Yes, yes, and we know of each other that we are very open to music, but with Rosalia, I was… It is simply creative. What she does is something that I had never heard before. That does not mean that it this has to be the same for everyone. It is something that had never heard before this way - also as the total package, there again with stage show and, sorry, psssht *talks to mannequin*, the entire stage show, the lyrics in part. Well I translated the Spanish lyrics for myself.
Jessica: Well, you are a Spaniard. That’s also something you can tell in a bit.
Pi: You can tell that one. Uhm I translated the lyrics and what she is saying, I find that so wild and there are behind the lyrics videos on the internet and I also like to dig into that. The first thing that I do is read Wikipedia entries. Even if the information on Wikipedia isn’t always correct, a large part of it points to the right direction and it is astonishing. It’s for me like for others who love watching a series or they discover a new series and then they think - awesome, there are six more seasons before the episode that I just got to know.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Totally great!
Jessica: Well, I think you could say all in all that music is our greatest hobby whether we are consuming - you are additionally making it, I used to make it, we …
Pi +Jessica: yuuummm!
Pi: Physalis.
Jessica: I am eating physalis right now, exactly. We have great enthusiasm for music.
Pi: Yes, totally.
Jessica: and, uhm, also like to be open to new things and that is why we also have playlists. But we’ll talk about that, later. We made playlists for Gina's Room.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: On the topic of contrasts, because we have two.
Pi: Two, but let’s get back to music first, what did you do?
Jessica: I played guitar.
Pi: You played guitar!
Jessica: I have played guitar in an emo, an emo melodic hardcore band from southern Germany, from Ulm, when I was still living in Ulm. Good times. I have learned a lot during that time.
Pi: Cool band.
Jessica: Yes, thank you.
Pi: Well, I have seen it without you most recently.
Jessica: Oh yes, now they are a great. I just always messed up. Not, totally great, greetings are going to I Saw Daylight and -
Pi: Go check them out.
Jessica: - this also brought me a lot on the topic of contrasts, this band, this music.
Pi: For example?
Jessica: For example, I, we have slept at autonomous centers where there were no windows, somehow we drank Öttinger (brand of beer).
Pi: yuck.
Jessica: Yes indeed, and everything was so, let’s say so real, let’s say more punk rock than many of the punk rock bands that are around nowadays, do you know what I mean?
Pi: So, truer you mean.
Jessica: No simply less considerate and looser and we didn’t care about anything, we just wanted to have a good time. We were five friends and wanted to make music. Once in a while, the guitar wasn’t tuned, so what. It was very punk rock. I know you don’t dig that.
Pi: Hello! My guitar hadn’t been tuned either just now.
Jessica: Yes, but soon, I’ll be a drum tech, no not a drum tech, a guitar tech for you.
Pi: I see.
Jessica: I will do a lot of tuning. No matter, the point I actually wanted to make are these contrasts to….I know how it is if you’re on tour and you’re not being luxurious by far but instead sleep somewhere in some living room of a strange person, drink warm Öttinger beer but you have the best time. The best time of all. I don’t want to ever forget this experience and I also find it so wonderful to still have the music now that you made yourself.
Pi: Totally awesome.
Jessica: Totally wacky. At the same time, I also have to say, and I’m openly admitting to it, and I am a fan of that, I love sitting at the Mediterranean Sea with a glass of champagne and such, however listening to maybe, I don’t know, Schleimkeim,
Pi: Why is it that way for you at all, so totally in general? You once told me that in the summer, you prefer to listen to hardcore and such stuff. Why? Why is that catching you in the summer most of all?
Jessica: Summer is for me being outside, having a good time and most of all a good mood. So, the summer is for me simply a good mood, going outside and have fun. Most of all also power, drive, a bit of motivation. Then I really don’t need to hear moody singer songwriter stories.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Or some very depressing sludge bands or so when I am sitting outside in my lounger and am drinking a nice espresso tonic, then I really feel like listening to Have Heart or any kind of hardcore albums, because it’s simply like, watch out, here I am and want to conquer the world. And I am up to stuff. That has been like that for me for years that summer goes along with hard music for me.
Pi: Awesome.
Jessica: Yes. So, of course, when I am lying in the lounger, I don’t know, then I also like to listen to Roosevelt once in a while and feel the disco vibe, absolutely. But you can generally say that this depends on the seasons for me a bit. And what about you?
Pi: Less depending on the seasons. Well, I agree, hard music gives you a lot of power and there are indeed songs that always get me on track, well definitively one always gets me on track.
Jessica: I’d like to…
Pi: Yes, I’ll tell that in a minute. I can always rely on that if I listen to the song at least once. Sometimes, that’s totally weird.
Jessica: Yes, I have one, too. But I didn’t know that you have one.
Pi: It’s totally weird, it’s like a mental crutch.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Uhm, that sounds as if I was totally crabby a lot of the time or so, no, that’s not what I mean by that. But this song is a guarantee that everything in me is neutralized, mentally, that I somehow really enjoy myself. The song does not sound like that at all.
Jessica: Please say it.
Pi: “Doomed” by Bring Me The Horizon.
Jessica: “Doomed” by Bring Me The Horizon. Awesome. That is YOUR song that awakens your enthusiasm.
Pi: Immediately.
