Madsen release their new album. Sebastian and Sascha Madsen talk about the new record and the outdated “Rockstar” concept.
The indie rock band Madsen, consisting of the brothers Sebastian (42), Sascha (39) and Johannes Madsen (44) and childhood friend Niko Maurer (41), will release their ninth studio album “Hollywood” on August 18th. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Sebastian and Sascha Madsen explain why they associate ambivalence with the concept of the album title and why they are now releasing under their own label. They also talk about the plans for the band’s 20th anniversary in the coming year, about their wishes for the concert and music industry and the outdated concept of “rock star”.
“Hollywood” appears under your own label for the first time. How did you decide to start your own label?
Sebastian Madsen: With our last punk album “Well then, we did and decided quite a lot ourselves. The step was somehow logical now. We have a really good team behind us that we put together with our friend and manager Diak. We now have more work, responsibility, but also creativity. Overall, that feels right and good.
What was different about the creation/planning of the album and what can the fans expect from the new work?
Sascha Madsen: We had a lot more time to create the album. Originally we wanted to record it in 2020. Then came the pandemic, an impromptu punk album and Sebastian’s solo record. This long break gave us a whole new approach to some songs. Other songs have disappeared into the drawer and completely new ones have been written. We also recorded the album live – without a click or metronome, the four of us on analog tape.
What do you associate with the term “Hollywood”, only glitz and glamour?
Sebastian: No, we associate it with a lot of ambivalence. Spielberg, illusion, big wide world, escapism. But also abuse of power, lousy working conditions, false promises, burnout. It is precisely this ambivalence that we show on our album cover. The plate is called “Hollywood” and you can see the Sternbrücke in Hamburg, which is soon to be demolished. And with it also some venerable clubs and pubs. Nevertheless, the cover shines with beauty.
Matching the single “Marry Me” you announced an appearance at a wedding of fans on Instagram. How did the idea come about and what makes a good wedding band for you?
Sascha: We’re asked almost every day on social media if we can’t play at this or that wedding. The video shoot gave us the idea of just really doing it. I haven’t been to a wedding with a band yet – but the guests and especially the wedding couple should like it and it should be a really nice memory.
We’re going on tour in the fall. To what extent has planning tours become more difficult over the last few years (corona, inflation)? What conclusions have you drawn from this?
Sebastian: We’re not Beyoncé or Harry Styles. That’s why we, like many others, still have to feel our way around. At first we didn’t book the really big halls. People’s trust needs to be rebuilt. Too many concert tickets got stuck on the fridge. Now it’s up to us to get people excited about concerts again and get them off the couch. But I’m confident!
How has your touring life changed over the years? Is it less rock ‘n’ roll than it used to be?
Sascha: It depends on how you define the term rock ‘n’ roll. If it means less drinking and less sprawling backstage parties – then yes. We’re getting older and we’re noticing that our bodies are less forgiving and we have to take care of ourselves if we want to play concerts of a quality that meets the demands we place on ourselves. And the term should be treated with caution anyway, because it conceals the romanticization of abominable behavior. Drug abuse or abuse of power is often glorified and that has never been our thing.
Madsen is considered a live and festival band. How did Corona affect you and are the effects still noticeable today?
Sebastian: At the festivals this year, everything finally feels like it was before the pandemic. Even the really big stars have fewer problems when it comes to ticket sales. People are treating themselves to “mass events” again, but still often skip the smaller club concerts. We are somewhere in between and hope that people will soon learn to appreciate the smaller concerts again. Because they’re more fun than the big things: better sound, closer to the stage and more intimacy.
“Hollywood” is the ninth studio album. Will the tenth be celebrated in a special way, for example with a greatest hits work?
Sascha: We already made a joke about making a greatest hits album, but that won’t happen any time soon. Besides, it wouldn’t be the tenth album, but just a best of. The tenth album will just be the next Madsen album that we’re going to put as much into as we did the nine before.
In the coming year, the anniversary “20 Years Madsen” is coming up. Is the band’s anniversary being specially honored?
Sebastian: We have a few things planned, a pretty spectacular one actually. Stay tuned!
Were there any doubts or did you always believe in the band?
Sascha: We always believed in the band, but that doesn’t mean that you can, may or must doubt yourself. We constantly question ourselves and our actions, that’s part of it for us both as people and as musicians. And I think it’s important to do that too!
How crucial is it to the longevity of the band that it’s mostly brother and family thing? Do you tend to pull yourself together in difficult times?
Sebastian: The other day in a dream I was arguing with my brothers. And as much as never before. It was unbearable because we couldn’t find a solution and then I just ran away. Then I woke up and was very happy about it. In real life there are conflicts between us brothers and they are sometimes more intense than with other people. But we always find solutions because we have learned to talk. Problems are not taken onto the stage. Because there we stand for joie de vivre, energy, family and togetherness. We are authentic there, that’s why we still exist.
After the Rammstein case, you publicly commented on the subject of abuse of power and sexual assault. Did you have any reservations about commenting on this? What kind of reactions did you get?
Sascha: We had no hesitation in expressing ourselves – we had an urgent need, we did it very carefully and formulated it and we were aware that it would not only elicit positive reactions. We could not have expected that our statement on the subject of abuse of power would trigger such a brief shitstorm of indignant fans. However, it has been shown that tempers calmed down very quickly when we pointed out that we would ask you to read our statement carefully before commenting and “hating” on it. Unfortunately, abuse of power and everything that goes with it is not only a problem in the music business and we can only hope that a lesson will be learned from such cases.
What needs to change in the music and concert universe with regard to this topic?
Sebastian: The “rock star” concept has to be fundamentally reconsidered. For example, as a young teenager I thought Guns’n’Roses was cool. In the pictures in “Bravo”, they had whiskey pullers in their hands and groupies in their arms. I thought rock stars had to be like this. You do not have to. The problem is that some people who stand on big, perfectly lit stages and are adored don’t seem to be aware of their responsibility. Unfortunately, current reports on the subject show this very clearly. The next generation gives me hope: it’s more diverse and feminist. She’ll put the white rock star grandpas in their place with their outdated clichés!
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.