Since his hit “Just save the world” in 2011, Tim Bendzko (37) has been an integral part of the German music world. Numerous awards, four albums and other hits like “Unter die Haut” or “Hoch” followed. A lot has changed in the life of the 37-year-old since his breakthrough. He has been the father of a small son since 2020.
Being a father also “shifted his motivation,” as he says. With a family, it is also easier for him to persevere. “Now I know what I’m doing all this for,” he says in an interview with the news agency spot on news. Standing still is a foreign word for Bendzko, on March 31 his fifth album “April” will be released. A special month for the singer-songwriter, after all he celebrates his birthday on April 9th.
Tim Bendzko: A lot has happened. For one thing, the whole pandemic madness that has gotten us all. On the other hand, I became a father, which changed a lot. Those were the two big things in my life. During the pandemic, I’ve spent most of my time writing songs. That’s actually not my style, I usually write everything within half a year. But due to the pandemic, I had to pass the time. This resulted in a different album than what you might be used to from me.
Bendzko: It has a big impact on my music. It shifted my motivation. I’m not one of those people who always want more. But rather to those who like to try something new. That’s why my albums are very different from each other – both musically and lyrically. The motivation is just another to indulge in this effort. Because now I do it more for my family than for me. I now know what I’m doing all this for. It’s not always fun. But with a family, it’s much easier to persevere.
Bendzko: Not really. I think about it often. But I do believe that I am following a clear line. I came up with this title because I was looking back over the last few years – the circuits. After the chaos, there was always a spirit of optimism. In the corona pandemic, people thought: It’s all over now – and then it started all over again and the world was thrown into chaos again. But that’s life. Whenever you have the feeling that you have arrived, you can be very sure that the next impact is already waiting for you.
Bendzko: That’s always easy to say. Of course, the pandemic was a great misfortune that caught us. But the bottom line is that it’s always like this. Every now and then you get thrown off course. There’s something comforting about knowing that. It is an illusion to believe that one will eventually reach a state where all is well in life forever. But if you’re prepared, you’ll be better able to deal with the swings up and down.
Bendzko: That’s a good example of what I want to describe in the song. They also think we live in a parallel world. I have often used the term privately. Whenever someone told me an absurd story that I couldn’t understand, I dismissed it. It was less about lateral thinkers and more about drug stories from people in the television business. In the end, reality is an illusion. A lateral thinker probably has the constant feeling that everyone around them lives in a parallel world.
Bendzko: Fear is a big word. I’m not one to be scared. Because I firmly believe that humankind is capable of extraordinary things whenever the pressure is greatest. In the corona pandemic, for example, it was an incredible achievement to develop a vaccine in such a short time. The pressure was so great that every effort was made and suddenly everything is possible. Unfortunately, this means that a lot of suffering is necessary for something to move. But apparently we humans are not made to care now about things that will be relevant in ten years. But I am firmly convinced that this problem will also be solved. That more and more will happen in the years to come. I say that as a world savior (laughs). We all know what to do. It just has to be done. Talk less, do more.
Bendzko: I understand your motivation. You see the problem and feel like everyone else isn’t taking it seriously enough. But I have great doubts that the path is the right one. You try to draw attention to it by creating visibility. However, one ignores how media work. I don’t have the impression that reporting is becoming more differentiated. Instead, there is only black and white. They throw themselves to the sharks. These actions tend to harm the environmental movement. Everyone who campaigns for this will be lumped together with them. That’s too bad.
Bendzko: I’m playing a concert in Berlin that day so I don’t have to celebrate my birthday. However, I heard on the radio how the announcer referred to my birthday. Now I have achieved the opposite. Since I don’t really like celebrating birthdays, it might not be very smart to play a concert in front of thousands of people. Please do not ask fans to bring gifts. I would survive a birthday song. That will probably not be missing, but that’s enough. For some reason on my birthday I feel like nothing can happen to me. That’s pretty good at a concert.
Bendzko: I’m thinking about it. I still look like I’m in my early 20s, but turning 40 is special. I’m proud to have made it this far. It feels like the second half is about to kick off. For a long time you only look forward in your life. Now begins the phase in which I look back more and more. I’m a part-time philosopher (laughs) and I find that very exciting. But it doesn’t scare me. Because I look much younger, aging is actually a very desirable thing for me. When I say at some point that I’m over 40, no one believes me. I used to be very uncomfortable with that. But if you look 25 when you’re 40, that’s great (laughs).
Bendzko: In recent years it has become important to me to write positive songs. When I first started writing songs, I tended to only produce sad lyrics. This is easiest when you want to write emotional songs. But at some point it got on my nerves. Actually, I want to make people feel good. I find it easy to draw strength from chaos. I see it as a chance to sort everything out and start over. I’ll always be a young guy – even if I’m 60 years old. Because I just want something new. I’ve recently started painting. It’s like writing a song – only with your hands. I’m already working on my first exhibition.
Bendzko: I used to go camping with my parents all the time, but before that I didn’t have much to do with a camper. The van has already been rebuilt. I don’t sleep well in hotels, so I came up with the idea. In addition, the backstage rooms usually have no windows. So you’re sitting in a dark room. Thanks to my van, I save myself that. I also don’t have to pack and unpack a suitcase and I have a place to retreat to. I tested it for two weeks last year to see if I really pull it off or if I find it unglamorous. But after the two weeks I came home and it was like I had been on vacation.
Bendzko: No. I would be in denial if I stopped playing some songs. I am proud and happy to have written songs that many people know. If it’s less fun to play, I can put everything in a new guise. For example, I didn’t like singing “Unter die Haut” anymore because it felt weird. So we made a new version. Now it feels like a new song.
Bendzko: It’s currently much more relaxed than it was a few years ago. If I had already had a family on the first album, then we can assume that I no longer have it. I can’t imagine a relationship would have survived that. I was only traveling for two years. That would have been very difficult and could only have been solved by traveling later. Now everything is a bit more manageable. I’ll be away until mid-April – which is long enough, but after that I’ll be home a lot. There are a few concerts in the summer. Everyone will survive this. I don’t let myself be so stressed out during the tour anymore and I can get in touch with my loved ones in between. Twelve years ago I probably wouldn’t have called home.
