SAVING KAISER is the new project of Thomas Woerle (Cologne) and Roman Rofalski (Berlin). Both musicians are working in various genres. Knowing each other for quite some time, they always shared their love for electronic experiments. After some jazz gigs, they decided to start their mutual journey, using their experiences in executing “common” instruments in various contexts in order to create something new with electronic devices and programs.
As a result, SAVING KAISER is presenting their first official EP combining equipment ranging from cymbals and keys to modular systems and laptop with the verve and playfulness of improvising musicianship in order to pursue a new aesthetic of sound and interaction. Both trained and established as drummer and pianist – are expanding their musical tools creating crystalline soundscapes in between Ambient, Noise, Drone and polyrhythmic beats.
FACTS
1. the statement ‘sound is the new music’ might be true
2. Beethoven’s 32 Sonatas and the 7 Seasons of Star Trek next generation are holding the answers to everything
3.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Thomas: technical innovation, algorithms, art, installations, science, psychology, other music especially jazz related and electronic, politics, economics and so on.
Roman: life circumstances, the environment I am living in
2. How and when did you get into making music?
Thomas: technical innovation, algorithms, art, installations, science, psychology, other music especially jazz related and electronic, politics, economics and so on.
Roman : at age six, I desperately wanted to play the drums. My parents gave me a recorder instead. Later, we’ve had a deal: for one hour of piano practicing I was allowed to play computer games for an equal amount of time. So it seems only logical I’ve ended up combining these things in order to optimise time-effort relations.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Thomas: indeed not an easy one: i could state the most influential albums ‘of all time’ for me here. But they are definitely not my most ‘favourite’ ones. my most ‘favorite’ albums on the other hand are never my favourite ones ‘of all time’ – maybe for a while. i listened a lot to venetian snares´ winter in the belly of a snake for quite a while though but also to expression by coltrane for example.
Roman : Since I am dealing with various styles of music for quite some time now, I can’t just pick 5 without narrowing down the parameters.
Instead, I am thinking of 5 records that were influential for producing DIGITAL SNOWFLAKE:
Torn – Internal EP (Samurai)
John Hollenbeck’s Claudia quintet – Semi-Formal (cuneiform)
Aho Ssan – Simacrulum (Subtext)
Tim Hecker – Virgins (kranky)
Miles – In a silent way (Columbia)
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Thomas: great city for music and nightlife. slightly controversial overall though and not for everyone. i’m loving it. ah- and vintage clothes of course.
Roman : a harsh, more rough and industrial sound throughout all genres from techno to experimental electronics, jazz, contemporary music.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Thomas: guess it has been mentioned here before but it’s also true for me: my beedroom (including my music devices playing lullabys).
Roman: Il casolare Admiralsbrücke. They have Dependancies in Friedrichshain and Berg, but only in Kreuzberg they are serving Urweisse, which I consider being the best Weizenbier on earth (and none of my friends shares this opinion)
Thomas: well, as a bavarian i find it really hard to follow you in this topic
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Thomas: the same thing i am doing now but call it differently.
Roman : Since I am a musician for 20 years now, certain areas of my brain degenerated over the years making a switch of profession almost impossible. Back in the day, I would have gone for literature, nowadays, my choice would be gardening
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Thomas : oil of every pearl’s un-insides by SOPHIE.
Roman : Beg for Mercy by HONOUR
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Thomas: john coltrane (traveling via time machine)
Roman : I’d love to work with Thomas and John. In case they wouldn’t want to have me, I’d be happy joining the Beatles for a week or two
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Roman : Strauß Alpensinfonie with NY phil & Lorin Mazel 2012
Thomas: really difficult to answer. with the right mindset every gig can be your best gig as well as a performer as also from an audience perspective. works also in retrospect.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Thomas: very important. not just by using it in a musical environment. it simply defines everything.
Roman: SAVING KAISER is an electronic project, so technology is utterly important, setting the path of both our improvisations and productions. Since we are using the possibilities as well well as the limitations of certain electronic devices, programs and synths to guide our creative processes.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Thomas: yes i do! but why the heck should they bother?
Roman : No siblings, no feelings
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