We’re kind of starting to become residents there. This will be our third year in a row going.
You and Leeroy?
Yeah. It’s my fourth time in total, but our third year in a row. It is really, really good. I’d say it’s my favourite party of the year, it’s so crazy. In regards to that video, it’s a lot more music than sex. The way they make it look in that video. There’s a lot of really beautiful women in Eastern Europe, and if you go over there for the first time you’re probably super blown away by the sex part of it. But it’s not just that, it’s more about the music actually.
On the topic of festivals, is it too early to talk about bookings for this summer? I know you said you’re go- ing back to Kazantip, but any Smash Hifi bookings we can watch for?
I think I’ll come back to Canada this summer. We’re negotiating a Smash Hifi show.
That would be such a gift if we got that this summer! My friends and I were all chatting about how much we loved your set last summer at Motion Notion, it was my favourite of the summer I think.
You guys are people that really know your music, so that means a lot. Thank-you.
So you’re on a North American mini tour right now? Where have you been, and where do you go next?
I’ve just been to Texas. To be very honest I didn’t know what to expect, but it was really, really cool, lots of really cool people. It was in Austin and everyone told me Austin isn’t really Texas, it’s an island of weirdness. It was my first US show ever which was cool. I also love American food.
What’s your favourite North American food?
Bacon, all the way. I’m actually obsessed with bacon. The strips have got to be thick. You can get bacon in Germany, but it’s really thin and fatty and terrible.
And where do you go next?
Edmonton, Fernie… such cool people in the mountains. Most of what makes a country is the people, and Canada is so awesome because of the people. I just feel like I’m at home. I grew up in the countryside, and it feels like you guys are so close to nature. I remember the first time I ever came to Canada and played Shambhala, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t even look up what Shamb- hala was and we flew into Vancouver and drove there in a proper fat ass SUV rental. It was the first time I ever saw all those mountains. It was crazy.
I hope you ate a lot of bacon on the way… I had an unrelated question about drinking at Oktoberfest. I heard you guys have wooden pee funnels that come out of your lederhosen so that you guys can pee with- out getting up from the table…
Back in the day the lederhosen had a flap in the front, and people don’t do it anymore. But back then, you know, if you get up you’d lose your seat because it’s always rammed. So they’d have this wooden stick and you would piss down the stick. Back then the tents didn’t have floors so you could just go for it. I’ve personally never done it or seen it, but I’ve heard of it. They try to make it look like Oktoberfest is super cultural and all that, but really it’s just another reason to get piss drunk! Old culture is super fun, which is why young people stick to it. You see young people wearing lederhosen because they love it.
Do you have a set?
No, but I got Leeroy a set when we got our studio. He’s never worn them, but they are proper leather. He said he’d put shame on Germans if he wears them. But my dad, up until about two or three years ago, he wore his every Sunday. He’s a proper Bavarian.
Wow! That’s crazy!
When it’s on, we actually go quite often. Leeroy loves it, he sings along in fantasy German. It’s just such a cool so- cial thing. It’s basically just a big rave for all age groups. I always wonder why you North Americans call it a stein?
Why!? What do you call it? Krug. Stein means stone.
Well, I guess we call it a stein because that other thing you said is impossible to say! Basically just to wrap up what’s next for Marten Hørger? What do you want out of this year?
I really want to make more music. I’ve been touring a lot of my life and I want to get more into the studio again. Sharing a studio with Leeroy, he brought in all these crazy synthesizers. I always used to be a kid with a laptop and headphones, and now I have this space station back home, with lots of stuff from his old band! I love it, it’s so good. It sounds so much more human. I want to do that Smash Hifi album and just do more music.