Jessica: Crazy!
Pi: Immediately. Well, I can rely on that when I listen to it...
Pi: Everything is cool
Jessica: Then everything is awesome.
Pi: Then everything is awesome.
Jessica: Then, you are motivated, inspired, get going and are longer in a bad mood. Cool.
Pi: Yes, totally.
Jessica: Good weapon.
Pi: Good weapon. It’s good to have something like that. That’s good. But in part, it is also good to find out what is making you feel good.
Jessica: And that is a long process. I think, you need to try out a lot to check what makes you feel good or helps you out of, let’s say, mental downs and holes a bit in this way. Yes, nice that you have so small… it’s many small things that lift you out of it a bit and when the song contributes to that, that is awesome.
Pi: Yes, the song contributes to that, definitely. But as I said, that does not depend on the season. That can be in the deepest, dark, cold Hamburg winter. For example, we actually do have some kind of summer here a bit.
Jessica: Yes, yes. There is a fresh breeze, the sun is briefly breaking through, it’s above 20°C. It’s summer, you’re right.
Pi: Summer in Hamburg.
Jessica: Summer in Hamburg.
Pi: So.
Jessica: We love it.
Pi: You do indeed?
Jessica: I really do.
Pi: You don’t need to pretend that you don’t.
Jessica: Okay
Pi: No, I’m not done with that yet.
Jessica: Sorry. *whispering*
Pi: All good. But generally, such hard music gives you energy; I often listen to it while working out.
So my playlist, the „Pi’s Gym Jams“, is just that.
Jessica: I recently discovered the "Pi’s Gym Jams." My God, it’s a real banger, huh?
Pi: Awesome.
Jessica: Awesome, it really gets you on track.
Pi: So good. Yes. I just think that’s fantastic. But that doesn’t mean that, for example, in the last few weeks, where discovering Rosalía has been the best feeling, when you listen to "Saoko" or "Biscochito."
Jessica: What is a Biscochito?
Pi: Babycake.
Jessica: Babycake, lovely.
Pi: So says the internet.
Jessica: Super.
Pi: Babycake.
Jessica: Yes. I find that very inspiring, and I can already say that we will have many musicians from different genres sitting here, and that will be super interesting. We won’t hold back from pop music, grindcore, everything. We’ll bring everyone in.
Pi: I don’t know any grindcore musicians yet, but you can manage that.
Jessica: I do.
Pi: Yes, awesome.
Jessica: Yes, me. No, I mean, there are things that shape you. Things that have shaped me.
That includes traveling itself. For example.
Pi: - That sounds like Anna, who lived in Australia for a year. -
Jessica: Yes, yes. Terrible. No, no. I don’t mean my soul-searching phase in Bali. I don’t mean that. When I talk about traveling, I mean working somewhere else alone. Or just wandering alone through Milan or, I don’t know, Warsaw. Tough examples now. Barcelona. No idea. Just doing things a bit alone. Meeting different cultures, different people. Being open to that. That has shaped me. And the band. Just making music at a young age has really shaped me. And I really don’t want to dismiss any of that. I am very, very grateful.
Pi: Especially, having a good time in situations where other people might not have a good time. Windowless AZ cellar (a club).
Jessica: There was the AZ cold. You always had that. Because there simply were no windows. In Halle, in various squatted houses. Super cool. Cool people too. Everyone is there for a good cause. There’s no... I don’t want to say this too disparagingly, but this whole “I’m on the guest list” thing just didn’t exist. The entrance fee was two euros. Come in, drink a beer, and leave.
Pi: Well, then it’s clear that someone is on the guest list because everyone can afford it. But if you want to go to a Taylor Swift concert, and we know people who go to a Taylor Swift concert and pay horrendous money for it.
Jessica: Can I make a call?
Pi: Yes. It depends...
Jessica: Hey, people who have a Taylor Swift ticket and love it, write to me and explain it to me. No, I don’t mean it badly. I just love, just like you, unique, cool pop music and I’m a huge Lady Gaga fan myself and love going to Ariana Grande and all that stuff.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Taylor Swift fascinates me. I want to understand why there’s such incredible fascination for this music, this woman, and this show. I just don’t get it, but I would love to understand. So, everyone who has Taylor Swift tickets, write to me and just tell me why and maybe send me the songs you like because I haven’t found them yet.
Pi: I have a Taylor Swift song that I think is fantastic.
Jessica: Yes. The goat song.
Pi: No, what’s it called?
Jessica: Trouble. Trouble, Trouble.
Pi: No, that’s not what I mean. What’s it called? I’ve forgotten. I want to look it up quickly.
Jessica: Shake It Off.
Pi: No, I don’t think that’s good.
Jessica: Shake It Off. Shake It Off.
Pi: Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift. *searching* Wait. No, I’ll get it soon.
Jessica: I just want to slowly continue with the program.
Pi: Yes, you can do that already. But yes, I know, we also have...
Jessica: And there are still important things.
Pi: Here, something came out in 2014. I Know Places.
Jessica: Ah yes. Then I would say, add that to the Gina's Gloom playlist.
Pi: Then we should mention them briefly. Gina's Gloom and Gina's Doom are the two playlists that exist. Gina's Gloom is the gloomy, bubbly, uh...
