Karen Marti: Hello Sven, first of all I want to thank you for accepting this interview. We already know that a few days ago was your Birthday so we want to say ‘Happy Birthday’ and best wishes for you in the name of all your fans, Hope you had a wonderful time.

Sven Friedrich: Thank you very much; I never have great parties on my birthday, so it’s been rather quiet ;-)

KM: Here in Mexico you have a really huge fan audience and we´ve been waiting for a really long time to see you with any of your projects, now you’re finally coming with Solar Fake let me ask: Which was your fist reaction when the Orus fest promoters said to you that they wanted Solar Fake to play on this festival?

SF: I was really excited. I’ve heard about this festival before and I knew that some of my favorite electro acts have already played there, so of course I wanted to go! We also had to decide very quickly, but there was no doubt that we’d love to play in Mexico!

KM: It will be a real honor for us to have you here in a few more days. With the visit of Solar Fake let us wonder if… We could dream about Zeraphine gig in Mexico later?

SF: I don’t really know. It is way more expensive to fly a complete band with at least 2 technicians over plus all the urgently needed equipment. I wouldn’t say no, but I’m afraid it’s rather improbable…

KM: This Mexican fest (Orus Fest 2014) for instance might not be as bigger as the German Festivals but without a doubt there will be a lot of fans out there and many new people that will hear your music for the first time. What will you do to approach a new audience?

SF: I think we do what we always do in these situations. We just give our best and play a great show. Usually the people are celebrating our shows together with us; I’m always completely blown away by the audience’s response… so I hope it will be like this in Mexico too!

KM: I’m going to say that we are really excited about this gig in Mexico. This time Solar Fake will be playing with Frank and André?

SF: No, only André and me, Frank had to quit his participation in the band, so we will continue as a duo until we find a third player.

KM: You’re a really talented and a versatile man, despite being vocalist of Zeraphine and Solar Fake both bands are totally different concept each other even the lyrics concept are so different. So I have to ask… What was your inspiration to write lyrics like you did in your last album ‘Reasons to kill’?

SF: I maybe had quite a hard time and I’ve lost the last piece of belief in mankind. The human being is simply the worst that could happen to this wonderful planet… So this is what I’ve put into the lyrics of «R2K». I’ve also watched strange people who exactly represent everything that I despise… I couldn’t believe they really exist ;-)

KM: We know that you started to sing so young, so from your point of view, what do you think that changed in you from those days to nowadays?

SF: Of course I’ve learnt to sing meanwhile, at least so much that I can do everything I want with my voice. Personally I think I have become a much more conscious, I quit smoking, I’m almost vegan and first of all, with Solar Fake I have found the perfect way to express myself without making any compromises.

KM: Besides making music Frank and you have another jobs or activities?

SF: Considering the new developments I’d rather only speak for myself ;-) Yes, I don’t want to depend only on my creativity and commercial success with my music. I also write music for German TV programs and I make motion graphics and I also work for a Spanish company.

KM: Can you recommend us a band from Germany please?

SF: Well, I’m not sure if I have something new to recommend… I like Project Pitchfork very much and I really love Rabia Sorda, even if they are half German, half Mexican. And I like SITD, Solitary Experiments, Diary of Dreams, Agonoize, Wumpscut and many more. The other bands I love, like Grendel, VNV, Covenant, IAMX, Suicide Commando etc. are not really German, even if they have a close connection. But it doesn’t matter to me, where a band comes from…

KM: In your words … what does Solar Fake mean to you?

SF: The band name symbolizes to question and to doubt even things you seem to know…
In general Solar Fake means freedom, fun, and a great audience to me. Even success, since it is doing very well in Europe, especially in Germany.

KM: We are waiting for a new video from Solar Fake because you guys are doing marvelous. Is there is a new video coming soon?

SF: Actually I have a new clip almost ready to publish, but since Frank is not part of it any longer, I think about changing everything again. I also shot a new clip for a new song, but I’m still working on the clip and the song… So… yes, there will be a new clip, but I don’t know when ;-)

KM: It´s been 4 years since the last Zeraphine material ‘Whiteout’ came out, is there something new from Zeraphine or are you just focusing on gigs with Solar Fake at the moment?

SF: With Zeraphine we played several gigs in the last years, but I don’t know exactly when we start working on new material. It always takes some time. But my focus is on Solar Fake at the moment, working on new songs.

KM: We know that all bands or musicians dream about becoming worldwide famous, but did you really imagined that your name and your bands would be famous in a country like Mexico?

SF: No, this is really awesome! For me it’s even hard to believe that we are so successful in Germany. Last year we played in Israel, which was really outstanding, and we’ve also been to Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark and the UK, but Mexico is really far away from what we’ve seen by now. Never thought my music brings me there… ;-)

KM: In Mexico is a little hard to find some CD’s or any official merchandise of your bands so we have to ask if you would bring any official merchandise.

SF: Yes, I’ll bring some, but it all depends on the weight of the suitcases… ;-)

KM: It would be the first time that you come to Mexico. What are your expectations for your next visit?

SF: I usually don’t have huge expectations. I just hope we have a great time, we meet nice people and the festival will be cool. If we’re lucky someone shows us a little piece of Mexico City ;-)

KM: Maybe you don’t have any idea but the people in Mexico are a bit ‘explosive’ in the concerts I mean, compared with the European people, they are most quiet. Have you already heard about this or is it the first time? (So get ready for the loud screaming lol)

SF: I’ve actually seen some appearances at Orus Fest 2013 on Youtube. Seems it will be a great party ;-)

KM: I have to say, we have people from Argentina in this page so I have to ask on their behalf… Does the band have plans to be there soon?

SF: Not in particular. We’d love to play in Argentina, but I think some club has to invite us for a show, as we don’t have an agency there. So, if anyone has a good idea, just write to our German agency “Protain” ;-)

KM: And to end this Interview can you say something to your fans:

SF: I am very excited to come to Mexico; it’s the first time in my life. I hope we all will have fun together and enjoy this festival! See you in July!

KM: Thank you so much for your precious time and don’t forget that we are waiting for you guys with alot Tequila ;)

SF: *lol* could be worse ;-)