2023-09-28 14:53:44
He was a sound engineer and video producer, and as a drummer part of bands like GOSPEL DATING SERVICE or OEHL – after a year in a French hut, a solo artist, RUHMER, was finally born in 2020. He didn’t fully find himself, as he reveals, but with a number of singles in his luggage he at least ended up back in Austria. The first album was a long time coming and is now celebrating its debut under the name “Cherryland” (release: September 22nd, 2023). David RUHMER talked to Katharina Reiffenstuhl about broken dreams, life changes and the vision board above his desk.
Let’s talk about your album, “Cherryland.” What is the story behind the “country that only exists in our minds”?
David Ruhmer: The story of the song “Cherryland” came about because I always wanted to travel to Japan. This has always been a place that has interested me, and I still haven’t gotten there yet. There are things you dream about as a teenager and I was always someone who said: “I can achieve anything, everything is possible”. Now I’m here, I’m turning 35 and I’m slowly realizing that doors are already closing. Not everything is possible forever.
Which doors would these be, for example?
David Ruhmer: You become a little disenchanted. For example, I used to dream of going to America and touring there. But at some point the train will have left. Not that I’ll never go to Japan or never tour America, but you kind of get a sense that this moment will come. No matter what kind of dreamer you are, at some point you have to admit “Okay, that actually won’t happen anymore.”. But what this Cherryland actually is is a better version of the real world. Namely one that we dreamed of. Where all our dreams exist. Everything is possible, everything is exactly as we imagine it in our heads. Be it a place like Japan, people, things that we have changed so much in our heads over time, making them into a more perfect image of themselves… I’m sure a lot of people know that. But reality can no longer do justice to this Cherryland.
And why did this song make it to the album title?
David Ruhmer: There was no common thread at the beginning, it was more of a general idea of the different topics I wanted to address. “Cherryland” was created relatively at the end and somehow I realized that it creates a nice picture, that all of these stories that I tell also take place in this Cherryland. Also the flight to Cherryland with the song “TL409″, somehow everything suddenly made sense. Of course, there are songs on the album that don’t fit in 100 percent because there wasn’t a common thread from the beginning. But in the end I realized that a lot of things play into the same theme.
What runs through all of the album’s single covers without exception is the guitar. People actually know you as a drummer. Is the guitar your new trademark?
David Ruhmer: It’s nice to establish that I’m no longer a drummer but a frontman. I was also inspired by other artists who photographed themselves. This came about out of that, together with Alex Gotter, who took the photographs. I always have a lot of fun with him on set. I also find the guitar simply incredibly beautiful. I probably don’t even play this guitar live. It’s almost a shame.
“I’M REALLY INTO OLD THINGS”
Not only your songs, but especially your music videos live from the retro aesthetic. A homage to the good old days?
David Ruhmer: Maybe partly. I really like old things. Until recently I owned a very old motorcycle, which I have now unfortunately sold. I’m also into the old music vibe, like that MICHAEL KIWANUKA in the direction. An old sound, but packaged like new, I really like that. And I really like that in the visual world too. That’s what comes out when I do something on my own. Although I have to say, with “Loving A Machine” this vintage look has been broken up a bit anyway. I think everything fits together very well, the image aesthetics, the videos and the sound.
Where do you put in the most work?
David Ruhmer: There are phases. There was a very long songwriting phase where all the energy went into the songs. Now all energy goes into the graphic design and videos.
I assume there’s something else coming soon?
David Ruhmer: Yes, the day after tomorrow we’ll shoot a video.
Before your musical career, you actually worked as a sound engineer and video producer. How did this transition to becoming a full-time musician come about?
David Ruhmer: 2019 was a time of change. A lot generally happened there. I broke up with my girlfriend at the time. We lived together, and when that broke up I thought to myself: “No, I don’t actually want a permanent apartment right now”. I first went on tour as a sound engineer, then I got a call from OEHL get and am closed OEHL went to it. A lot happened then. All of that led to this upheaval. That gave me the legitimacy to say that I only make music now. It was also simply a form of freedom. In addition, my old band, with which I played for 10 years, broke up in 2019. GOSPEL DATING SERVICE. Then I also realized that I had put 10 years of energy into a band project and now it’s just falling apart. I don’t want that anymore, I want to have it in my own hands.
“I REALIZE THAT BEING IN THE FRONT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO IN THE LONG TERM”
Exists OEHL still, are you still part of it?
David Ruhmer: Yes, I am. But I’m only there as a drummer and don’t write any songs. It’s really fun for me, firstly to have the balance and then again not just to be at the front. Simply sitting in the back is a more relaxing job. But I realize that being at the front is what I want to do in the long term.
Where do you want to go in the next two years, do you have any goals?
David Ruhmer: Yes, they’re actually standing tall above my desk. [lacht] A goal that I have had for a long time: I would like that Flex sell out. Maybe that’s a thing because we do that too GOSPEL DATING SERVICE never made it. I want that next year, and then the year after that Arena. I would also like to release an album every year.
Are you ready with new songs yet?
David Ruhmer: There are already ideas, there are also a lot of sketches, but I would start from scratch. I’m really looking forward to that because it’s been such a long phase without writing music.
You’ve been making music as a solo artist for a few years now. Why have you decided against an album so far?
David Ruhmer: I came back from France at the end of 2019. I had a lot of time then, went to France for a month and wrote the first songs there. Then I was back and already had 15 songs or something. I was totally euphoric and thought to myself: “I’ll knock it all out right away”. But then I was slowed down a bit by friends and acquaintances from the music industry who said I should work on the songs a little more and take more time. I looked into it and then concentrated on singles and EPs.
“IT STILL MEANS SOMETHING IN AUSTRIA TO RELEASE AN ALBUM. YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT STANDING AS AN ARTIST”
Looking back now, was that the right path?
David Ruhmer: In part, I think I could have released an album earlier. Because I realize that releasing an album still means something in Austria. It seems to me that you have a different standing as an artist. So it could have been earlier, but I don’t regret how it turned out now. It’s certainly more coherent that way because the whole album was created within a year. Otherwise there would have been a lot of ideas that I still had in my discovery as an artist, then it would have been a little more diverse.
Have you now found yourself as an artist?
David Ruhmer: I think I’m just someone who keeps looking and always evolving. Unfortunately I have to put up with it. [lacht]
That’s not a bad thing, is it?
David Ruhmer: No, but I think it’s something nice to have really found each other at some point. It’s different than being a solo artist, especially because I’ve never defined my boundaries when it comes to sound. It is a permanent development.
I would also say your sound has changed. The current album is very rocky.
David Ruhmer: I also find. It’s definitely not a classic indie. I’ll be very much on 88.6 played, and I often ask myself: “Is it really that rocking?”. But apparently it is.
What radio station do you see yourself on?
David Ruhmer: I’m happy that me 88.6 thinks it’s so cool. Ultimately, it’s not about whether one radio station in Austria plays you, where everyone wants to be played. In the indie sector. [lacht] I’m extremely grateful for it 88.6 From what I hear from others, they have great support and seem to play a lot of Austrian artists. And the threshold is somehow not as high as with other channels.
You grew up near Linz, where you will have your release concert on September 22nd. played. Do you feel more at home musically there than in Vienna?
David Ruhmer: I see my roots fully in Linz, but as far as the musical environment is concerned, absolutely in Vienna. I have no connection to Linz.
And do you also plan to go to Berlin? Where everyone wants to go.
David Ruhmer: [lacht] Oh, believe me, this was on my to-do list.
Ehrlich?
David Ruhmer: Short. But I was back in Berlin now, I just don’t feel the same way. At the beginning of last year I was in Zurich, I really like it. Unfortunately it’s too expensive for a musician whose audience is mainly in Austria. I’m already drawn to somewhere else. But the horizon is just the album release, then I’ll tackle this topic again. Maybe finally to Japan.
Thank you for the nice conversation!
Katharina Reiffenstuhl
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Links:
Ruhmer
Ruhmer (Facebook)
Ruhmer (Instagram)
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