Jessica: Crying at the Discotheque. Crying at the Discotheque playlist. Gina's Doom is hard bangers. Brie brie, hard bangers, squeaking, scratching, swallowed lawn mowers.
Pi: So cool!
Jessica: So cool! All that can be found in Gina's Doom, while Gina's Gloom is for heartache but also for summer nights when you just want to dance through. So smooth, indie, electronic. And you put Bring Me the Horizon in there.
Pi: But you just said for heartache. Bring Me the Horizon is an acoustic session at Malida Vale with fiddling. Yes, not deodorant, but violin.
Jessica: I just imitated a violin, not deodorant. What’s wrong with you? Club.
Pi: Aggressive deodorizing.
Jessica: An aggressive deodorizing.
Pi: Is that the verb for it?
Jessica: Hello, we are deodorant from Wuppertal.
Pi: Deodorant. That’s like, what did we have earlier? Not knife, but?
Jessica: I don’t remember. Something silly, really. Yes, totally. Bang. Something with D. Thistle, thistle, thistle. Hello, we are thistle.
Pi: That doesn’t matter.
Jessica: Completely.
Pi: Band name, maybe the band doesn’t need to exist either. Exactly. If they did, they would play a supporting act for Messer.
Jessica: Or Die Nerven.
Pi: Die Nerven, that’s cool.
Jessica: So, folks, I just want to say that we are fans of contrasts, we are fans of balances. Accordingly, we also have two playlists. And in the future, our guests will also fill them with great suggestions. And they may have already filled them. And there’s something for everyone. And for each. And that makes me very happy. So, back to the program.
Pi: Nice.
Jessica: You know, I interrupted you.
Pi: You said you want to continue with the program. But I still have a question about tattoos.
Jessica: Oh.
Pi: Actually.
Jessica: Okay.
Pi: Because we’ve only talked about music so far, and it’s definitely worthwhile to look left and right when it comes to getting influences in your own art. Or to always stay open-minded about what works and what doesn’t. And to always challenge the thought: why shouldn’t that work? So. And why can’t I incorporate that into my style? Because, for example, with us at LOTL, it started at some point that it was not only dark rock, gothic rock, gothic metal because the band always comes from the gothic scene. We’re still at home there, but not only there anymore. We also play at metal festivals, we play at mixed festivals, like Nova Rock this year, for example. It has everything, from Architects to Die Ärzte to Swiss & Die Andern and Nothing But Thieves. So everything is out there. And we’re shimmering somewhere in between.
And we don’t set ourselves any barriers like, we can do this and that but can’t do that in the music because that’s not metal or so. That’s not this and that. That doesn’t fit. If anything, we could only say it doesn’t fit what we want to do. But never, it doesn’t fit what we make as music, the genre or the style that one tattoos. And that would be my—yes?
Jessica: Just briefly, has it ever bothered anyone?
Pi: Yes, yes, yes, a lot.
Jessica: Yeah? So, that you didn't only do metal?
Pi: Szeneverräter, Symbol of a Dying Scene.
Jessica: That's a cool band name.
Pi: We made tote bag designs from that.
Jessica: Awesome, great how you handle that.
Pi: No, it was always a thing where people said, ah, Lotl, that didn't work with the last album, which was super dark, Judas. Now they're trying to do some glitter and noise here.
Jessica: You're trying then, right?
Pi: Exactly, it’s always seen as an attempt. And you just push through with it because you want to. And eventually, it might even be crowned with some success. And then it’s said by everyone, ah, okay, we always knew that would work. We’ve always known it. But you also turn a bug into a feature.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Because you're unique. And you can’t just be put in a box. And yet, you’ll always be put in a box again. Just for press announcements, ah, the dark metal band from Hamburg.
Jessica: Let them have their fun.
Pi: Yes, yes, that has to be somehow. And people like that too, just being able to open boxes instead of having to walk into the room.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: So, I’d be interested to know how that is for you in tattooing. Because when I look at tattoos in general, I can tell with people, yes, okay, if I know the terminology, this is realism, this is old school. But I don’t know that about you. How is it for you? Do you take influences from all sides as well? Or do you say, no, this and that can’t be done because I actually make these and those designs?
Jessica: I’ll answer that very honestly. I make all the drawings and tattoos that I create, and I do it now exclusively in a way that I would want to wear them myself. This means I have no plan behind it. I don’t think, now it has to be a little more neo-traditional, a little more old school, a little more realism. I have no plan behind it. So, I paint it, I usually go with the body shapes, and not just me or you. I mean, I don’t think there’s a person who can categorize that. Everyone has tried to a little bit. You can say a rough overarching term, like this is blackwork with linework and dotwork, and maybe a bit of colour.
Pi: It’s like when we say this is hard music.
Jessica: Exactly, it’s just, yes, and usually it’s big, actually, and dynamic. Big, dynamic life of the objects. That’s what I always call it. But there’s no, I can’t, I don’t feel at home anywhere, to be honest. So, I couldn’t say I’m exclusively a neo-traditional artist. That’s not true. I’m not a blackwork artist. That’s not true. I’m accidentally in a bit of everything. Without a plan. And I probably found my own signature through that.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Because I didn’t set any barriers for myself. And I was always open to things. So you know my favorite artist, who has nothing to do with my art.
