Germany’s explosive rock outfit Blackout Problems are gearing up for their UK headline shows.
Their powerful live performances have been witnessed across Europe following their Top 50 German album charting debut Holy and 2018’s Top 25 follow up Kaos and also saw them perform at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year as well as Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park.
The band’s recent releases Rome and latest single Sorry set the tone for what’s to come for album three, showcasing the band’s ability to deliver a modern twist to emo rock, integrating elements of post-hardcore and pop, injected with personal and intellectual songwriting that puts them at the forefront of the genre’s new era of upcoming talent.
We had a chat to the band about their latest tracks, playing for UK audiences and world domination and reunification in 2020.
You’re currently working on new music to be released soon – what can fans expect from the new record?
Well, we are in the middle of writing our next record but what our listeners can always expect from a new release is that we’ll pour everything we have into these songs and try to evolve as people, as a band and as songwriters. There are and hopefully will always be new influences and new gear floating around, so it makes it hard at this point of the process to pin it down to one specific sound. But you will get a powerful, dark and honest album that will stand its own ground.
On your last record KAOS the songs were a lot more personal compared to HOLY – are you guys going even deeper on the next album?
A lot of the lyrics are drawn from personal experiences and we think we have to do it like that to have this raw and unfiltered way of expressing ourselves. Even if we want to address broader issues, like politics for example, we always find a way through personal stories that either everyone or just one of us lived through to make it work and get the message across.
But there are also topics such as the climate change that is so complex and huge and although we don’t think you have to as a band we use our small platform we’ve been given to make people aware of this issue and try to give information and bring people together for the right cause. So to answer your question, I think we’ll go deeper and broader at the same time.
Musically the two records are also different directions, will you be experimenting with new influences on the third album or do you feel like you’ve found your sound?
Well in our world there’s is no constant sound or genre for Blackout Problems that we could have found. We think that constantly trying to evolve and let things happen is our way to do – not only music but pretty much everything. And it comes down to every band member and what he brings to the table. Sure you can put us in an alternative rock crate but that’s because of how we present us live on stage and we like that wild & sweaty environment of an intimate rock show, but that‘s not always the way we approach making music together. There will certainly be new sounds and electronic devices that will be operated on stage and in the studio.
Having just toured with Royal Republic, how are you feeling about coming back to the UK for your own headline shows in January?
We feel very honored to come back for these shows. It’s our first time doing headline dates in the UK and it’s all very exciting.
We are looking forward to playing London, Manchester & Nottingham in January and we’ll try our best to give you the best show possible so we can back and play loads more places in the UK.
For those in the UK that haven’t seen you guys live before, what’s the best way to describe a Blackout Problems show?
Well, you have to see for yourself! What we can provide is a safe environment for you to be yourself, let loose and enjoy music the way you want to enjoy it whether it is standing in the back or getting in the pit and stage diving like a maniac.
With the upcoming European shows being the first ever EU headline dates, are you heading for world domination?
We’d rather unite the world than dominate it.
In the UK, alt-rock has seen a huge rise in the last few years again. What’s the alt-rock scene like in Germany?
We do not divide people or bands up in scenes or circles. If we share a stage with somebody, we are in this together and look out for each other. German Artists you should give a listen are SMILE AND BURN, NICO LASKA or UMME BLOCK.
You’ve also just been announced to play Download festival – how exciting! What are you looking forward to the most?
We really enjoy playing big festivals and big stages like that to bring our music and lyrics to so many new people and we hope that Download Festival is only the beginning. Of course, sharing a Festival with a band like the DEFTONES is nothing but unreal and absolutely flattering.
Speaking of festivals – what’s your all-time favourite thing about playing festivals?
Being able to see your friends play if you are lucky and meeting artists or other bands you would never get a chance to talk to or play with on a normal touring basis.
What else does 2020 have in store for Blackout Problems?
Reuniting the world, new shows and new music.
High Fives & Stage Dives 