Germany’s Present Paradox have released their new project My Map.
We had the opportunity to grab the below interview with David Kleinekottmann who is the sole creative force behind Present Paradox.
Introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you?
Hi, my name is David Kleinekottmann, 26 years old. I studied film for five years, but now I’m finished. During those five years I founded a music project, called Present Paradox.
Where are you from? What style of music do you create?
I’m currently based in Dortmund, Germany. What style of music? Umm, when I need to choose a genre for one of those websites where I upload my music I tend to describe it as Experimental-Rock.
What should we expect when we click play on your new album, My Map?
Well, it’s hard to describe. Someone said to me about the opening track: “When you wait and don’t stop during the first seconds with this odd baseline you will definitely discover more and more”… So yeah, some odd sounds, sometimes slightly detuned synth’s, lots and lots of percussions. And maybe some energy, like when you start to run to get rid of some bad feelings. That could be some sort of description.
How is My Map different from your previous releases? Was there anything specific you were trying to accomplish creatively?
My Map is definitely more funky and bluesy compared to the two other albums. But that wasn’t planned. It was more a kind of: just let it go and see what happens, you know. More spontaneous. The former LP was a concept thing, centered around one theme. My Map is more journey, something like a road trip.
What was the last song you listened to?
Before the interview I listened to some tracks of Ghostpoet. His LP Sheddingg Skin was my favourite release of the last year. Umm the last one was called Off Peak Dreams. My mp3-player is shuffling the tracks, I don’t know why. It’s a bit frustrating, because to me creating the right song-order is such an important process.That’s why I don’t like to listen to albums in shuffle mode.
Who or what inspires you and influences your creativity? What motivates you to keep making music?
Well, when you ask for my inspiration, there is one word or band:Radiohead. They are my favourite band since I was fourteen. And they are still my biggest influence. But beside form that, it’s when I discover a new instrument, for example a new virtual synthesizer, there is this moment when I’ve had to figure out how to make it work and pressing all knobs or turning all parameters to maximum. That’s a very inspiring moment.
For My Map I started to teach myself guitar and after a while I came up with lots of simple riffs, which I looped in my software. Mostly just shorts bits, but I really liked them and started to build beats around them. That’s how My Map come to light.
Where can our readers connect with you online?
Well, Facebook and Twitter. I know I should post more on a regular base, but sometimes there is just less to say, sometimes more…
Where can we stream more music?
On Soundcloud and bandcamp. You can also stream it on the platform of the big players, you know which ones I mean…
What’s in store for 2016? Any new releases, big events, tours?
Yes, I started to rehearse ten or eleven songs with two friends of mine, we’re going to do some gigs. It’s hard to find an opportunity to play so it’s not real tour, but Í still hope it will become some sort of.
Any last thoughts? Words of wisdom? Shout outs?
Well, first of all: Thank you for this interview! And thank you to all who purchased my albums or streamed it. That means really a lot to me. Some words of wisdom? When I should say something wise, I usually end up saying something stupid. So, I leave that for today.
Be sure to grab your copy of My Map and show your support to Present Paradox.
Dig into Present Paradox’s previous albums on Soundcloud.