Pi: Nothing at all.
Jessica: Exactly, that’s just 80s still life. Very brightly coloured. And if you just take all these things in and consume them somehow in your subconscious creative self, it mixes in. And then it comes out that way.
Pi: Yes. It’s still something that is tried to be explained scientifically, creativity.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: It’s still not achieved.
Jessica: Yes. I think I could maybe name a few parameters that need to be in place for it to be possible at all. I believe that exists. But of course, there’s no formula for how to be creative.
Pi: Exactly.
Jessica: That’s the biggest problem in my profession. Because I have to be creative every day. And you have to really nurture that. So, you have to be creative when you write a song and then you play it.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And I have to be creative every day, or, well, let’s say every second or third day because projects repeat. And that’s a really difficult thing, and we could take our time to dive deeper into this topic because I find it super interesting how to maintain that healthily.
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: And I’ve also faced my absolute worst problems and abysses. I was really on the verge of giving up, I can’t do this anymore, I’m empty. I don’t know how to proceed, and I have no ideas left. You have to maintain really strong creative hygiene to keep that going. And I also believe that this whole stress, which you have, for example, as a self-employed artist, damages that a little bit. So it unfortunately doesn’t go hand in hand—our need to function, do our bookkeeping, pay our taxes, manage our materials, respond to 200 emails in one day. And all of that is expected of us, let’s say, to master the perfect craft, make perfect placements, and then also work incredibly individually and creatively.
Pi: Yes, and hygienically.
Jessica: And exactly, the most important thing basically is that you also have an absolute medical background in the matter and ideally even know which skin layer you’re tattooing and why. And why there’s hyaluronic acid in the skin, so where the collagen bridges are, where hyaluronic acid is, blah blah blah, all those things. And I think that’s very counterproductive if you just want to work creatively. Because you have to consider far too much.
Pi: Exactly, and there’s always something on the list that has nothing to do with the pure activity of tattooing or making music or creative art form X, but is part of the whole. So it’s the same for musicians. And it shouldn’t come across as a complaint about it, but it is a representation of the facts that when a creative person also has to market themselves over the internet, hey, make a TikTok, it’s really taking off.
Jessica: Totally, yes.
Pi: There are so many things that don’t correspond with the actual activity, and others say, yes, but it belongs to it now because the whole thing is also somehow a development of the activity. And of course, it is. Probably a baker doesn’t do the same thing as 20 years ago in the same process. He’s probably also doing things differently, which is also a creative profession.
Jessica: Yes, for sure.
Pi: Unless you’re just baking chain recipes, I don’t know.
Jessica: Yes, but also a pretzel. Just think about it, what a crazy, awesome thing that is! Someone takes dough, great dough, throws it in a lye bath. How did someone come up with that idea?
Pi: That sounds like a happy accident.
Jessica: Right? And then they sprinkle coarse salt on top, and we love it.
Pi: We love it.
Jessica: We just love it. Pretzels are, for me, sorry, off-topic.
Pi: Lye pastries.
Jessica: Lye pastries are insane.
Pi: Lye pastries are insane.
Jessica: Incredible cool. You can only get it in Germany; I feel like.
Pi: Good lye pastries. In Spain, there are no lye pastries. Hey, in America, there's your pretzel bread, man. There's your pretzel bread. Well.
Jessica: It’s not, yes. So I’m a fan of lye pastries, in case that hasn’t come across yet.
Pi: Me too.
Jessica: Okay. Yes, back to the topic of creative work.
Pi: Well, a profession changes over time because there are now internet platforms and significant marketing happens online. But it’s always also individually determined how quickly one can keep up with that. If now a person who is creative needs to work in a way that they don’t have all these other parameters needed to be successful, I can imagine that to be incredibly difficult. So, I feel like because this change is so fast, it’s excluding more and more people who can really be creative. Exactly. Totally crazy.
Jessica: That’s what I was getting at. It’s so intensely selective because so many people simply can’t keep up with what’s expected of them to work creatively. So many people just stop using Instagram or going to fairs or things like that.
Pi: I hope, however, that there will always be people who make lye pastries.
Jessica: Yes, I hope so too.
Pi: That would be important to me. But I believe that in traditional areas like Bavaria, it will never die out because we’ve always done it this way.
Jessica: And the problem with all this Instagram, for example, is also that you subconsciously... I mean, it happens to me, I’ll be honest, I have phases where I compare myself terribly with other artists. And that ruins everything. And then, of course, I think that’s true for private individuals as well. I think we can’t free ourselves from the fact that we just... Because we see the great things on Instagram. And I also show the great things. Don’t forget that.
Pi: Everyone!
Jessica: I’m participating in the lie.
Pi: Everyone shows the great things.
Jessica: Exactly. I don’t show the bad things in the sense of that I’m feeling bad or that I had a bad day, or my clients didn’t show up. I don’t know. Such things. I only show when I do something great. And this comparison has ruined a lot for me. And these are even people I really like, with whom I compare myself, whom I admire, and I think, why are they so good? Why am I so bad? Even though I’ve been doing this for ten years, and I know, okay, it somehow gets through. And I think, in general, comparisons in life hinder your creativity and your freedom in creative work a lot in developing that.
Pi: And to do something individual.
