Hi Nina. It's an honor for me to do this interview as I've always been into the band since the beginning. When I discovered the first album, I wouldn't have imagined I'd have the chance to do it one day…
HI !
I am surprised you have waited so long until you're making an interview with me. It must be really difficult to get hold of us, eh ? ;-)
So you really have all our albums ? That is so cool !!!

Everybody knows you've gone through serious health problems. Things seem to get much better now, how do you feel today ?
Thanks a lot for your kind words, yes, I am super fit and strong again, but I don't ever wanna miss a thing. Being sick means to pull back and try to contemplate life, look at everything with a different perspective. So, not that I am saying, it's great to be sick…HAHAH…no, but, once someone's sick, someone must take a deep breath and live with it and make the best of it. And while I was being sick I was very very creative ! Actually, I am glad I am up and healthy again.

The band's back with a terrific album, which showcases a brand new line-up. What did happen with the former rhythm section and can you introduce the new members to our readers ?
Yeah, we're back and alive .. and loud ! Metal In Your Face !!
I am not sure what happened to the former rythm section ! And I am not sure also, if I really want to know or get into this subject too deep. Because it's in the past and I am living today. They decided to leave when things went downhill with the label and Jim's sister died from cancer. Jim and me have been very exhausted from a lot of things and like always, psychologic shit goes on between band mates and often, no, most of the times it's NOT about music, it's about bloody ego Trip's !
I was glad when we have been in the situation to hire Randy for the drums and Henning for the bass ! They are great musicians and good people. They are quiete different from each other and total different than me or Jim, but maybe that's when the magic pops in, right ?
They both live in Berlin. We tried to get Henning into the band 5 years ago already, but he was always too busy with other bands. Then, 2 years ago, he started to be available and his first show with SKEW SISKIN was in France! We have asked him then, if he knows a drummer, because we really didn't wanted to do all of these show cases again. That is sometimes so depressive. Henning mentioned Randy's name. He saw him playing once and was taken by his drumming. Randy is from Canada but met his girlfriend in Berlin and moved to Berlin years ago. On his web page he says that he's influenced by Keith Moon, so we thought that's our man.

Also, the new album is released through a new label in France, you're no longer on Bad Reputation…
Yes, the new label is our own label MONONGO and UNDERCLASS is the distributor for France. Jim and I created the new label, because Bad Reputation pulled out.
We still have two albums on Bad Reputation. Devils Disciple and Valentines Day Massacre (the Motörhead tribute album). Eric from Bad Reputation was the promoter for "Album Of The Year" and we always have been in contact. Later on we've realized that Bad Reputation is his own label and when we got the offer for the french Motörhead-tour we offered him to release PEACE BREAKER first. But he was a little concerned about the costs for that tour. So he wished us good luck. That was the moment when we decided to form our own label because we really wanted to do this tour. Right after the tour we were introduced to Underclass distribution and that was that.

May we have some details about the recording of this new album ? More generally, can you tell us about the writing process within the band ?
When I have an idea that sticks longer to my head than a second (I sometimes forget ideas…) I would write it down, run over to Jim and sing him a riff idea. Jim keeps recording his ideas too and plays them to me. Sometimes Jim records a whole song idea and I add ideas on top, or change the arrangement or the running order of riffs. I write songs too, but I expect Jim to add the typical SKEW SISKIN sound to it. Things fall to it's place once we collect bits + pieces and decide what riff should go where, with the intro, what riff should be the chorus. It depends on the mood sometimes. In the morning some ideas sound completely different, than in the evening !

