Eko Fresh: That’s why he dedicated a song to Cologne

Eko Fresh (40) is releasing the album “Elijah” on August 9th. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the rapper explains why he sings on his new work, why he named the record after his son and what he wants to convey to him through the song of the same name. The 40-year-old also reveals why he dedicated a song to his hometown of Cologne and how his participation in “Sing meinen Song” has influenced him.

On your new album you don’t just rap, you also sing. Why was that important to you?

Eko Fresh: I love singing, I always have. I just didn’t dare to do it before, but over time you become a bit more open and the last bit of self-confidence was given to me by the show “Sing meinen Song” because I sang there a lot. After that I said: OK, now the cat is out of the bag and now I can try it out on an album.

Did you have any concerns about how your singing and your move towards more pop might be received by your loyal fans?

Eko Fresh: I would describe the album as musical, but it’s hard to put it into a certain genre – it’s still rap. It’s just a bit more musical and I’m not worried at all. I’m already established, I’ve already proven myself in rap – that’s no longer up for debate, so to speak. It’s a new chapter, it’s the third act of my life. I also want to appeal to fans who, like me, are now older, have families, have jobs and just want to listen to good music.

Your album is named after your son. Why did you dedicate it to him?

Eko Fresh: When I was thinking about what title would be appropriate, it came to me. Nothing represents the current time in my life like it, so it was the most fitting title ever. It completely defines this phase of my life, so to speak.

What did he say about the songs, especially “Elijah”?

Eko Fresh: Elijah likes the album. He particularly likes the song “Aquarium” and the title about him – of course I played it for him. He was smiling a little and I think he liked it. He also sometimes asks when he’s sitting in the car: Can I hear this song, can I hear that song? It’s the first time – he’s eight years old now – that he’s consciously heard my music and that makes me proud, of course.

Is he also interested in music?

Eko Fresh: Sometimes he comes up with something and then he says to me: “Dad, I know a rhyme!” He recently sang me a melody that came to him. I think he has a talent for it and he has such a sensitive artistic soul, just like his dad, but I would never force him to make music. I would support him in every way, no matter what he decides to do in life.

In the song you sing: “You just have to go straight ahead. Think outside the box” and about “two hearts in your chest”. What do you want to convey with the song?

Eko Fresh: I want to encourage my son and he should just go straight ahead and think outside the box, like I rap about. Sometimes people can’t imagine something and then say to you: “No, you can’t do it!” But I wanted to tell him in advance in the song: You can do it! Believe in yourself, don’t listen to what others might say to you when you have a new idea! The “two hearts in your chest” thing is meant so that he should also see his diversity as a superpower, so that he doesn’t go through the same search for identification as me, but instead immediately defines himself as someone who has two hearts in his chest and is even stronger because of it.

“Bunte Brücke” with Brings is a declaration of love to the Mühlheimer Bridge in Cologne. How has the city shaped your life and what makes it special?

Eko Fresh: I’m from Cologne and have made a lot of music there, I know the people there, I’ve spent so much time there, made a lot of videos and I just wanted to give something back because I see it as my community. I identify as a Cologne native and thought I’d make a song about it that shows our positive image of the city. Especially these days, the negative circumstances in society are often highlighted and I thought it was time to say: no, pay attention, I’m going to focus on the positive and celebrate our city, our colorful city with the colorful bridge.

They see themselves as bridge builders and are committed to the next generation of people with a migration background, which is also reflected in the song “Nation”…

Eko Fresh: With all the negative things that are shown in the social media world, I thought it was time. Above all, as a bridge builder, I am perhaps the right person to set an accent this year, to bring the positive to the fore and show how far we have really come. I personally notice that this arrival is not just true for me, but for many others. The self-image is growing that leadership positions in companies are diverse. In film and television, in the entertainment industry, in politics, there is representation and diversity everywhere and we have already come a lot further than we were. I wanted to put that in the foreground too – instead of dividing, just to unite. I took the opportunity to do that on this album.

You have other features on the album, including with your “Sing meinen Song” colleagues Tim Bendzko and Eva Briegel. How has “Sing meinen Song” changed you personally?

Eko Fresh: “Sing meinen Song” was definitely a huge experience for me, one that left its mark on me and gave me the courage to think outside the box, to think outside the box musically. For me, it was a given that I wanted to have the cast on the album. I was able to get Eva Briegel and Tim Bendzko to do it, which I’m very happy about. The songs turned out to be very beautiful and I will never forget this time in South Africa and therefore never forget the album.

What were the best reactions to your participation in “Sing meinen Song”?

Eko Fresh: The reactions to my participation in “Sing my Song” were totally uplifting and totally positive. A lot of different people asked me about it and I’m really happy about that. Thank you to the universe that I was allowed to be there. It gave me a lot of strength and it enabled me to reflect on myself in a completely different way. Just as I made my own story out of each song in “Sing my Song”, I told my story, I took that momentum with me into the album.

Releasing an album involves a lot of work. How do you currently juggle family and work?

Eko Fresh: It’s really not easy to juggle family and this job and I’m far from perfect, but I’m trying everything. I’m thinking about it every day. It’s a big challenge for me to decide which things I’m going to take part in or not, which days I’d rather be at home. Of course, I want to spend as much time as possible with my son and experience his childhood.