Jessica: Of course. Because you are always inspired on a subconscious level in a way. Which is great. I don’t find that bad at all, both in music and in art.
Pi: No, no, no. That's cool.
Jessica: Let yourself be inspired by other artists. For God's sake, I've done that too. Only through that do you discover your own signature and so on.
Pi: I think there are two steps: Inspiration and then taking it for yourself and creating something of your own from it. Or saying, "Oh, I want that to sound like..."
Jessica: Well, that really has nothing to do with creative creation. That’s just wanting to be like the person, and then you do it exactly the same way.
Pi: Well, that’s why I recently watched something on YouTube about some nerd stuff. I was watching something about...
Jessica: Rosalía.
Pi: No, about VST instruments. So, like software synthesizers and stuff. And then there were so many videos like, "How to sound like Architects, Memphis Mayfire, and Bring Me The Horizon." I thought, well, that certainly sounds very good what that person is doing. But it sounds exactly like it, and it did sound exactly like it.
Jessica: Okay.
Pi: So he did exactly what it said on the tin, so to speak. But there are already Architects, Memphis Mayfire, and Bring Me The Horizon.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: They certainly do it better than you.
Jessica: I think so too.
Pi: For sure.
Jessica: That’s why I don’t understand copying things. I mean, copying art, for example, or tattoos. I don’t understand it at all because you can never reach the original. Plus, it’s still a copy. It’s like Lea 31 on Tinder, which I was, you know? Someone took my photo.
Pi: Tinder fake profile.
Jessica: Yeah, of course, they took a picture of my back, my back tattoo, and pretended to be Lea 31 from Berlin, greetings. And eventually, that will come out. So, if that all goes well, I say, it will come out that this is obviously not the person with the back tattoo. And it’s the same with copycats. So you try it, you don’t even have the ambition to do it differently or to vary it in a way. You just copy it with the knowledge that, okay, it won’t come close to the original. It’s like saying, "I want to sound like Architects," but Architects already exist; that’s a good band. Why not try to do it a little differently?
Pi: An incredibly good band.
Jessica: Try to bring a little of your own note into it while being totally inspired by Architects.
Pi: Yeah, that's pretty good.
Jessica: That’s a huge topic.
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: But we still have a few things we want to answer.
Pi: Right.
Jessica: Yeah, we got questions from you all.
Pi: Hard switch.
Jessica: Yeah, sorry.
Pi: But I still want to say one thing about bringing your own thing in. So, I want to assert that we also try that with the podcast.
Jessica: Yeah.
Pi: There are millions of podcasts in this world. And of course, this podcast will have a lot of parallels to other podcasts because it’s the same field. But, I don’t know, in many podcasts, they don’t eat into the microphone, for example. Ah, yes, she’s having the vegan pretzel nut chocolate.
Jessica: Pretzel chocolate, people.
Pi: Pretzel chocolate, it’s so good.
Jessica: My mom gifted it to me.
Pi: Greetings.
Jessica: Greetings to Mom.
Pi: Thanks. It’s amazing. So, this chocolate... I want a piece, sorry. I have to eat this quickly.
Jessica: So, but there are also... There are... Every podcast has playlists. You can navigate through the podcast world... So, there is really... Everything is discussed. There’s everything. But that’s not primarily the reason we’re doing this.
Pi: We don’t want to reinvent the wheel, folks.
Jessica: Exactly. And besides, the podcast isn’t needed, in a way. We don’t want to explain to anyone how to get inspired or anything. Please don’t get us wrong. Maybe we want to figure it out ourselves.
Pi: Self-interest.
Jessica: Absolutely.
Pi: So, it’s a lot of fun. At least so far. It is. Yeah. The chocolate is intense.
Jessica: Amazing. Yeah.
Pi: Vegan... Pretzel pieces. Nut chocolate. From Switzerland. Now you all know who... Those who make it know from whom it is. So, if you’re listening... Send chocolate.
Jessica: Delicious.
Pi: Okay.
Jessica: So, I’m the person who...
Pi: Brings the thread in. Yeah, you’ve already understood it.
Jessica: Brings the thread in, explaining to the listeners what a fade-out and a drop-out and Lottl and pfff are.
Pi: What’s a fade-out?
Jessica: A fade-out is when a song becomes slower and quieter...
Pi: A fade-out is when it... becomes quieter, exactly. A fade-out is... That’s whistling. Good, yeah, we had on Insta, dude...
Jessica: You’re so cringe sometimes.
Pi: Yeah, and?
Jessica: Dude.
Pi: Did you see my band? It’s also cringe.
Jessica: I don’t think so.
Pi: A lot of people think it is, and I think it’s totally fine.
Jessica: I don’t think you’re cringe... There are cringier ones.
Pi: Cringe metal. Yeah, sure, but... We have Q&A... We posted Q&A on Instagram. But we haven’t answered these questions yet. Not only did Wacken play into it, but especially six months of on-and-off touring before and my not quite existing ability to still do that. I have to be honest.
Jessica: Yeah.
Pi: So, to be in front of the camera again after six months in front of a running camera, which is ironic because now we’re sitting in front of a running camera. But I might have eaten a piece of that chocolate beforehand and got a bit on track.