There's a strong friendship between the band and Lemmy. Once again he took part in the writing of this album. How did that happen ? Has there ever been a chance for you to feature on a Motörhead album ? I heard you were about to take part in Lemmy's solo album, is that correct ?
Yea, Skew Siskin and Lemmy with Motorhead are family now more or less. With all that belongs to it. Lemmy is my writing partner for lyrics. I call him and get to know if he has time to read my shit and he has his assistant call me, or mail us, and let me know where to fax my lyrics to. That can be Brazil, Japan, USA, UK, or wherever Lemmy is hanging around with Motorhead. Then, when he finds the right mood and time, he writes down his ideas next to my lines, words, or whole parts and faxes me back. We later discuss things on the phone.
YES ! We are part of his solo album ! Ain't it cool ! This record of his is already very very cool ! I can not wait to see it being released. So many cool musicians on one CD, so much creativity and fun ! I think he needs a few more songs, 1 or two….then it could see the daylight soon. Let's cross fingers ;)

There are some other guests on Peace Breaker… Did you meet them all for the recording of their parts ?
We do know the people in person, yes, we are enjoying a long time friend ship with all of them. But when we entered the studio, they haven't been there. Only Wolf Hoffmann (of Accept) was here to record his parts by accidents. He was just jamming at first with Jim and later on, Jim called him again to shape up the song even better. Jim left the guitars on the idea like Wolf played them on the demos, and Wolf was fine with it. Ivan gave us a demo version and had it on pro-tools in the studio, so, you can hear some of his guitars, as we left it on the recordings. We mixed it into the song. He also sent some guitars with e-mails, which we added later on to the track. Now, since we are in the computer ages, everything is possible !! It's great !!

So far, have you got a great response to this new album ? How do the fans react to the new songs when you play them live ?
Fantastic. We do have a lot of reviews already, online and print mags. And the songs work real good with the audience ! We have played a few right after they have been written and it was as if we play them for years. The songs from PEACE BREAKER are exactly the types of songs we needed for our live shows.
To me, recording an album and playing live are two different things. We do not try to re-create the studio sound on our live shows 1 on 1. Sometimes we change the arrangement a little bit , to make the songs more exiting live and to replace some of the studio gimmicks.
There are also always songs you never play live but they are good for the album.

If you had the chance to do it, would you change anything to the album ? Looking back upon the early days and all the road travelled, are you satisfied ? Is there anything you'd do differently ?
Very often when the album is ready and done, you sometimes have a feeling this and that could be done better. You're still too close to the recordings and tend to be overcritical. I think that's normal. I mean, you hear the song a million times in the studio and it is hard to keep being objective to the music. After some weeks, sometimes month's, you have enough distance and can enjoy what you've recorded. I have to say that this time I am already happy with everything. Maybe because it was done so fast. For example , I did all of my lead-harmony- and backingvocaltracks in 10 days. That's all in all around 70 tracks ! We've mixed the entire album in 5 days. That's pretty fast, I would say!! We had a tremendous pressure of time to finish with the album because of the tour in France. It turned out to be good for the music.

You just toured. Do you plan to come back soon ? Is there a reason why the band's not playing more often in festivals ?
Hopefully soon. We would love to play our own club shows in France as well.

You've often been described as " Janis Joplin meets Bon Scott ". I guess this kind of comparison is rather pleasing, are you ok with it ? Musically and vocally speaking, what are your main influences ?
Yeah! If Janis and Bon would have gotten kids together, I'd be one of them!!!! No doubt about this. I love those two very very much. I hate the fact to not be able to hear them sing nowadays. I am ok with that, maybe Bon and Janis would be OK with it too? But I'd say, I also add a lot of Ninalicious style to all those influences, I do have my own style of singing and interpretating. After all the tourings and recordings with Skew Siskin my voice became even rougher than ever. I think I have this old style blues snarling mixed very well with the metal / rock'n roll kicking of nowadays. But then, talking about it too much makes me all fuzzy. It's just singing into a microphone and pour out some emotions you know!
My main influences: Janis Joplin, Bon Scott, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Lemmy Kilmister, Marilyn Manson. A good fair mix of crazy people with a razor blade voice and edgy feelings! I just need a good mix of vulnerability and pure aggression in the voice when I consume other vocalists. Also, brilliant lyrics with strong personality is a must for me. Sometimes I hear great, or let's say interesting talented voices, but once they start using their tremolo too much, and just on purpose, I'll trash my hifi! I only accept real feelings and originality. Lazy singers with just talent have nothing to do with real rock'n'roll! It's hard to sing edgy always and every night. I am very impressed also by the singer of Arch Enemy, though it's not exactly the music I am listening to. Also the Evanescense singer and the singer of Otep are impressing vocalists with unique style and the guts to make people listen! That's what a great voice needs: character, style, individuality, exaction, the love for details and a lot of power to show this off every night on tour! I came to the solution that singers have to be born singers. It's a certain race y'know ;).

