After ten years there are no more arguments at Santiano, “but we have given each other a break from being late,” says Axel Stosberg.
Five musicians from the far north founded the band Santiano in 2011, now they are celebrating their tenth anniversary. Björn Both, Andreas Fahnert, Hans-Timm Hinrichsen, Peter David Sage and Axel Stosberg (54) have now summarized their respective biographies in the book “Die Sehnsucht ist mein Steuermann” (Eden Books). The band also has new music in their luggage: On October 8, the album “When the cold comes” will be released.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Stosberg tells whether the musicians have ever thought about quitting, whether there are disputes between colleagues and how important it is to them that Low German does not die out.
Ten years of Santiano – congratulations! How happy are you today that your paths crossed in 2011?
Axel Stosberg: The joy has not yet come to an end on a scale that is open to the top. It is obvious. What great moments we all experienced.
You have been on stage together for ten years, a beautiful but certainly exhausting time. Have you ever thought about quitting or taking a long break?
Stosberg: Since we gave our last concert in September 2019, we probably don’t need to think about a longer break. Anyone who is already thinking of quitting has probably been powdered with the clip bag. But seriously: What goes through the heads of the individual band members on this topic, you will probably not find out here.
“The market for this wonderful medium is changing so rapidly that I don’t know whether there will be room for a band like us in the future,” you write in your new book. How is that meant then?
Stosberg: We’ve been a more analog, haptic band since the beginning, both on and behind the stage. This also applies to the media on which our albums are available. For some time now, more and more CD departments have been closing, even the download market has been shattered, but streaming is booming. This format feels very bulky for many of our fans and also for us.
Also, to the chagrin of our management, we are struggling incredibly hard when it comes to social media like Instagram, TikTok and more. Somehow you’re not teaching old dogs like us any new tricks. But no one can fool us so quickly live.
As you said, the Corona crisis was and is an unwanted break for many musicians. Did you also get something positive out of this break?
Stosberg: Of course. Many things in private life have been neglected in recent years due to the high frequency, demands and desires of Santiano. There was a lot left that could now be worked on.
Your book contains many private pictures and stories. Was it difficult for you to open up so much?
Stosberg: Rather unfamiliar, possibly a little naive. But we’ll see when we get the first reactions to the book.
In “Die Sehnsucht is my helmsman” you can also find recipes. Do you all enjoy being at the stove?
Stosberg: We are very different there. But what we all share is a love of good food. Which does not mean that we do not appreciate the enjoyment of a currywurst with red / white fries.
Plus, they all love the sea and the music. What are the main differences between you?
Stosberg: Two can sail, the other three cannot.
When do you miss the sea the most?
Stosberg: Whenever we are so far away from home that, depending on the wind direction, we can neither smell the Baltic Sea nor the North Sea.
In a band, not everything is always harmonious. What are the topics that annoy each other?
Stosberg: At our age, you can’t get on a palm tree any more. But we have given each other a break from being unpunctual.
Some of you can speak Low German. How important is this language to you? Are you afraid that it might one day become extinct?
Stosberg: For some it is their mother tongue, for others it is a welcome change and opportunity to converse without those present being able to understand every word. Sooner or later this language will find it extremely difficult to survive. But there are great initiatives that want to prevent this and we need to support them, including for us.
What do you wish for Santiano’s future?
Stosberg: That we as a society create the basis for us as a band to have unrestricted access to our fans again, so that we can finally celebrate a really great live party together again.
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