Jessica: Yeah, and I mean, it’s also very important that you don’t do things, especially things that are new for you and that you enjoy, where that initial enthusiasm is there.
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: And then it should really be fun... You should want to do it, you shouldn’t think, "Oh, we have to make a Q&A video now and answer that."
Pi: No, then it becomes mediocre.
Jessica: Exactly. Plus, if you don’t feel like it, and that will certainly happen in the future for me, for you, for many, it’s just like that; you can’t always perform, which again contradicts our professions.
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: Because we have to function every day in a way. And that’s not complaining because it’s beautiful to function.
Pi: It’s great.
Jessica: It’s a wonderful functioning. But you still have to be present and there. And if you have the chance to choose that you might answer it a week later so that you enjoy it, so that the listeners and viewers enjoy it, it’s absolutely fine to just say we’re postponing that.
And that’s why we’re doing this now.
Pi: Q&A.
Jessica: Nice.
Pi: I think, unlike other Q&As that you do on Instagram, there are few uncomfortable questions here. I often get uncomfortable questions too.
Jessica: Yeah?
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: What’s uncomfortable for you? How often do you go to the bathroom a day, or what’s uncomfortable?
Pi: No, that’s not uncomfortable for me. Well, often. I mean pee.
Jessica: Yeah, you’re healthy.
Pi: In other cases, one to three times. It’s great.
Jessica: It’s great. We’ve cleared that up. Peace. Yes, healthy eating leads... bathroom habits. We know that now. Cool.
Pi: Healthy eating leads to that. Vegan eating even more. Beans.
Jessica: Dude.
Pi: Q&A. So. I’ll ask you the first question.
Jessica: And I’ll ask you then.
Pi: Exactly.
Jessica: Funny.
Pi: Why the logo? It somehow looks like tattoos.
Jessica: Yes, I’ve been a tattoo artist for ten years. Next.
Pi: Okay, good. Yes, next.
Jessica: Okay, oh wait. I’m not prepared.
Pi: I’m just the one who keeps the pace up and brings the thread in here.
Jessica: I’ll make order and discipline. That sounds really bad, doesn’t it?
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Yes, okay. Hey, stop making me feel read.
Pi: Do you ghost people?
Jessica: No, I’m just doing it because I don’t see it. I’m sorry. I really don’t mean it badly.
Pi: Maybe it’s better for everyone if you stay unread.
Jessica: So, I want to know, how did your collaboration come about? How do you know each other? I’m looking forward to it starting soon.
Pi: It’s starting here. If you’re watching this, it has started. Different tense.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: Baby. How did we meet? So, this arm that I carry, this right arm, which by the way is also freshly tattooed in parts, was not always tattooed, and I wanted it to be tattooed by you. Because I like what you do.
Jessica: Mhm.
Pi: So. And I think I decided in 2020 or so that I wanted this. I thought about it a bit, because it’s something that... I mean, you do think about tattoos. The more you have, the less you think about it.
Jessica: In the best case.
Pi: In the best case, it should be like that. Careful, there’s red in there. The drink.
Jessica: Yes, yes, I’m looking.
Pi: So, and I sent a contact request, as one does, quite reasonably, with wishes and body parts and blah blah blah over an email. Not via Instagram. You don’t do that. Unless the tattoo artists want it that way. And then it was fully booked at first.
Jessica: I just had my books closed.
Pi: Books closed. Exactly. And then it was connected with waiting. And then it was clear that, in further communication, it was clear that it might be something in 2022. But that didn’t happen, rather 2023. At the beginning of 2023, you told me, definitely.
Jessica: Or we just say we met drunk at a Lord of the Lost show.
Pi: Which isn’t true.
Jessica: I hold.
Pi: Yeah, I don’t.
Jessica: You don’t.
Pi: I had to work. No, here’s the thing.
I wanted to know who it is that’s tattooing me. I wanted to say hello first. I think that’s cool when it is. It’s not just some anchor on the foot.
Jessica: By the way, I have that, never mind. I have an anchor on my foot.
Pi: Foot.
Jessica: My foot. I’m currently holding my arm in the air for everyone who’s just listening.
Pi: And I wanted to say hello. Since I know you also tattoo in Barcelona and we played there last year. On November 5th or something. I don’t know.
Jessica: I don’t remember that anymore.
Pi: Yes, I said if you want to come by, you came by. Then we said hello. Two days later again, because we were back in Barcelona. We talked longer than two minutes then.
So more than just small talk.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: But we sat with Lenny, our cameraman, a bit longer. And got to know each other.
Jessica: And now we have plenty of time to talk because we’re doing a podcast together. Isn’t that nice?
Pi: Yes.
Jessica: Wonderful. Exactly. And the collaboration just came about because we thought we wanted to do something together. That’s a good thing. We both had the same problem. It sounds a bit weird. But we both had the problem that we know a lot of interesting people. And we don’t have time for them. And we wanted to shine a light on that publicly in some way.
Pi: It could potentially offer added value for others as well.
Jessica: Exactly. That means we came from the same direction. We noticed that. And then we just grabbed the fox by the tail. Is that how you say it?
Pi: That’s mean, but yes.
Jessica: Yeah. And we just did it. Just started. Good thing.
Pi: Exactly. And that’s what we’re doing right now. It’s certainly not all perfect. But just getting started is better than not starting at all. And just breaking your head over it.
