Alvaro Soler is an integral part of the German music scene. In the interview, the 32-year-old talks about his current single, his girlfriend Melanie Kroll, and reveals why he likes to clean when he’s stressed.
By Alexander Neb
Social media is more important than ever for pop stars. You did a reset, deleted all of your previous social media posts and just started from scratch again at the end of April. Why?
It’s time for a new episode in my musical life. I recently released my new song “Muero” and I’m working on a new album. The associated concept and the new aesthetics should also be applied to Instagram and Co. down to the last detail. Everything should fit together and be consistent.
Lyrically, the new song can also be understood as a declaration of love to your girlfriend.
If you mean… (laughs) The basic idea is that a couple goes to a bar and then they pretend to be meeting each other for the first time and then they start flirting heavily with each other. But of course: “Muero” is also a declaration of love to my girlfriend. We posted something together some time ago and it’s no coincidence that she’s in the accompanying video. I’m doing very well and I’m completely happy when it comes to love!
Were you actually a born performer and entertainer early on?
No not at all! I was very shy and introverted for a long time. That’s why my younger brother was the frontman in my earlier band Urban Lights, while I worked on songs in the studio and mostly just played the keyboard on stage. But then at some point I slipped into the role of front man.
And that was the initial spark for you to transform into a wildly self-confident Latino pop star?
To be honest, I still didn’t really feel ready. I was still very insecure when performing on stage because I’m so tall and my arms are so long. At first I didn’t know where to put my hands and my arms just kind of dangled around at first. It only got better after I got coaching for stage presence.
It’s hard to believe that just a few years later you performed alongside Jennifer Lopez in one of your US concerts because you recorded your first big hit “El mismo sol” again as a duet with the superstar.
To be honest, looking back, I still don’t know how I managed it. I was still super shy at the time and suddenly I’m standing in front of 16,000 people next to this bomb. That was awesome! I didn’t have time at the time to really realize what was happening and to process it to some extent. At the same time, it was an experience that is one of the most unforgettable of my life.
Your mother is Spanish, your father German and you live alternately in Berlin and Barcelona. Which country are you more attracted to?
Phew, that’s a mean question! To be perfectly honest, my heart beats a little louder for Spain. If only because I’ve spent most of my life in Barcelona so far and the Spanish way of life and culture has therefore shaped me a lot.
How do you deal with the winter weather in Berlin?
This is definitely a challenge! But if it gets too scary, then I choose the “best of all worlds” model and jet off to Barcelona. Of course, it can get gray and rainy there at times, and I would also like to emphasize that Berlin is clearly ahead of my hometown when it comes to cosmopolitan feeling, internationality and cultural inspiration. In Spain, a city like Madrid has a lot more to offer than Barcelona.
What are your quirks?
I can’t leave the house until I’ve made my bed perfectly. I’m really picky about that and I really have a little quirk. I also have the habit of tidying up or cleaning my apartment when I’m pressed for time and have to leave for an appointment in just a few minutes. For example, just before we met for the interview, I cleaned the bathroom a bit. But I could have vacuumed or wiped the kitchen floor. Please don’t ask me why! Maybe one day I’ll be able to clean my apartment in peace and quiet and in one go.
What are the downsides for you in your job as a pop star?
It takes a great deal of mental strength not to lose your grip on the ground or go completely insane in the first whirlpool of success. I don’t think anyone can do that. That’s why I’m very glad that my career didn’t start like that when I was 17 or 18 and that, in addition to my family, I also have many long-term friends who knew me before my breakthrough and always bring me down to earth. I experienced how crazy the business can be, especially in Italy in 2016, when I sat on the jury for “X-Factor”.
What was so crazy?
During this time I could hardly be out and about privately without female fans in particular recognizing me, screaming around and wanting selfies. Yes, of course that’s just part of the job as a pop star! But it took on such dimensions that today I can understand very well why Justin Bieber eventually went nuts. I, too, found myself getting a little paranoid.
How was that expressed?
Most of the time I just walked around outside in a hoodie and pulled the hood down over my face – or I switched sides of the sidewalk if there was a larger group of people in front of me who might recognize me. That wasn’t so nice because I didn’t recognize myself anymore. In general, the business I work in sometimes has a crazy structure and sometimes madness is part of everyday life.
How do you deal with the pressure to succeed?
I tried from the start not to let him get to me too much, but somehow the pressure was always there. Especially in the first few years I thought to myself: It’s now or never! Lets go on we can do it better. The next song has to be a hit too. And under a certain amount of pressure, I certainly performed even better. Of course, that’s not healthy in the long run. My song “Sofia” has been viewed more than 847 million times on YouTube. I have to be aware that I may never be able to repeat such a success again. My job is like a roller coaster ride. Sometimes a song goes through the roof, sometimes it runs totally disappointing. I have to be able to deal with that too.
What scares you?
Let’s put it this way: I have quite a respect for great heights. My hands get sweaty quickly. But in general it is important to me to be a relatively fearless person. Even death doesn’t scare me.
Actually?
Let me put it this way: Of course I’m afraid of it too, of actually dying. Before being in intensive care for months and suffering from terrible pain. But death itself, as something final, does not terrify me.
An unusual statement for a 32-year-old man.
This is certainly also due to the fact that I am very fortunate that my life – with all the ups and downs – has been great so far and I am therefore not bothered by the feeling that I have missed out on anything or have not yet achieved anything. Except maybe starting a family of my own.
Why exactly has your life been so great so far?
I have already had so many unique moments and encounters that it would be enough for three lifetimes. The good feeling I get from people who care about my songs is simply indescribable. But the thought that I leave something behind with my music is almost even better. Something of me will stay even if I have to go. That is a very beautiful and comforting thought.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
