The Region of Murcia Music Awards drew attention to Minimal Schlager. they prevailed Best Other Trends Album in Love, Sex & Dreams (2022), in front of Fur Voice (Passion tuning) and Yuss Cawa (Intuition). Until then, they had presented a performance in these parts at the end of November, but the Spain mini-tours – which also went through Madrid, Barcelona and Gijón – were only part of the LSDTour, so they were able to present it. New songs from up to seven countries. . And before that they were at the prestigious SXSW in Austin (USA), so the international influence of these two Murcian sisters, Alicia Macanás and Fran Parisi, seems assured. Now we have to realize ‘at home’ that we have a very interesting group navigating the dense waters of the London and Berlin underground (he lives in the UK; he is in Germany). Minimal Schlager answers questions from La Opinión, covered with an elegant and contemporary synth-pop reminiscent of the eighties.
Where does the Minimal Schlager come from? What prompted you to join forces to shape such a special project?
Fran Paris: We always made music together, even though it was more punk and noise oriented. But this time I bought a drum machine [una caja de ritmos] and suddenly things changed; we decided to explore a more popular side.
It was in 2022 that the Minimal Schlager name started to be heard strongly, but the band has been going since 2019 at least…
Alice Macanas: We launched the first demo in October-November 2019, so the pandemic has slowed our debut, but we took this time to work at home and find our voice. We also had very interesting collaborations with Eddie Argos (Art Brut) and Laura Lee on the Berlin stage, such as a Christmas song, FMB music video/short – including many artists – EP… I came and went from London. from empty airports.
It’s not easy to start a project and find yourself facing a global health crisis.
AM: No. I’m telling you, we gave our first concert four months after the program. And when we were at the top there were about twenty-five people sitting at the bar and a few more people watching the broadcast. It was a surreal experience. Putting something as normal as dancing at a concert into perspective…
They released their first EP, Voodoo Eyes, which helped them position themselves in March 2021, and a few months ago in September, their first full-length Love, Sex & Dreams was finally released. And at least the welcome by the experts is getting really good.
FP: We are very happy with the reception, yes. Honestly, this surprised us a bit, especially considering it’s our first album to be released… But it allows us to play in many new places, meet other artists and have a good time.
His participation at SXSW in Austin in March helped, I think, help Minimal Schlager become internationally known… perhaps his own version of Disorder by Joy Division.
FP: Yes, Disorder hit hard in Mexico and we hardly knew about it because of the time zone. I went crazy when I woke up and saw all the notifications. And yes, the experience at SXSW was incredible… Consider it our first festival and we shared the bill with Beck and Dolly Parton, among others; What else can I tell you…
Of course, it should be clarified that this album first of all moves on the London Underground; but of course, although we are from Murcia, we are talking about an Anglo-German project at all levels, both in terms of the residence of its members and in terms of effects and approach. How do they experience that special nature?
FP: Well… it’s interesting because it’s seen as a very Spanish project in London and Berlin; either because of the theme or the almost exuberant color of the songs. But on the other hand, we are discovering a genre of music that is not very popular in Spain, like krautrock or synthwave.
Actually, the LSD Tour brought them here, but it also took them to England, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland… It is not easy for such a young group, who gave their first concert, to go to such a concert. international tour, but they seem to have found the key to Minimal Schlager being loved in Central Europe.
AM: Yes! In the end, it’s just a matter of taking risks and getting out of the house a bit. When we got back from Texas, we realized that being on tour gave us life and kept us growing. And we held a concert in France, then another in Switzerland, then in Austria… and finally we toured seven countries. Let’s see if we can arrange more dates in Spain!
Will they be returning to the Zone soon?
AM: I hope so!
In any case… they have very recently achieved significant recognition ‘at home’: the award for best album in the ‘Other Trends’ category at the Murcia Region Music Awards. What does this distinction mean to you?
AM: We never expected this. The Murcian press didn’t echo our music, we didn’t even record! It was so nice to host him, after all these years of working abroad, from here or there. Let’s see if they will take us into consideration and invite us to play in the Region, in a venue, in a festival.
Do you appreciate the big differences between the treatment given to music in other countries and the treatment offered in Spain?
AM: It’s hard to answer because we’ve been living outside of Spain for a while. London is a jungle because the number of groups there is brutal, but the same can be said for Murcia, right? The quality of bands currently in existence in Spain has nothing to envy the UK, and I think that’s indicative…
“The Murcian press didn’t announce our music, we didn’t even attend the Music Awards! I hope they take us into consideration now”
Because… musically, where do Alicia Macanás and Fran Parisi come from? Do they have previous experience? Did they have anything to do with what they did at Minimal Schlager today?
AM: We have had several projects before, together and separately, in a wide variety of styles and collaborations. We started something, but on a DIY level [Do it yourself, ‘Hazlo tú mismo’]and since we move often, this is the first project we’ve really come to a point of recording.
As for the proposal, everyone agrees to use two tags to bring readers closer to Minimal Schlager’s music: “synth-pop” and “eighties.” Do you feel comfortable with them?
AM: Record labels are necessary these days, but we don’t think about them when we make music; they are not really important to us. Rather, we’re trying to create our own record label so people can listen to our music and say, “This is like Minimal Schlager,” and I think we’ve succeeded.
Also, despite the very characteristic synth atmospheres of the eighties, Minimal Schlager is said to sound fresh. what’s the trick?
FP: I think the sound itself isn’t too far off from other proposals… After all, Minimal Schlager is still a pop project. However, I believe our staging and visual elements have a pinch of experimentation and it has that effect on first contact.
The album opens with Lorca’s Nana del caballo grande, although the best references or comparisons we could find to describe what the minimal Schlager sounds are like are foreign. What was your purpose in making this adaptation and at the same time making it the first track of the album?
AM: The idea arose when Francisco Bodas was studying de sangre. That’s why the concept thought of making a recording. So in November 2021 we had a three-week stay at an arts center near Dresden, Germany, where we were pretty much alone at night, and most of the record came from here.
And they’re still presenting it live right now – I understand they’re giving the show package even if there’s a drummer – but… what are the plans for 2023? Are you working on new projects or will you stay focused on giving concerts?
FP: We’re polishing the edges of a compilation we’ve made with remixes, rarities, and the occasional new song. And in the meantime, yes, keep playing and recording.
A wish for the new beginning this year?
AM: More support for concert halls, without them it would not have been possible to develop such projects!