Jessica: Yes. Just do it. I have one for you because it’s actually directed at you.
Pi: Okay, you go first.
Jessica: If you want. How does Pi manage to juggle Lottl and your project?
Pi: So. Lord of the Lost, Lotl. We work very strictly with schedules. With tables, where partially a year in advance is already fixed what will happen. That means you have a certain security and commitment about when you have time and when not. Of course, there are always a lot of things that come up or get postponed or something. So it’s a bit dynamic, but basically, you can rely on that. And therefore, you also know when you have time. And of course, there’s also the internet and communicating about it is relatively easy via WhatsApp, FaceTime, etc. And to be honest, this whole podcast concept and up to this point here, a large part of it was created via WhatsApp and FaceTime calls and so on. That was also said because I was on tour for most of the year, so I had to find a day, an hour in the back lounge to talk about further things we want to do in the podcast. How should the whole thing look? How about shirts? Where do we make them?
Jessica: Who should come?
Pi: Who should come? When is that possible? And this doesn’t just include our appointments but also very quickly, and that’s a challenge, the appointments of other people, some of whom might not even come from Germany. Will this podcast always be in German? No, it will be in the language in which one can communicate, depending on the guest.
Jessica: Si.
Pi: Si.
Jessica: Oh, that’s going to be good.
Pi: So both German and English, Spanish, we’re not there yet. Exactly. So for everyone who’s watching up until now, congrats on making it through an hour of German.
Jessica: Of Brezel Talk.
Pi: Of Brezel Talk. This podcast will sometimes also be in English, because of the guests. So we will choose the language according to the guests so we can communicate. Exactly, and juggling that is actually just a matter of communication and calendar juggling.
Jessica: And a bit of desire?
Pi: Well, I’ve seen that as a given.
Jessica: All right.
Pi: Of course, desire.
Jessica: Yes, because if you have a desire for something, you can make a lot possible.
Pi: Yes, yes, if you have a desire for something, you first juggle with calendars because that can be quite exhausting.
Jessica: Okay, cool.
Pi: Exactly. How did the name come about?
Jessica: Once, when we founded this podcast. Should I answer in English?
Pi: No, in German.
Jessica: No, in German. Okay, all right. We once sat in a little café and had breakfast. And then we thought we’d make a podcast. But we didn’t want anything too obvious. And I always said, I don’t know, Peace Talk, I don’t know. Pi and Jessie talk. Pi and Jessie talk. Sweet. I’ve had Gina here in the shop for a long time. I’m holding her right now for all the listeners. I’m currently holding Gina on the shoulder.
Pi: Gina leans over a bit.
Jessica: Gina is a beautiful pink mannequin that I sometimes talk to in lonely hours. Okay. Yes. And Gina has been painted and repainted many times, and I've had to go through a lot with her.
Pi: A plaything of your moods.
Jessica: Exactly. And we found Gina's Room. It's basically her room and ours. And we thought this name leaves a lot of room for interpretation. You know what? So you understand what I mean.
Pi: Yeah, yeah.
Jessica: It could be anything. It could be, I don't know, a cooking block, a porno, a restaurant. Well, Gina's Room.
Pi: Gina's Room. Yeah, because of Gina Wild, of course.
Jessica: For example, yeah. So that could be so many things. Or it could also, yeah.
Pi: It would be funny if we had her as a guest sometime.
Jessica: We can make that happen.
Pi: Cool.
Jessica: Exactly, so that was a bit, the idea wasn’t really, it really came from the gut. It sounds good, it's a good thing. It leaves some things open, doesn’t really have a depth and doesn’t really have a pun, I find that a bit difficult. With Talks and mmm mmm.
Pi: Professional. Jessica’s phone sends messaging tone
Jessica: Sorry.
Pi: Professional.
Jessica: And exactly, very simple story. It's just a mannequin and Gina's Room sounds cool.
Jessica: How will you pick your guests and are they from a certain bubble?
Pi: So how do we choose guests and do they come from a specific bubble, from a certain area? They come from many different, tuned guitars, here we go again, from many specific areas. Like I said, it doesn’t have to be only music, doesn’t have to be only the tattoo industry, it can also be from the culinary field. I would find it interesting to have politicians at some point. Yeah, totally.
Jessica: What did I say about politicians yesterday? I find it difficult. No, keep talking, I’ll be quiet. Banana.
Pi: Banana. The main thing is that we find this person interesting and this person has to have time and wants to.
Jessica: They should also be willing; they won’t be forced to sit here.
Pi: But ultimately it’s about those people we feel the need to talk to, and we also perceive that it might offer some value.
Jessica: And to answer the question very plainly, no, there will be many surprises. There will not only be musicians and tattoo artists. Exactly, it will be a grab bag of guests. I'm excited. Just the guests we’ve already confirmed here.
Pi: Let’s do another episode with Gina.
Jessica: Super interesting.
Pi: An episode with Gina.
Jessica: Super interesting. Of course, I would like to answer these Gina's Room-related questions. But we also got some funny stuff.
Pi: We have already answered a lot.
Jessica: Exactly, how tall are you? Greet me. I love you. What do you regret the most? Netflix and chill. Your last song on your Spotify playlist. A lot. Why Ed Peach, Sophos, and not me? I also find that very funny. Who are you?
