DERO GOI Talks Debut Solo Album, New Single And More

DERO GOI is the former frontman of ‘Neue Deutsche Härte’ (new German hardness) pioneers OOMPH!. He will release his debut solo album ‘1984’ on Friday 29th November 2024. We spoke to him to find out more: .

When did you begin songwriting?

When I was about 15.

What is your earliest musical memory?

When I was listening to the record collection of my parents. I was ruining their Vinyls on a portable Record Player. I remember vividly “Craw Fish” of Elvis Presley, “Dancing Queen” of ABBA and “Strangers in the Nights” of Frank Sinatra, just to mention 3.

Who is in your band and what do they play?

On stage I will be supported by two keyboard players and a Guitarist.

Your new single ‘Saturday’ is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

I wanted to respond to a massive shitstorm coming from former fans since I had left my previous band OOMPH! with love and peace.

Your new album ‘1984’ is released on Friday 29th November 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

During the first Lockdown in 2020, I was forced to work alone. So, I sat in front of my Computer and started to write songs only with some synths and a drum machine and added my vocals pretty spontaneously. Quite soon I had composed about 50 ideas due to the fact that all the political and social events that happened globally massively inspired me. Musically, it was kind of like a time travel back to the 80s in which I grew up and which infuenced me as a musican the most. In combination with all the Orwellian dystopian events around me, the album title “1984” was somehow quite inevitable.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

I recorded and produced it at home by myself in my own small studio.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

The whole world had turned into a huge funny farm during the composition and production phase, so it´s hard for me to pick just one single event or situation. I think you can hear the mindboggling tension between anger, anxiety, despair, brainwash, submission and depression which I was on the one hand perceiving among the vast majority of the population during that crazy time and on the other hand the hopeful and positive irony with which I dealt with this utter madness in all the different songs of “1984”.

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

The Video was directed by a friend of mine whose name is Agata Nigrovskaya. She´s an artist, photographer and video producer and she´s also responsible for my current promo photos. With the video we wanted to tell the story of a dystopian show trial in which I am accused of thinking independently. The main message is: Love and truth will always win over any totalitarian system!

Who created/designed the album artwork?

The Artwork was created and designed by Agata Nigrovskaya and Korinna Kostyukova.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

I was using pretty solid yet affordable stuff like the Shure SM7b microphone and a Focusrite ISA430 Pre-Amp, for example.

Which of your tracks on your new album hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

a) Saturday, b) Whistleblower, c) 1984

12 – What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

A happy and satisfied audience!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

A Shure Beta58 Wireless, Microphone two Floor Toms and a usual Tamburine.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

I was born and grew up in Wolfsburg/Germany where the Volkswagen is manufactured. It´s a pretty mundane, yet industrial area which probably explains my musical influence, too.

How do you look after your voice?

I try to sing on a daily basis and take care of not overdoing my singing. Besides this, I drink a lot of water and keep my throat warm. I never smoked which, of course, also helps a lot to keep my voice smooth, healthy and clean. Besides this, I avoid any distilled alcohol.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Well, it´s clearly not a novel but I would like to write the Score for 1st Genesis of the Bible.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Eurythmics, Ultravox, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, The Cure, Björk

Do you have any UK/European live dates planned for 2024/2025?

I am already preparing my live set and looking forward to some club dates all over Europe. Of course, I like the live situation on stage which is showing the most honest response of the fans to your material.

Was it a difficult album to write?

The most difficult thing was to pick the 23 Songs from almost 50 Songs which I had written at this point of time. The writing and production process was pretty intuitive and fast.

What makes DERO GOI happy and what makes you unhappy?

A decent and civil debate of two people with opposing opinions makes me extremely happy. Blatant Ignorance and intolerance towards alternative opinions makes me unhappy.