Like this Article? Share it!
About The Author
SIMGE On The Scene: Bringing you the latest interviews and reviews of under-the-radar musicians with a story to tell.
Interview with Feline Lang of Feline & Strange
There are concept records and there are concept bands. German theatrical band Feline & Strange definitely fall in the latter category as every tiny detail of their mythos is carefully curated. The group will bring their internationally acclaimed live show to the US this month, including a stop at Asbury Park Yacht Club on May 21st. I caught up with bandleader Feline Lang to learn more about the story behind and that makes up the Feline & Strange.
Defining "Cabaret Soulpunk"
You identify your genre as “Cabaret Soulpunk”. Tell me more about what that means to you.
The Cabaret: The theatrical part. The stories, the aliens, the costumes. It’s not just the music.
The soul: Did you have a go at our songs? It’s The Voice. And a good helping of 60s sound.
Punk: Like in “Steampunk”, it’s the not-fitting-in attitude, not the mohawk. Though I wear Docs with my ball gown.
The Origin Story
How did you come up with the concept behind the band? Did you have an idea of where you wanted this all to go from the very beginning or do you keep adapting as you go?
It just happened. Well, we ARE aliens, but only realized that step by step. So our story unfolds while we go along.
Expanding The Narrative
You encourage fans to keep up with all of the band’s affairs as it is all part of an unfurling narrative. Are there any artistic mediums you would like to incorporate into that mythos that you haven’t gotten to yet?
Yes! I would love to make a real theatre show, like a musical, but with an opera orchestra. With artists, and a real lightshow. And of course, there’s the movie...! With a space ship in it! ...and did I tell you about the book I’m writing??
Line-up Changes Throughout the Years
The size of the band has shifted over the years. Was that due to circumstances or did you find those lineup changes necessary to stay true to your vision with each release?
The 5 piece was the most consistent, as I wanted from the very beginning: Piano, Brass, Bass, Percussion, and Electronics. So it wasn’t that that changed. Only when Uli the horns left I realized that we had gone the wrong way, blowing up something weaker instead of reducing to the necessary.
Collaboration with Brian Viglione
On your latest LP you got to work with “Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls, Violent Femmes). How did he help to shape the album’s sound?
Oh Brian is incredible! He is not only the best drummer in the world, but also the nicest person on Earth. He instantly got what I wanted with those songs, even more than I did myself, and what he did on them was energetic, rocky, fantastic, big big big, and completing the music in a way I had never dared to imagine.
Gothic Sound & Dream Collaborations
Your music has a beautiful, gothic sound to it. Who do you cite as a chief musical influences?
From Opera composer George Bizet to Depeche Mode and Daft Punk. Daft Punk would be the dream cooperation, as I had my first dream fulfilled with Brian Viglione!
Steampunk Connections
You have a connection with the Steampunk community. Were you always interested in that culture or did you find it as a result of interest in the band?
Several weeks after Science Fiction was released, I got a pingback from a Steampunk forum titling "I discovered a totally weird new Steampunk band..." I thought: what the heck is Steampunk? had a look at the website and found we had been Steampunks all the time without knowing it.
The "Truths" and "Lies"
You say that the new LP will be delivered in a “in a luxury steel box” along with a graphic novel. Tell me a more about what the packaging will look like?
Lies delivers the questions, in a coded pop-out paper box with a code disc, and a scrapbook hinting at a conspiracy. Truths will contain the graphic novel I wrote during production, telling more about the aliens, their mission, and delivering some answers to Lies. The steel box will be the blunt instrument to deliver them to everybody else who didn't buy the album yet!
U.S. Tour and Collaborations
You’ll be in the US for three upcoming shows including a few with Emily Grove who will be your tour mate later this year. How did you come to meet/find out about each other?
Emily is a “child of the Seventh Wave family” too! Jason Rubal loves to connect people from all over the world, with surprising results! I loved Emily from the first moment on, she’s a great person and a big musician. Can’t wait to show her around in Berlin!
Experiencing Asbury Park and The Upcoming Show
You’ll be in Asbury Park for a show on May 21st with Grove and Homeless Apians. Have you ever been to Asbury Park before?
Simple answer: No. It’s our 2nd visit to the States only, and we were stuck in the studio most of the time, no time for sightseeing!
What To Expect at a Feline & Strange Show
So the biggest question is, in your own words, what can our readers expect from a Feline & Strange show?
Theatre! We don’t deliver our music mumbling a few lines about how-i-wrote-that-song-when-i-was-sad. We telephone to our homeworld, and need the audience as assistance, and witnesses. And there is always, in every show, this one person right at the stage crying his heart out.
Travel and the Appeal of Live Music
For music lovers, the idea of traveling to see a favorite band is akin to a pilgrimage; it's an opportunity to see an act breathe life into their songs in a unique setting. Attendees often turn such trips into mini-vacations, exploring the local scene, seeking accommodation that enhances their experience, and capturing memories. As Asbury Park readies itself to welcome the extraordinary Feline & Strange, the city's hotels prepare for guests seeking a blend of comfort and proximity to one of the most anticipated musical shows of the season. Whether for the electric atmosphere of a live performance or the discovery of new places, travel marries the joy of music with the adventure of exploring the world beyond our doorsteps.