Interview With German Rockers Brunhilde

Last week I had the chance to interview the German rockers, Brunhilde.

It's been nearly a year since the release of their critically acclaimed album To Cut A Long Story Short.

After playing live in late summer, Brunhilde has the eyes set on taking all their creative energy back to the studio!

The band has a new single out, "Friendly Fire," which was released November 19, 2021, supported by the "Initiative Musik"! The single is an enticing harbinger for the new Brunhilde album, which, according to singer Caro Loy, is already scheduled for release in summer 2022:

Another single release is planned before Christmas 2021. And then it's back on the road for Brunhilde. First on December 28th, 2021, as guests of Motörizer in Hamburg. And then Caro and the rest of the band will prove once more at their two shows on January 15, 2022, in Hamburg (Headcrash) and on January 16 in Cologne (Blue Shell).

Interview: Brunhilde

1. What is the back story behind the name Brunhilde and how did you come together as a band?

 As Brunhilde, we'd been playing together since 2013. Kurt and I met in 2009. For a few years, we actually played in a cover band and toured for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, etc. Unplugged - just the two of us. After some time, we started songwriting some originals. And eventually named it Brunhilde. And also ended up playing some good slots - up to supports for the likes of ZZ-Top, The Sweet, or Nazareth. I hadn't heard this question in a long time :) Brunhilde was "born" with a movie night of Quentin Tarantino movies. We watched "Django Unchained." Django's wife is named Brunhilde. I don't know how, but I was so intrigued by this name and the way it sounds. So weird, but so local, too. A good combination of madness and "sniffy" :). I thought, this is so weird, but people remember this name. So the band name Brunhilde was born!

2. On May 22, 2020, Brunhilde released "When You Were Born (I Was Already Dead)" marking a stylistic change for the band. How far have you come from Dollhouse?

 Yes, compared to the first two albums "Dollhouse" and "Behind my mind", Brunhilde reinvented herself completely by meeting our producers Charlie Bauerfeind (Helloween, Saxxon, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian …). The songs became "international" as well as the sound!

3. Then you released the EP Choir Boy on June 26 via your own label Count & Countess. What drove you to take this new approach to the music business?

  We are 100% workhorses and didn't want to leave anything to chance. We didn't want to simply be number X at any label! Hence the decision for our own label. Here we work for ourselves and we know what is ultimately being done for the band.

4. You also created Streetlife Studios to take the recording process into your own hands? How is this helping the creative process, and was it also impactful in recording new songs during the pandemic?

 - Streetlife Studios has been around for over 20 years. The studio belongs to our guitarist Kurt. We recorded many bands and other musicians. It's a blessing to have our own studio we can work creatively whenever we want! We are working the whole time on new songs! Whether it's a pandemic or not. :) it isn´t time to stand still. The Streetlife Studios is the BRUNHILDE headquarters.

5. Regarding your latest album "To cut a long Story Short" do you think this was your most raw and unfiltered release to date?

 - No! The songs came about relatively quickly. Our producer Charlie Bauerfeind created a "BRUNHILDE" sound, which will be continued in the next album (release in mid-2022).

6. I know there's a back story to the new single "Friendly Fire" please could you share it with us?

 - Nope! :) Joke…. :) Friendly fire was inspired by a story about Pat Tillman. He went to war after 9/11 for his country… He was killed in friendly fire and the army covered it up. They said it was the enemy who shot him…. but years later, the truth emerged. true story…

7. Brunhilde will get support under the central funding institution of the federal government. How will "Initiative Musik" benefit you in the near future?

 - We were lucky enough to be selected by the Music Initiative in Berlin. Many bands and musicians apply there. We were really happy that our music received an award here. The two videos for the single releases in November 2021 and December 2021 were produced with the support of Initiative Musik.

8. Europe is going through a new wave of COVID.-19 because of the new Omicron variant. Brunhilde is on tour this winter; how is the scenario in Germany?

 - Fortunately, we were able to play a few gigs in the fall. On December 28 let's play if we're lucky in Hamburg. In January we should have 2 gigs in Cologne and Hamburg. So far the gigs are still on!

9. Brunhilde's new album is set to be released in early summer 2022. Are there any enticing tidbits you could share with us?

 - It´s a secret… :) But I'm so excited !!! And so curious about the reactions…. juhuuuuu… I can barely wait for it….

10. Is there something about the band nobody has asked before but you believe fans would love to know about? Please could you answer it?

 - We look forward to every fan who writes to us, by mail or as a subscriber to YT. We are guaranteed to answer every post. Please follow us on our SN channels. We are really looking forward to all the live gigs to give you our music.

11. Any concluding words to your fans?

 - Hopefully, everything will be "normal" again and we can celebrate together again soon! Stay cool and hang on!

Brunhilde on Tour

December 28, 2021 - Lemmyversary Hamburg

January 15, 2022 - To Cut a Long Story Short Hamburg

January 16, 2022– To Cut a Long Story Short Cologne

June 24, 2022 - Midsummer Music Festival 2022 Berlin

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Many thanks to Brunhilde & Sonja Schlicht | MM GMBH

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