Doctors On Decks have released their first studio-album and prominent names from different genres are involved: Chris #2 from Anti-Flag, Anna Heimrath, Nhoah and Tube & Berger.
Two EPs have already been released, the singles “Now” and “The Fog” have been heard in charts, clubs, events, and radio stations worldwide. THE MINUS is a concept album in the tradition of Pink Floyd‘s “The Wall”. Not only musical parallels suggest themselves, also in terms of content it is a critique of the world we live in today.
The album is based on a sci-fi story about a mysterious black hole in the middle of a megacity – and its effects on society. It is an epic tale of being human on the crossroads of change. It takes a look at what constitutes being human, the fight for it and what developments may look like. Great philosophical and timeless themes packed into a microcosm of four ruling companies. Currently relevant topics of our time now thought a little further into the future. There are allegories, symbols and metaphors about the pandemic, refugees, increasing social injustice, powerful corporations, and the glorification of CEOs like Elon Musk or Steve Jobs.
The track “NOW”, for example, is a statement about capitalism and the epidemic spread of pharmaceutical drug abuse. But of course, hope and salvation can’t be missing. “The Fog” and “Rules & Rebels” (with singer Anna Heimrath) tell love stories, “The Rats” is a co-production with singer Chris #2 from the punk band Anti-Flag in which the revolution that our world so desperately needs is instigated. The mesmerizing falsetto vocals of Severin Su run like a thread through the album, and it becomes a driving, melodic techno opera with influences of art-rock, punk, pop, and classical music.
Now sharing with 6AM, Doctors on Decks get candid about their alchemical sounds, visions, and overall works of art that parallel and influence one another. They also share the meaning behind their maxim, “what you hear is what you see” and how this artistic perspective has transpired into earning them individually becoming award-winning architectures, designers, film makers, and of course full-blooded musicians. 6AM is excited to deep dive and get into the artistic visions that the trio focus on manifesting, especially with their latest album work THE MINUS.
Hi Doctors On Decks, and welcome to 6AM. We’re glad to have you on and get to know what’s been keeping you all busy inside and outside the studio. Take us through your journey of how the three of you became “Doctors On Decks”. What was the inspiration behind the group and finding each other?
Miller:
The name “Doctors” has a very long, very personal history, which originally had nothing to do with music in particular. It was moulded by a friend of ours, and was a kind of honorary title for people who, from his point of view, had contributed something very special to a friendship, for society, etc, that could not be put into words. On an “ethereal level”, as he called it. This friend was a very extraordinary person, he died in a tragic accident, and not only in his honour we carry the name “Doctors” and its meaning, into music, the world and into everything we do.
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Your group has a saying, “What you hear is what you see” — how does this quote and concept relate to the group’s body of work? Why is it important for sounds and visuals to parallel one another?
Miller:
It is what we are. Severin is a full-blooded musician, I am a writer and director, and Martin sees the whole thing in a bigger context anyway.
“I am a writer and director, Severin is a full-blooded musician, and Martin sees the whole thing in a bigger context anyway.”
There should be an ebb and flow when it comes to working as an artistic duo or trio.
Martin:
When we perform our live set, you experience the parts of the visuals that are linked with some of the stems we are using — so directly with the sound. When we are playing, you realize that the music and the picture are complied but they will never be exactly the same. Audio-visual jamming!
Severin:
From the early stages of the conception of our live set, we knew we needed to set it up so that we have complete freedom, in a sense that every live performance is different and unique, both musically and visually. We jam, experiment, rearrange and remix ourselves live on stage.
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It’s amazing how you three combine architecture, designing, filmmaking, and music within your alias. Outside of “Doctors On Decks”, how do you three individually use these skills? For fun, are there any hobbies you like to use these skills for?
Miller:
I have never had a “hobby”; for that, I also have no “work” in that sense either. What I do is always part of my life — with all its advantages and disadvantages.
Martin:
Besides DOD I am still the head of a transdisciplinary creative studio in the field of architecture, product and sound design. For me, creativity has no borders! The act of creation is similar, if you are designing a building or producing a track! But it is very important to have specialists in your team, like in our case Severin as a studied, full-blooded musician.
