Hi folks, thanks for joining us today. What made you decide that music is a thing to do?
Hello, you guys and all you dear readers! Thanks for having us!
Starting with a tough one…. uhm if I get this question right, I´d say it was not even a decision. Me and my brother come out of a very musically interested family. Especially our Grandpa had a big influence on both of us. He was not very talented in just one instrument or took it to perfection. But he could get a tone basically out of anything you´ll hand him. That was a big inspiration. And he also did it all by self-education. Also, our parents had a big thing to do with that decision. As my mom was always into making music, singing, and playing flute, and my dad listened to lots of music, which had a big influence, especially on me. Besides, there was always a guitar around as long as I can imagine. Nobody was able to play it, so I decided one day, this could be my job…
So I started playing guitar by the age of 12 and experienced a year of guitar lessons. Then my grandpa bought me an electric guitar and my further way was set pretty much.
My brother started playing the piano by the age of 6 and witnessed a proper musical education. By the age of 11, he started playing the bass because of a lack of a bass player. Shortly after that, we formed our first band which led to the SLUP Band. We signed our first record deal by the age of 15 /13 (25cent Records) and later on we became part of the Community Records family (Renate Records, Releasing our second album along with bands like Sublime, Turbo Acs, Das Klown, Filibuster, etc.)
He later on studied piano and bass, while I was stuck in self-educating or in giving perfection to the few things I´ve learned in that one year of guitar lessons…
Introduce us you, all to the members and musical history.
So my name is Jens Kriegel, I´m a 45-year-old, full-time father of three kids, 2 times divorced, a musician for 32 years, a craftsman, and studied social worker to make a living, producer, sound engineer, electrician… and I´m the lead singer and guitarist in the NRY Band, along with some other Bands I have going. To Name a few:
There is ATM (Addicted to machines, Punk / Garage Rock, since 2009.), Totslager (German Punk Band, since 2020), SLUP (Skatepunk started in 1993, ended in 2017), The Daybreak Boys (Punk Rock n Roll, since 1999), plus a various number of side projects I took part in over the years. All those bands have released various LP records, so it comes to a number of 10 official releases, whether on Tape, CD, or Vinyl, plus a Backkatalog of previously unreleased stuff containing another +20 Full length, I to date work on release that stuff with the kind help of NCR Records.
My brother is Lars Kriegel, plays Bass and Piano in NRY. He is 43 Years old, also a father of 2 kids, studied music teacher, and along with me the musical mastermind behind NRY and also SLUP.
Last but not least there is Chris Broeer, who fits in the band like a glove, he plays the drums and replaced our former drummer since the end of 2021. He just became a father of his first kid and is also a studied musician and works as a teacher. He also used to play and still plays in a variety of Punk and Hardcore bands.
To Name a few: Hemp (Skatepunk, founded 1996) and May the Force Be with you (Hardcore, since 2004)
What was life like for you before music?
…basically my childhood, skateboarding and boring!
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Since my father used to listen to many Classic Rock Bands, I can´t name just one.
But if I bring it down it will be: Burn by Deep Purple, Don´t Ask Me No Questions by Lynyrd Skynyrd, More than a Feeling by Boston, and Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull.
So these songs all had a certain impact on me. And I used to listen to them millions of times….
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
At the very start. I mean things obviously have changed in the past 30 years a bit…
Things which have been possible back in the day are now unthinkable. Like finding a record label that puts out your records and hands out some money in advance. I think it’s also a pity that music lost its worth. Illegal or cheap Downloads of which the actual bands don`t earn a shit, up to local promoters who are always in search of new bands playing live without the will to actually pay them properly.
We now have „pay to play“, release your own stuff if you want it to be released, do your own online promotion if you wanna get a promotion or grow a fanbase, and pay for your gas if you want to play outside of your town, and basically just keep on doing what you are doing. That’s exactly how I´ve been doing it for decades now. That´s why I founded my own small record label (DIY or DIE Records), That´s why I gained my skills in sound mixing and put all my spare money into my own recording studio.
And after doing all of this from the bottom of my heart it finally pays back by getting the backup and helping by NCR Records.
What was the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
Do your stuff. Do it as good as you can. Don´t give a shit about what somebody else might say. And most of all: Carry on doing it!
Tell us two truths and a lie about you.
First the lie: I´m the most patient guy around… HAHA
Now the truth: I´m a do it yourself family man, and I´m totally into collecting stuff (model cars, toys, records, guitars…)
If you could wish for one thing to aid your career, what would it be?
The knowledge of how I can use the actual music business to work out for me to make a living out of my band…
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture?
Discuss…
Well, personally I don´t care too much about what other people say. I have my own opinions. I have my „own“ reality. And this is fairly grounded, as I can say. That might not reflect the view of somebody else. I think it´s quite important, that everyone on this planet can comment an their own opinion. I think we all should have more respect for each other.
But If it comes down to violence or abuse at any point, I think the gained awareness in the business or all around the globe is a good thing. But one should also reflect and always be careful on false flags. Cause it also can ruin lives. There´s really quite a danger behind the whole process. And there are obviously people on the planet who are quite poisoned. I mean if there is some guy pulled out of a festival because he is playing a didgeridoo, alleged of cultural appropriation, there is something going wrong. Or if a girl wearing dreadlocks is being pulled out of a Friday for a future demo because of the same accusation. Honestly, in my opinion, all kinds of dogmatic views or trying to influence people to think what is the right thing to think is dangerous.
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
I certainly have no time for that. Like I´ve mentioned earlier… I`m a family man, I stand with both feet on solid ground. I actually try to avoid the media, like Tv, the Internet and newspapers and stuff, cause I think the media has a lot of power to control people. But I would also consider myself a well-informed man. It´s just that I don´t trust somebody’s speech only because he / or she is yelling the loudest or serving the biggest headlines.
What was the worst experience on stage?
My worst experience on stage by far was the last show with my former Band SLUP. It literally just broke my heart, knowing that this lineup will never again be on stage together. And that these songs, which I loved so much, will never be played again.
Tell us something about you / each member that you think people would be surprised about.
Just like I mentioned earlier in this text. I´m a single father with a 21-year-old and a 5-year-old daughter and an almost 3-year-old son. I´m working full-time and actually I´m playing in 4 Bands on a regular basis, producing my own records in my own studio, and have a small Label going.
The other members should speak for themselves. But because of time issues, it wasn`t possible for me to collect their answers…
What makes you stand out as a band?
We are totally music enthusiasts. We love doing sessions and just playing music. And this is actually how we write songs. It happens often that we meet for rehearsal, and play for 3 hours without even playing one of our songs.
What was the recording process like?
It was quite a hustle. While my brother and I were more down on capturing the music as it just happens, our drummer came up with a more of a perfectionist attitude. That made us start from scratch again after already pretty much finished the whole record.
But to be honest, it was the right decision and we are very happy with the results.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new album?
That was definitely that we should spend more time on setting the tempo for each song!
Would you change anything, now that it´s finished?
Nope. When it´s done, it´s done. I would do some things in a different way next time. It´s still a learning process.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Invite us to your country, Town, festival, venue, or bar. We want to play live. That´s what music is about for us. That´s why we are doin’ it.
And most of all: We thank y`all for your kind support!!!
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