INTERVIEW By Baz Bardoe
Funker Vogt is a German electro-industrial project formed by vocalist Jens Kästel and programmer Gerrit Thomas in 1995. For those who are not familiar with the genre think huge pounding mostly fast paced beats, aggressive vocals and anthemic chorus lines. Terms like Electronic Body Music (EBM), Aggro-Tech and even Future Pop have also been used to describe the act, but genres can be misleading as they have definitely forged a unique and instantly recognisable sound.
The name of the band translates from German to English as “Radio Operator Vogt”, this being the surname of a friend of the band who was a military radio operator The group appeared on several German compilations and in 1996, released their debut album Thanks for Nothing. Following the release of two limited edition EPs Funker Vogt signed with the American record label Metropolis Records, and the rest as they say is history with a steady stream of acclaimed albums following, mostly dealing with warfare as the lyrical subject matter.
Jens Kästel left the band in 2013 and currently. Gerrit Thomas is joined by vocalist Bastian Polak and percussionist and backing vocalist René Dornbusch. Their latest album Final Construct is an absolute monster and having been a fan since the 90s an interview was long overdue.
Gerrit Thomas kindly agreed to answer a few of my questions, some of which had been at the back of my mind for years.
What are some of the main pieces of gear that you use to make music. What do you use in the recording process versus live?
Gerrit: These are two completely different things. In the studio, I work with a DAW as a host sequencer (Cubase), utilizing various plugins like Serum 2, Spire, Avenger, Kontakt and Maschine 2, just to mention the most important ones.
In a live setting, however, I typically rely solely on the Maschine 2 software, using a master keyboard equipped with drum pads and lots of macro knobs to trigger sounds, samples, loops, and effects.
Do you prefer recording or live work?
Gerrit: What I enjoy doing most in my job is studio work. Creating new songs for my own projects is the main reason I have been doing this job for 30 years now. However, I also really enjoy producing for other artists.
Nevertheless, it is always wonderful to experience the fans’ feedback firsthand at live concerts. And so, every part of this profession has its advantages – and only rarely its disadvantages.
How do you go about creating a new track? Do you have a certain approach or is it different most times?
Gerrit: Most of the time, I have a specific idea and try to bring it to life. The entire song is then built upon this idea, which could be a melody or a specific new approach.
I have seen your music described by a number of different terms – EBM, Electro-Industrial, Aggro-Tech – how do you describe it and what was the inspiration to do this kind of music?
Gerrit: I simply enjoy many different types of electronic music. Since I have several projects, I can fully express myself in that regard. When I’m in the mood for heavier stuff, it usually gets developed for Funker Vogt. But, personally, I don’t like pigeonholing my music. It’s actually too diverse for that. It wouldn’t be right to define songs like “Blessed or Cursed” and “Im Auge des Orkans” using the same classification, just to give a current example.
When did you first start making music, what instruments or equipment did you begin with, and what got you into music originally?
Gerrit: Oh wow, my first musical outpourings were created on a Yamaha SY22. Later on, thanks to Björn from Ravenous, a hardware sequencer, an Alesis synth, and a Roland drum machine were added. That was in the early 90‘s.
Well, like many musicians in our electro scene we‘ve been fans from Depeche Mode, Front 242 and so on in the 80‘s and wanted to make music like they did. That somehow evolved into a style of its own.
Do you do this professionally or do you combine it with another career?
Gerrit: This is my sole occupation – which, as I mentioned, consists of various projects of my own (Funker Vogt, Eisfabrik, Fictional, Fusspils 11, Ravenous), production work for other bands and artists (currently Alienare, Alex Braun, digitalENERGY and Binokular, as well as mixing and mastering for Intent:Outtake, Scheuber and re.mind) and a substantial number of remix commissions. Live concerts also play a role. By now, it involves so much work that there is neither room nor any reason for me to take on another job.
As a military member I love your lyrics – you sing about military topics but what I especially appreciate is that it never seems to be politicised – the listener can place their own interpretation upon it. To what extent is this deliberate and what is the attraction of this subject matter? (I would assume that as Germans you must have done a period of service when you were younger?)
Gerrit: Actually, only René – our live drummer – served in the Bundeswehr, the German military. Bastian and I completed our alternative civilian service.
As a matter of principle, we do not want to stand here and impose our opinion on anyone. It’s not difficult to present facts without personal judgement, from which everyone can form his or her own picture. If we wanted to make political statements, we would have become politicians, not musicians. I think it’s wrong to misuse music for that purpose!
With your previous album Element 115 you explore more esoteric subject matter which I am also very interested in. With all the UAP/UFO files being released and senior military people in the US attesting to their existence do you think we are in the process of seeing disclosure?
Gerrit: I hope that I will live to see this happen. However, it seems that, for whatever reason, it’s not meant to be just yet. The subject is so complex that one could conduct a separate and very lengthy interview on it alone…
A terrible question I know but what is your favourite Funker Vogt album? And why?
Gerrit: It‘s simply always the latest one, in this case “Final Construct“.
Any other messages for your Australian fans, anything additional you wish to add?
Gerrit: Stay strong and look ahead – ALWAYS AND FOREVER!
FUNKER VOGT
https://www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt
https://www.facebook.com/funkergerry
The Signaller: https://youtu.be/H_7IFf00Y8Y?si=sJhO1vsdqvPkiesy