The corona pandemic hits singer Alex Diehl hard. Financially, the crisis is a "disaster" for him, as he explains in an interview.
Four years after his last album comes new music from Alex Diehl (32): On Friday (September 4th) he will release the new long player "Laut", which comes up with emotional and honest songs. Alex Diehl also finds honest words in an interview with the news agency spot on news. "I won't survive this situation financially until the end of the year without an income," he explains. In an interview, he reveals how hard the Corona crisis hits him, why he feels let down by politics and what he thinks of the cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest this year.
Your new album is titled "Laut". You are known as the quiet guy, but you can be seen screaming on the cover. How far does it have to go for you to be loud?
Alex Diehl: Not that far, actually. During these times it is important to be level-headed, but with the correct volume. Politically, we are facing extreme times. Be it a Donald Trump who lets new nonsense off the leash every day, climate change, which has to quietly and secretly make way for the coronavirus – at least as far as the media presence is concerned, or right-wing attitudes that are too simple nowadays Round tables right up to the Bundestag. I definitely don't want to be quiet and be silent about it. I am actually a pessimistic person who doesn't want to give his pessimism a chance in these times and who calls out to more heart and mind with this album. Hence the screaming face on the album cover.
Her album "Laut" was supposed to be released in May, but due to the Corona it had to be postponed. Even big concerts cannot take place at the moment. How sad are you about that?
Diehl: Sad is probably the wrong word for it. I'm even angry to some extent how my entire live industry is being let down by politics. I fully understand that we all have to take care of ourselves and that concerts can and must only take place on a small scale and under strict conditions. But what bothers me is that we artists and everyone who does a great job around us will simply be forgotten.
VW, Lufthansa and Co. will immediately receive billions in aid and the event industry should see for itself where it is. Professional ban then needs help elsewhere. A monthly loss payment or basic security to survive this time would be a sensible alternative. Concerts and other major events will probably be canceled the longest and hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on them. We need help – now!
How did you use your free time during the Corona crisis?
Diehl: At first I found the amount of free time very charming. I did things in my home that were always on the back burner, lived out my hobbies and found myself watching a lot of films that I always wanted to see. You should stay at home anyway, so why not enjoy your time a little. But after a few weeks the ceiling fell on my head.
Unfortunately I lost my rhythm a little and then slept far too long and started not doing little things anymore. Everything goes tomorrow, because nothing is going on anyway. My industry is almost completely asleep because of the professional ban. I started again to set the alarm clock, then first morning exercise and off to the recording studio. Just do it, otherwise you will rust. I can't wait for the day when I'll be able to go back on the streets and visit the stages of the republic – my living room.
For many musicians, the Corona crisis is a great financial burden. How are you doing with that?
Diehl: It's a disaster. I haven't made a cent since mid-February. Since I only founded my own record company in September 2019 and put all my savings into it in order to be able to support my new album "Laut" as much as possible, Corona came like a slap in the face for me. I have a label service in Berlin, a promotion team, musicians and crew that have to be paid. I do my best and live on the back burner myself in order to be able to manage everything. I will not survive this situation financially until the end of the year without an income.
You are a big fan of the Eurovision Song Contest and came second in the 2016 ESC preliminary round. How sad were you that the ESC could not take place this year?
Diehl: Corona is coming, Corona is going. The ESC will be back and I'm looking forward to it. I would like to see many more events like this. I find the peaceful, musical competition of different nations, a song world championship, a wonderful thought. You get to know music from all over the world and every year you are surprised to see what is on offer from which country. Similar to soccer, I would like it to be for music too. It would also be a great political action if the world came together for art every few years.
What do you think of the fact that only new songs can be presented in 2021 and that this year's contributions can no longer enter the race?
Diehl: Somehow unfair to the artists who deserved their chance on the big stage. I think it's a shame when you take away their opportunity. I am very sorry about that. Perhaps one or the other country will find a fair solution to still support their candidate.
In compliance with current corona hygiene rules, some concerts by Alex Diehl will take place in autumn. He is in Frankfurt am Main (September 4), Munich (September 15), Wolfsburg (September 19), Magdeburg (October 16), Leipzig (October 17), Oberhausen (October 23) and Memmingen (November 13th) to experience.