The Berlin cult band Lemonbabies took a break in 2001 that continues to this day. In the interview, the women look back on their careers.
400 concerts in seven countries, four albums and one EP: The Lemonbabies ("Carry On") had a remarkable career in 2001. Then the band from Berlin took a break – until now. The four women Diane Weigmann, Julia Fensky, Barbara Mayer and Katharina Matthies released a "Best of" album on Friday (February 19th) with four unreleased songs. And that's not all: all Lemonbabies publications have since been available on all sales platforms and streaming portals.
For the lemon babies it was a "long-cherished wish", as Katharina "Katy" Matthies tells in an interview with the news agency spot on news. The women also reveal how they look back on their careers today and what impression the 1990s made.
Why was it time for you to publish a best-of and make all albums and songs available on streaming portals?
Katharina "Katy" Matthies: That was a long-cherished wish. When we were still active with the Lemonbabies, nobody could imagine that not even two decades later nobody would buy sound carriers anymore, but would listen to all their music on their mobile phones and the songs would only be streamed. Therefore our band doesn't exist anymore. That should change.
Diane Weigmann: Absolutely, I'll go with Katy. It would also be a shame, because even today many fans or old companions ask about the music. And I hardly listen to CDs or records anymore, but of course I'm extremely digital. It's just nice to know that a little bit of it will be preserved for posterity.
Barbara Mayer: In the process, we noticed how much unpublished material there actually was. When we then went to our photo boxes from the time, it was also clear that it needed a more loving overall processing. So put a new homepage, social media channels and the videos online. It was a nice trip back to the analog era. And looking into the archives of the other lemon babies was always a surprise. So much has been forgotten in the course of time.
How do you remember the 1990s?
Weigmann: The time was incredibly exciting, it was the time after the fall of the Wall, there were an incredible number of illegal clubs. Two halves of Germany that were once divided have come together again and there was a lot to discover and exchange. Suddenly all of Germany was open to us and we were able to play in every club, every youth home, every basement stage. That wasn't even possible before. I had the feeling that a lot of music and concert experiences had been made up for in the new federal states.
Mayer: The 90s were incredibly carefree for me. It was a brief period when it was thought that wars and social upheavals were a thing of the past. All is well. Everything is possible. And it just gets better now. In retrospect, that is what makes this time so attractive. But it was also a bit of an attitude not to be as interested in political or environmental issues as we do today.
How do you feel when you see photos from the success times of the lemon babies?
Weigmann: What I find best is the naivety with which we approached things. You don't question things at this age, you just do them. You go out into this world with no ulterior motive and with a great deal of curiosity and do something between megalomania and inventive talent. The fact that we as friends have had so many adventures – I sometimes compare it to a ten year long school trip. And we really learned a lot about life and about other people. This keeps your mind open to many things to this day.
Matthies: I'm really happy because it was just a great time. I am very grateful for all the experiences I have had with the lemon babies. And then of course I also think: "Oh wow, how young we were all there." But cool.
Mayer: Thank you for being able to experience it all. It was an overwhelming and exciting time for me. I was still going to school when I became a lemon baby. And then suddenly I was able to live this musician's dream. With record deal, studio, tours and promo trips. Playing at big festivals, getting to know other musicians. To travel through other countries. To be on the radio and on TV. I would never have dared to dream that to that extent. And to be perceived as an artist. Playing own songs on stage that people in the audience came for. It was all pretty unreal.
When you finished your lemon baby career in 2001, you were on average 25 years old. Looking back, how was it for you to have achieved everything at such a young age?
Matthies: Well, everything achieved is already a very positive consideration. I think we have learned to be independent and to take our own future into our own hands. No matter what conventions or parents want to whisper to you. I still work independently in a team with women and, to be honest, I can't imagine anything else.
Weigmann: As Katy says: You learn to trust that you are able to make ends meet on your own. I am also self-employed to this day and have learned in these years to trust that financial securities are not so relevant and that money always finds its way to you, even if at irregular intervals. And that can actually be tolerated very well, especially when you know that you can do something for it that you can express yourself in and that you are your own boss. It really is a luxury to be able to say about one's professional life.
Mayer: On the one hand we were very lucky, but on the other hand we also had really good work discipline, with which we made the most of every small opportunity. I also benefited from this discipline and determination in my later professional career. We also assumed a lot of responsibility very early on. It wasn't just about realizing oneself somehow, but also sticking to promises.
A record must be written and produced by a certain point in time. A planned tour needs to be played, regardless of whether you are sick or tired. That shapes you and you tend to feel too responsible for everything that happens around you. On the other hand, it also shows you that you are able to do too much if you just kneel down properly. That gives you a lot of confidence in yourself.