Born on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall during the German reunification, twin brothers Philipp and Andreas, who go by the name Überhaupt & Außerdem, are gaining attention in the electronic music scene with their unique blend of downtempo beats. Their music emphasizes intricate production techniques and attention to detail. The duo draws inspiration from renowned artists such as Solee, Dominik Eulberg, and Björn Torwellen, among others.
Photo Credit: Überhaupt & Außerdem – Official
They have collaborated with high-profile artists and performed on prestigious stages, steadily building a name for themselves in the music industry. Despite their success, Philipp and Andreas remain humble.
EG caught up with Überhaupt & Außerdem to learn more about their first artist-curated compilation on Magician On Duty, ‘You are Music, We are One’, as well as their future projects and more.
EG: Hi guys! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Andi): Hey guys! Thank you! The pleasure is all ours! Actually, we just came back to Berlin after a busy extended weekend with shows in Switzerland and the Katzensprung Festival, close to Cologne, with a whole bunch of artists, also from Underyourskin. Basically, it was an extended family tour that we enjoyed a whole lot!
EG: Sounds like fun. Congratulations on the release of your new ’You are Music, We are One’ V/A compilation! You must be very excited to finally be able to share this one. What has the initial reception been like?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Andi): Yes, we’re surely excited and so far it’s been very well received. The whole process took more time than expected and was really enlightening towards how much work Adrian does on a daily basis for Magician on Duty. It was quite a new perspective that we’re happy to be part of.
“So we were looking for something a bit rougher and fidgety with a pinch of dirt, that reflects the every life around here, but still keeps a positive attitude at heart”
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘You are Music, We are One’? Is there a concept or emotional trigger that guided you through the curation process?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Philipp): We had a few people in mind, that we wanted to have on the tape right away, like Roze for example. Fortunately, he could contribute, which made us super happy! With that routine, a couple of tracks gathered and from there, it’s going on its own logic of composition. It’s a back-and-forth between individual beautiful tracks and the V/A as a whole. The emotional trigger in most cases was the balance between the two things I guess.
EG: ‘You are Music, We are One’ will be out via Magician On Duty. How did this opportunity come about? Were you approached by the label?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Philipp): We’ve been working with Magician on Duty for quite a while now and kept in touch over the last two and a half years or so. Last summer Adrian spent some days in Berlin. We took him on a tour to some abandoned urban ruins, which you can find plenty of in and around Berlin. The one we went to is a large area of abandoned hangars next to a police station, which is a bit of an adventure to sneak in unseen. During the trip, he approached us with the idea of having another project together, which became the new V/A.
We asked Adrian to contribute to the interview. He said to us: “I want to invite more artists to use my platform to create their own things and showcase their skills. That’s pretty much my aim with the artist-curated compilations. In the future, I would also want to host a release party too so we can make an event out of it.”
EG: How did you guys go about selecting the tracks featured in the compilation? Did you have to “commission” them?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Andi): I think it’s been more like a common intend to reach out to people we admire for their sound and trying to get in touch for a track. Sometimes Adrian pulled something, sometimes the other way around. He is very professional with this and has immense patience! We were very happy to start this project with him because he maintains the conversations as equals. I couldn’t have wished anyone else for this first try!
EG: Being based in Berlin…how does the city seep into your music? Are the “tones” of the city also reflected in ‘You are Music, We are One’? What does the underground scene look like at the moment?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Andi): Yes, Berlin’s vibe definitely was one guiding topic while imagining the music we’d like to feature in this project. We wanted to get away from the typical idea many people usually have of “downtempo” music, which is often considered to be more on the organic, tribal, and spheric side. So we were looking for something a bit rougher and fidgety with a pinch of dirt, that reflects the every life around here, but still keeps a positive attitude at heart.
EG: What does the current underground landscape look like to you right now? Do you think things are moving “forwards”?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Philipp): Well, when it comes to the area in which we “operate”, we are looking at sort of smaller bubble, because our primary relation still is slow sound. And it has changed a lot! “Moving forwards” is indeed the right term for that. Although you still find slower sound in terms of the BPM, it definitely has got a strong driven vibe to it. It’s bouncy and wild and people go crazy! The best example for this newly appearing sound might be the new label “Tipping Point”, where we are going to release a remix in the near future, too.
EG: Now, stepping away from the studio for a bit…Have you found any good books, movies, or albums lately that you’d recommend?
Überhaupt & Außerdem: Me (Philipp), I’m always having trouble finding good movies since so much time is spent with doing the same for music. But a very good book I’m reading right now is ‘Consuming the Romantic Utopia’ by Eva Illouz. (Andi) At the end of the pandemic ‘Arduino for Musicians’ by Brent Edstrom sparked my interest in the technical side of music and instruments. It kinda catapulted me right into the rabbit hole of electronics, acoustics, and coding. Now – one and a half years later – I think I can finally tackle my initial idea that got me started in the first place. If it works out (*knocks on wood*), there probably will be an ‘Überhaupt & Außerdem Wavetable VST’ by the end of this year. Album-wise, I’ve been digging ‘Future’ by Dub Inc. If you’re into a bit poppy French/ Arabic Dub, check it out!
“We were very happy to start this project “
EG: What’s next for Überhaupt & Außerdem? Where can your fans catch you next? What new milestones are you looking forward to in 2023?
Überhaupt & Außerdem (Andi): It is still a bit to go, but certainly a highlight for us will be Mystic Creatures Festival in Poland! The main crew is lovely and has become a household name within the Berlin party sphere. Besides the outstanding lineup, the festival will also be a big family and friends gathering with plenty of young talent worth discovering.
EG: Thank you for your time, guys! We’re excited to see what’s in store for you. Take
care!
Überhaupt & Außerdem: Thank you very much, guys! Keep up your great work!
Überhaupt & Außerdem’s ‘You are Music, We are One’ will be out on August 4th, 2023. Get your copy here.
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