Q&A: Andi Fins
Berlin-based producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andi Fins released on April 1st his fourth studio album “Whatever Works”. An album in which Andi has been inspired by something as simple or complex as day to day can be, to give rise to a relaxed and melancholic coolness in the form of 11 songs to enjoy at any time, any place.
Locked at home like everyone else, Andi took the time to respond to some questions. Turn on his new album and read all his answers below!
"Whatever Works" sounds to me like the simplicity or complexity of the day to day, with the different moods that we face and the vital moments that we experience. There are many elements of nostalgia. Is doing music a way for you to do therapy, perhaps some sort of mechanism to look back and understand your life and who you are?
Andi: “Well, I wouldn't say it’s therapy but yes, sometimes it’s a way of looking back and seeing things from a different perspective trying to take it easy. actually i don’t always know who i am and as soon as i think i do i’m not quite sure if it’s real what i see or if it’s just an illusion of anything. Basically I can laugh about myself most of the time and I just like spending a lot of time writing, recording songs and playing music.”
How have you and the music you do changed through all these years and four different albums?
Andi: “I think I am more chilled and I guess my music seems to be, too. But it doesn’t mean that the next album has to continue this direction. Maybe it’s going to be a punk rock album, you never know.”
You have teamed again with Peter Thomas & Markus Abendroth (Zodiaque), how much have they influenced the sound of the album?
Andi: “They are great guys and it feels like home working with them. Actually they recorded the basics with us and mixed and mastered almost everything I've released so far. We’re a good team, I hand them over my rough tracks and mixes and I am excited about what they are going to do with it. They put things into focus and add some flavors. A mix can do a lot with the music. It can really influence the mood, it can support the right direction or ruin it. We have known each other since a while, it’s like we’re playing together.”
There seems to be a pattern in the artwork of the music that you release where you chose pastel colors, naive and blurry scenes and no faced (or anonymous) people. What is the story behind the cover of "Whatever Works" and why did you choose the artist Anne Krausz?
Andi: “Anne is a friend of mine and she is a great artist. I just like everything she creates and it’s hard to choose the right picture out of many beautiful pictures. The story behind this one is about a couple living together, knowing each other, trying to be grown-ups but still somewhere inside they are kids not having a solution for everything that has to be discussed. Or you could see two kids at a table playing to be grown-ups. They can’t wait to leave childhood and later on they’d wish to find a way back and flee from aging.”
“Whatever Works” album artwork cover designed by Anne Krausz
Many artists move here to Berlin where there is an important music scene but no support of the mass media. In your opinion what are the things that this city offers and no other place does in terms of music opportunities?
Andi: “It’s a brilliant place to find people sharing your taste and ambitions, there is any kind of music and art you can imagine. It’s a real hot spot because there are just a lot of great musicians who dare something and don’t think about money in the first place. They want to create something real and they get a lot of input here for it. It’s infectious. And it’s a beautiful open minded city where you still can pay the rent, you can have great food everywhere, it’s friendly and cosmopolitan.”
How has Berlin influenced you?
Andi: “I made a lot of friends here and got a lot of exciting opportunities for work, I think it just keeps me fresh somehow..It’s more the people who influenced me, not the town, but maybe i wouldn’t have met them somewhere else.”
Do you go to see other artists' shows? If so, which ones are special for you both for just enjoying live music and to play at?
Andi: “I go to see other artist’s shows whenever I can. I don’t like the real big locations so much because I feel lost within so many people. I actually need a spot where I can see well and where I can reach the toilet without too much effort. I love to go to the shows of friends, see what they are doing, hang out close to the stage or backstage, that’s fun.”
It's a weird moment we’re going through but it is in times of crisis or shortage, when we tend to innovate the most. This virus is being lethal for live music and many shows and festivals have been forced to cancel. While it's still not clear what's gonna happen and how long this is gonna last, is there anything positive that you have seen these days? Perhaps something from any artist that kept your attention and surprised you.
Andi: “I think these streaming shows are going new ways within the next few months. We’ll see what will happen, I am sure there will be a couple of new ideas coming up. I start thinking about it, too, sure. But hopefully we can return to normal life soon again and I really wish that the plenty of those creative low budget driven clubs, bands, agencies, labels, bars, shops and whatever lovely places can survive the crisis, too. And hopefully the world is going to be a friendly and caring place where people help together to get everyone and everything back into shape.”
