Vanessa Mai: How she found the “perfect balance”

Vanessa Mai (32) is releasing her new single “Himbeerrot (One Kiss)” this Friday, bringing back summer feelings. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the pop and hit singer talks about her highlights of this year’s summer, her favorite vacation destination with her husband Andreas Ferber (40) and romantic gestures. She also reveals how the tour preparations and her solo project Wolkenfrei are going.

Your new single “Himbeerrot (One Kiss)” exudes summer feelings. How did you spend this year’s summer? Were there any holiday highlights?

Vanessa Mai: This summer was busier than ever and I enjoyed it so much! I was on stage with my band a lot and was able to play summer open-airs, had a lot of productions for new upcoming projects and was in NYC for the first time this time of year, which made me incredibly happy. I don’t really have any free vacation until October!

How do you like to spend your holidays?

Mai: My father is from Croatia, so I always go back there because I have wonderful childhood memories there. I love going back there with Andreas, my husband.

You sing romantically about “one kiss on a sailboat”. How much romance is allowed for you in private? Do you appreciate romantic gestures?

Mai: I value honesty above all. For me, the most romantic thing is to stick together through thick and thin.

Autumn is slowly approaching. Do you find the transition difficult or do you always look forward to this time?

May: My husband’s birthday is in October, so I love this time of year. I like it when the leaves turn colorful, even raspberry red (laughs). I love observing nature in general. Every season has its own beauty.

“Himbeerrot (One Kiss)” is more of a pop hit. How did the idea for the song and the sound come about?

Mai: For me, raspberry red is 100 percent Vanessa Mai. We made this song with my team from the “Mai Tai” and “Für Immer” era. I’m a very emotionally driven person, when something gets me hooked, I’m passionate about it. That’s the case with this song. I love this vibe, the language. It’s danceable and super unique. I love it.

You have an impressive 1.2 million Instagram followers. Does that put you under particular pressure about what you post? Have you made any mistakes and what have you learned from them?

Mai: I’ve always done my own social media. I keep an eye on everything there and I really enjoy it! If I’m not enjoying it, I don’t post anything. I don’t let myself be put under pressure.

You’re going on tour again in the fall. How are you preparing for it?

Mai: I’m really looking forward to my tour. After we played my “at home” show in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena in May, I’m now coming to my fans on the “at home with you” tour. The final preparations are in full swing and I don’t want to give too much away yet, but we’ll travel through all of my previous albums and create new moments together with my Mai team.

A look behind the scenes of a Vanessa Mai tour: What is particularly important to you about a tour? Do you have any rituals?

Mai: I don’t really have any rituals on tour and I want to have the chance to surprise myself every day. I also want to surprise my fans in every city with slightly different set lists and outfits so that no two evenings are the same.

Artists are becoming more and more open about their health or mental health problems and are canceling performances/tours. How do you take care of yourself so that it doesn’t become too much for you?

Mai: It is always important to me that the fans get what they want. I want to give people a good time, but I also have so much fun doing it myself! I have no pressure from outside and a very established environment that lets me be who I am and always supports me. I quickly sense when something is not good for me. Otherwise, I still live where I was born and grew up. I have my family around me, which means a lot to me. I have found the perfect balance for myself. I see so much happiness in small things, I have developed a different mindset. This includes being honest with yourself. Since then, I have no longer felt any pressure. And above all, I am happy with myself and healthy.

You are currently back on the road as Vanessa Mai, and you celebrated a comeback with your solo project Wolkenfrei in 2023. How did you experience the return? Do you have any further plans for the project? If not, what are the reasons for that?

Mai: Bringing Wolkenfrei back for the anniversary was the best decision ever. We had so much fun during this time and who knows, maybe there will be another song at some point.