You've had the opportunity to tour with a lot of huge bands. Can you tell us about some cool memories you keep from this last tour ?
It happened on our first tour ever. It was the first day of the Black Sabbath tour in the USA and I was sooo exited to tour with them. On my first greeting with Tony Iommi I said: "It's so great to tour with you and my parents were always listening to your music." . . . . and I wished the floor would open up and so could jump into it and disappear. But Tony Iommi took it easy….I think…hahaha…. Thank god. He just looked to Geezer Butler and said in a typical English gentleman voice and slang: "Are we already that old??"
On the same tour in New York I had my worst case of stage fright ever. I mean, New York … my voice was gone because I had a cold and thought this could be a disaster tonight. Then I went into the bathroom and smashed the toilet . . . and then I was okay and had a great show. You see, the solution can be so simpel sometimes.

I just love Jim's playing, and I've always thought he was way too much underrated and deserved a lot more recognition. Do you share this feeling ?
I'll let him know you said this! :o) I admire his playing and I am glad he's the guitar player of my band. He's special, yes, but I can't tell if he's underrated. Journalists want to speak to me 90 % and I am always taking Jim with me, because I hate to give interviews alone. I am always glad, when journalists want to talk to him only, so I can do other things.
Jim is a teamplayer. He loves to groove WITH the drummer and bass player instead of showing off solo - guit.-technic . Playing a zillion notes in one second, he calls that rehearsal. It does happen that other musicians think that he plays too simple and look down on him. They say:"All he does is feedback." But when they try to copy his style they fail miserably and can't do it. When Jim plays solos, he always trys to translate the colors he sees in his head into sheer volume and notes with often amazing results. That's quite difficult to do.

What's your current playlist ? Which bands or genres do you dig ?
My current playlist is:
1. IGGY POP - Live 1977 TV EYE
2. IGGY POP - Skull Ring
3. COLDPLAY - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
4. POTHEAD - Grassroots
5. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Shot To Hell
If I have to think and focus on genres, I think I am more a rocker than anything else, also often a blues woman, or a punk chick, maybe also a psychedelic freak. Who cares. I hate to think in genres. The feelings are more important. Genres are for Record companies and Stores. Not for me. But if you force me to come to one conclusion: I am a motherfuckin metalpunkrocker with psychedelic edgy killer instinct…hahaha…ah, fuck that! ROCK'N'ROLL!!!

You now have your own label. Will you help young bands and if so, can you already drop some names ?
At the moment we're still building up the company. Getting distribution for various countries just as we speak. Right now we have a release in France, Germany and (soon) in Scandinavia. That's already great but we wanna release in the rest of Europe as well of course. I can see us helping other bands as well. But first we need to have our shit together. Still a lot of work to do.

To end up this interview, what wishes can we make for Skew Siskin ?
No financial disasters, good health, good partner ships with good people in the business, great touring offers, good sellings of the CD's and Merch, a lot of fun with the band people and our crew in the bus when we are on tour and super cool fans who have fun with what we do.
That's a lot to wish for, but if just half of it comes true, we are lucky !
In return we wish you a great year with success too and major fun with all you do.

And finally, the good old " words for our readers " if you please …
Uhhhhm…buy our fucking CD will ya!!! Learn the lyrics and sing with me!!! Write us on myspace and get in touch with us on our web sites. We want to know you fans out there!
THANKS!!!