APRIL ART was founded in 2014, so this is the year they celebrate their tenth anniversary. A decade with undoubtedly many highs and lows. But if you ask Lisa-Marie about her most memorable moment in those 10 years, she knows the answer immediately. “I would say this moment is still really present, because it’s not long ago: our show in Wacken a few weeks ago! That was absolute crazy! I had goosebumps all over my body! Such an amzing and energetic crowd! That was a really special moment for all of us!”
The past 10 years have yielded three APRIL ART albums, “Rise & Fall” (2019), “P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.” (2022) and the upcoming album “Rodeo” (2024). An achievement that must feel very satisfactory. “I’m not satisfied that we needed five years to release our first album, haha. 😀 But we changed a lot during the Corona crises and for those decisions we made I am really happy. It feels like the right way and I am really proud of it.”
The colour red has always been a dominating factor in APRIL ART’s career. You’ll find it everywhere, in the band logo, on the cover arts and in their clothes. But for the new album “Rodeo” they’ve gone bigger than ever, absolutely everything is red. So red is a powerful colour for the band and Lisa-Marie in particular. “I always liked the color and of course colering my hair red was always fun, but during the Corona crises we had a cooporation with the “Red Alert” initiative (that was a initiative here in Germany to help all people in the music industry). And we were releasing a song together called “Break The Silence”. So we thought it would be a great idea wearing all red in the video. And after that we found that wearing red is really special because lots of musicans are wearing black and red really pops out. 😁 So you can say, not we found red, red found us!” 😉
“Rodeo” will be out on October 4th, which happens to be World Animal Day. This could indicate that there is a secret meaning behind the album title in combination with the white horse on the cover art. “Oh, this is the first time I’m hearing that! Thanks for the hint. Maby we can build a story around that.” 😁
“I would say we dance under the big Metal Umbrella, but we’re jumping in every Genre-Puddle we want to!”
– LISA-MARIE WATZ
It’s hard to put APRIL ART into a genre box, but most people call them an alternative/modern metal band with punk and metalcore influences. On “Rodeo” all these genres are easily recognized, although “Jackhammer” and “Change Part II” are sort of misfits (rap metal), in a good way. In what genre would you put APRIL ART, Lisa-Marie? “For sure, this is really diffcult. But I like that. I would say we dance under the big Metal Umbrella, but we’re jumping in every Genre-Puddle we want to!”
Let’s talk gigs. In July you did quite a few festivals in Germany. The ultimate performance was of course at Wacken Open Air on August 2nd. Please take us with you through all your emotions and experiences there. “As I said before, I had goosebumps all over my body. I was so overwhelmed that I really had to work hard on myself not to cry! I mean, I’ve been working so hard on this band for a lot of years and all of us are making so many sacrifices and compromises. Going on this stage felt like getting everything back just in this one moment. These are the moments we’re all living for.”
This autumn you’re starting a new clubtour across your ‘Heimat’. But when the new album “Rodeo” is out, people outside Germany might also like to see you live. “We are still working on that. Building a fanbase in Germany isn’t the easiest thing, but outside of Germany it is much more difficult. But with our new label and our booking agents we’re working hard on that. So to all our Dutch fans: please be patient, we will come to you!”
Ten years of APRIL ART, congratulations by the way, where do you see the band in the next ten years? “Hopefully in the Netherlands! Haha. 😉 I hope that we all still like each other, are healthy and still love being on stage and making music together!”