Severin:
Cooking is one of my passions. I guess you can say that producing music is like cooking, finding the right ingredients, processing and combining them — and with a bit of imagination, you get a good meal or a track!
“I guess you can say that producing music is like cooking, finding the right ingredients, processing and combining them — and with a bit of imagination, you get a good meal or a track!”
Creating new music is like creating a new food dish.
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Speaking of music, you all just released your Sci-fi album THE MINUS that came out on September 30th, 2022. The album focuses on a mysterious black hole that occurs in the middle of a very large city — this is a metaphor on how certain developments can effect humans and society. What physical changes in society did you all see take place that inspired you to center this album around this concept?
Miller:
First of all, I have to say that I created the concept and themes for THE MINUS more than 10 years ago. I wasn’t aware of the actuality in relation to current events until Martin said that we have to make a concept album out of it because my science fiction stories will soon be overtaken by reality.
Martin:
We live in a world where too much power is in the hands of a few. Social inequality is rising rapidly. There is a lot of fear in the world pushed by the media. Global companies control the main parts of our daily lives, telling us what we need and what is good for us….
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The album also features prominent names such as Chris #2 from Anti-Flag, AnJosef (aka Anna Heimrath) who’s performed on The Voice of Germany (2017) and Australia’s Starmania (2021), the gold and platinum award- winning music producer based in Berlin and Vienna Nhoah, and lastly the electronic German duo Tube & Berger. Prior to pulling these amazing artists together, how did the group band together on finding the right artists for this album? What was it about these artists that the group felt was the right fit for this particular project?
Severin:
We work highly collaborative and love to interact with other artists! Some of them found us and some of them we approached. We try to go with the flow but for Rats Hymn of The Resistance we knew there can be only one: Chris#2 from the polit-punk band Anti-Flag, and this is what he wrote about our collaboration:
“The ability for music to cross borders, languages, and culture is no shock to anyone… the exploitation of the poor, underprivileged and working class by the powerful is a universal truth as well. This collaboration with Doctors On Decks is a testament to both. People with varied backgrounds, from different cultures, thousands of miles of separation between them coming together to challenge the scapegoating, violence and that very same exploitation in song.
We come from different places, have clearly different musical influences and backgrounds, but we sure as fuck can agree upon the power of art and music to change and shape people; armed with the belief that these people can tear down these structures of power and build a better world. We are the rats!” — Chris#2
“The ability for music to cross borders, languages, and culture is no shock to anyone… the exploitation of the poor, underprivileged and working class by the powerful is a universal truth as well. This collaboration with Doctors On Decks is a testament to both. People with varied backgrounds, from different cultures, thousands of miles of separation between them coming together to challenge the scapegoating, violence and that very same exploitation in song.
We come from different places, have clearly different musical influences and backgrounds, but we sure as fuck can agree upon the power of art and music to change and shape people; armed with the belief that these people can tear down these structures of power and build a better world. We are the rats!”
Chris #2 from Anti-Flag shares his experience of collaborating with those with different perspectives.
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Will the group tackle more societal concepts similar to THE MINUS album in the future?
Miller:
THE MINUS is something very special. Whoever dives into it will notice that the time and energy of over 10 years of work is compressed inside. There will be no such thing in the foreseeable future. We will also follow the pendulum movement and dedicate the next album to the “light- side”.
Martin:
True, as much as THE MINUS album articulates a critique of the world we live in, the new tracks will give you salvation!
Severin: We are currently finishing 5 new tracks for EP releases. Tracks tackle the concepts of love, subconsciousness, and power of nature but in a positive sense.
We can’t wait to see the success that will unfold for Doctors on Decks in the future. Is there anything else you all would like to share?
Miller:
You have to stay true to yourself, go your own way, and not try to copy the success of others.
Martin:
Check out “The Minus Motion Musik Picture”, an audio visual journey through the album and The Minus world that we just launched these days on our Youtube channel!
Goosebumps moments!!!
Severin:
Thank you for having us. I’m looking forward to this journey with the boys and seeing some happy faces on the dance floor!
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Connect with Doctors On Decks: SoundCloud | Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Beatport
