Atomic Picnic Project
Known as a pop rock artist with an enigmatic side, