„I would like to see our Europe a bit more self-aware of its past and the consequences it has left in the world today.“
Stereochemistry plays live at the popdeurope Festival in early September. We interviewed her!
popdeurope is a two day festival for music and new circus from Europe. What keeps us all together beyond the borders?
What keeps us together are all those small things that make us human, and most of all our mutual awareness of those things. All humans, no matter where they come from, strive for a few basic things, for a life lived with human dignity. A smile, a beat know no language and is not a property of any particular culture, rather music and non-verbal communication build a bridge where language, skin tone, nationality and religion build a wall.
„This planet was born with no borders. Those were drawn much later and have a meaning only for humans. And I am an alien!“
What does Europe mean to you?
For me Europe is – first and foremost – a continent. I like to think of it in geographical rather than in geopolitical terms because, ehm… this planet was born with no borders. Those were drawn much later and have a meaning only for humans. And I am an alien!
„I like the fusion melting pot.“
Which european influences can be found in your music?
I am a Belgrade-born mix of finest Yugoslavian and Central European breeds: Serbian-Croatian-German-Hungarian, that grew up in Montenegro, Serbia and Italy, and lived, studied and worked also in Sweden, USA, Spain and Germany. You will find all of those and more in my music, as well as in my multi-lingual stand-up comedy shows. I think it is a bit silly to classify anything belonging to a certain nation at this point, I like the fusion melting pot better.
Berlin is home to many creatives from all over the world. Is this creating a new pop culture?
Berlin was a meeting place of many cultures long before now and I believe there is no better and more peaceful way of growth than confronting yourself with different people on daily basis. Sure, creatives are important, but Berlin provides way more than just them – and I think this is the most important factor for a true cultural development: not exposing only creatives to creatives, but common people to common people. A new functional culture and society can’t work if the exchange of ideas is kept between just a limited group of individuals – it has to become a part of the integrating tissue of our society, and Berlin has that. In almost every Kiez.
What’s your vision of Europe in the future?
As a musician and as a person who chose the life of music, since it is the best language on this planet: I would like to see our Europe – intended as a continent, not merely EU – a bit more self-aware of its past and the consequences it has left in the world today. The borders in North, Central and South America, Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Australia, New Zealand, Arctic and Antarctic were drawn by Europeans. Therefore I would like our Europe to do a self-check on it’s own past – and present that has derived from it – before pointing that judgemental finger towards anybody else. Because – as I like to remind people on and off the stage – where there are no pointed fingers, there are no pointed weapons, either.
The popdeurope festival will take place on 2 and 3 September. You can find more information here.
Foto © Milena Moebius