Max Giesinger is releasing a new album, “Vier Einhalb”. In the interview, the musician speaks openly about his family planning.
Max Giesinger (33) is back with new music. This Friday (May 20) “Vier Einhalb” will be released, a deluxe version of his last album “Vier” (2021). Seven new and very personal songs have found their place on it – there’s a reason for that. During the corona pandemic, he “tackled personally important issues” and thought about “many questions that I keep asking myself,” explains the star from Baden-Württemberg in an interview with the news agency spot on news.
Giesinger, who took fourth place in the first season of “The Voice of Germany” in 2012, also talks about his family planning, mental illnesses and his personal commitment to environmental protection. He also reveals whether he wants to sit on the swivel chair as a coach again with “The Voice Kids”.
“Vier Einhalb” is a deluxe version of your last album “Vier” – you can hear seven new songs on it. How did that happen? Why a sequel and not a new record?
Max Giesinger: “Four” felt like a little new beginning. I wrote the record at a time when I was dealing with various topics more openly and intensively than ever before. And making music was an important part of that. Last year I went to the Eifel with two friends and we retreated to a secluded cabin to make music. And it was amazing how all the things I was thinking about suddenly came out and became songs. It was very similar with the seven new songs that can be found on “Vier Einhalb”. To me, they’re part of the same process, so putting them all together on one deluxe record made sense to me.
You deal with private things in your songs. Do you find it difficult to open up?
Giesinger: No, I would say that I’m quite good at it. Everyone has things to deal with. I actually think it’s quite normal for people to talk about it and exchange ideas.
“Sometimes I wonder what’s wrong with me,” says one song. How do you sometimes struggle with yourself or your life?
Giesinger: I think I generally tend to brood. In the pandemic, when everything was shut down and everyone was forced to deal with themselves, that didn’t get any less, of course. But it also helped me. It was a time when I tackled issues that were important to me personally and thought about many questions that I keep asking myself. For example, why I find it difficult to get involved in a relationship and why I often feel restless.
Have a family of your own?
Giesinger: Basically, I can very well imagine having a family at some point. Maybe with a little house in the middle of nature. But I’ll give myself a few more years.
In your new songs you try out new sounds, some titles have an electronic touch. In your opinion, to what extent must a musician remain changeable?
Giesinger: I believe that as a human being you are generally in a constant process. The world keeps turning whether you want it to or not. And just as you develop as a person, you definitely go through a musical process. At the age of eight you like different music than at the age of 45. I’m just interested in music and if I’m interested in a certain musical direction, then of course that also has an effect on my songs.
The song “Pulverkeg” is about your older self confronting your child’s accusations that we ruined the world. To what extent are you concerned with the topic of environmental protection?
Giesinger: Hopefully by now everyone has noticed that we are heading for quite a catastrophe if we don’t change something fundamentally very soon. Personally, I’m trying to change things that I can influence as an individual: I’ve cut back my meat consumption, try to save on unnecessary domestic flights and take the train. Of course, that’s not always possible in my job – but if everyone contributes a little, a lot is already achieved.
What do you do in everyday life to make the world a little better?
Giesinger: The absolute basis is to treat everyone in a friendly and respectful manner. If everyone does that, the world will be a little bit better. I also support various charity projects and try to draw the attention that I get as a musician to such projects. And actually making music is part of it. When I’m on stage and I see that people are having a good time, and afterwards you realize that everyone has just had two very happy hours together and forgotten everything around them – I think that’s worth something too.
In a recent interview, you spoke openly about having gone into therapy. Why is it still difficult for many people today to talk about mental illness?
Giesinger: I think many people still lack the awareness that mental problems should be taken seriously. You don’t have to wait until you’re completely burned out to seek help. If you feel something is wrong – get to the bottom of it and don’t hesitate to get help. This is often associated with a form of weakness, although it shows strength to face your problems and not push them away.
Why is it so important to you to clear up this supposedly taboo subject?
Giesinger: By breaking the taboo on the subject and by people starting to clean up for themselves – I would say that I know almost nobody who wouldn’t do a few sessions good – we are making the world a better place. The biggest assholes on this planet only use their terrible weapons to inflate their battered egos or to compensate for some lack of self-love. As we engage with ourselves, we become more aware and empathetic to all other people. The impact of this should not be underestimated.
What makes you happy right now?
Giesinger: In the last few weeks we have played the first concerts of this year, without restrictions and with a distance of ten meters between the stage and the audience. That’s when I realized how much I’ve missed it over the past few years. And how incredibly much fun it is to have a great evening with my band and the audience. Such moments make me very happy. But it can also be small things, like a game of table tennis with a good friend in the park next door.
You have already appeared as a coach on “The Voice Kids”. Can you imagine sitting in a swivel chair again?
Giesinger: Definitely. Through my participation, I have a pretty special connection to the show. And giving young talents a bit of know-how and advice for their future careers is simply fun. Accordingly, I could very well imagine taking part there again.