Pi: That’s so dumb to ask such a question anonymously.
Jessica: Yeah, I’d like to know who you are; then I can explain it to you.
Pi: You must have a name, but you will surely also recognize that this is a bit counterproductive for your request to ask anonymously.
Jessica: Exactly.
Pi: Well.
Jessica: Unfortunately. And I greet you, unfortunately, too. So greet me. I greet you, but unfortunately, I don’t know who you are. Greetings to the acquaintance. Exactly. And then so great. Will there be any fellow Eurovision participants on the podcast?
Pi: I would be up for that. In October, Voyager will be in Hamburg. And we had that because we are brothers and sisters in spirit. Yes, Simone is just. Jessica laughs
Jessica: Yeah, yeah, it’s fine. The laugh was not demeaning; all good.
Pi: So, so. They will be in Hamburg, I know that. In October, I believe. And I will just write to Danny to come by.
Jessica: Super gladly.
Pi: Then we’ll do a German-English episode because Danny…
Jessica: can do everything.
Pi: So in German and English.
Jessica: Yeah, I mean, yeah.
Pi: But yeah, that would be cool.
Jessica: I was a fan of Gustaph from Belgium. Yeah. He had such a cool outfit. Outfit was on point. Outfit was on point. The song was exactly what I feel in the summer. Dancey, catchy.
Pi: I thought you listened to hardcore in the summer.
Jessica: But also disco music, right? Yeah. Sometimes. In the evening rather.
Pi: In the evening rather. It’s slowly becoming evening, isn’t it?
Jessica: It’s slowly time. Because, what do we have left today? We still have a jour fixe regarding this podcast. So, how do we close each podcast episode?
Pi: Gina's Doom, Gina's Gloom. What are you going to add?
Jessica: I’ll add something to Gina's Doom today. And...
Pi: You had something for Gina's Gloom earlier too.
Jessica: For sure. I would like to add "Chaos Arise" by the great band All Pigs Must Die to Gina's Doom. Awesome. Good song, good mood, choked lawnmower.
Pi: Everything it takes.
Jessica: And I don’t want to spread lies, but I believe the guitarist or bassist from Converge.
Pi: No way.
Jessica: Or at least one of them. And Converge is one of my favorite bands, but they are already on it.
Pi: Well, you know... Bands can appear more than once.
Jessica: Okay, but no, I’ll stick with All Pigs Must Die. I’m not a fan of the band name. It doesn’t make sense.
Pi: I don’t think it’s about pigs, the animals.
Jessica: Oh, okay. Yeah, I’m pretty sure about that. All right.
Pi: I’m pretty sure about that. I want to add something to both, but I need to think about it for a second. I think I want to add a Periphery song to Gina's Doom.
Jessica: Uh.
Pi: Yeah, I just heard it again today. Periphery song, "Omega." Awesome song, 11 minutes long.
Jessica: Cool.
Pi: Awesome.
Jessica: Cool.
Pi: Really, really cool. The piano at the beginning. Hello, what’s wrong with you? The piano at the beginning is then taken over by the guitar... Awesome song.
Jessica: Okay.
Pi: So "Omega" by Periphery, and I would like to fill Gina's Doom with... What’s the name of the song? Shit. The hit by Atomic Kitten.
Jessica: The hit by Atomic Kitten?
Pi: Yeah, what’s the name of the song?
Jessica: Uh, Atomic Kitten. Watch out, as long as you’re searching, I’ll go. Look, someone is checking themselves out. Wonderful.
Pi: Sorry.
Jessica: Just for those who don’t know, here is mirror foil on the window, and you can’t look in from the outside; you only see a reflection, but we see it.
Pi: And people are making their hair nice, popping pimples, taking selfies in the summer. He’s about to take a selfie. He’s wearing beautiful tight white pants, checking himself out. You look good. Oh people, if you could see this... Oh shit, don’t look now. Oh my god, it’s always more awkward.
Pi: His look, whatever.
Jessica: As long as you think about Atomic Kitten. I also want to add something to Gina's Gloom. And "The Girl" by City in Color. City in Color, Dallas Green. Alexis on Fire. You know it. Guitarist from Alexis on Fire. He released this album before, I don’t know, 2008.
Pi: "Eternal Flame." By Atomic Kitten.
Jessica: You know that’s a cover, right?
Pi: Yeah.
Jessica: Okay. Wonderful. That’s a beautiful conclusion. It shows again how weird our taste in music is.
Pi: Atomic Kitten and All Pigs Must Die.
Jessica: Yes.
Pi: Mega.
Jessica: Wonderful. Then I would say, off to the jour fixe.
Pi: Exactly.
Jessica: I’m looking forward to it.
Pi: Me too. I’m going to eat a piece of chocolate now. And we’re excited if you all watch the episodes and have a lot of fun with them.
Jessica: Absolutely. And I think now we can... This is it, right? We’re not doing a third try? No. Then you have to deal with it now.
Pi: This is what you get. Wow. Plus guests.
Jessica: Okay. Take care, love each other.
Pi: Bye.
Jessica: Bye.
Translation: Dorit Klingman, Manuela Heiermeier
Proofreading: Katie Dillon
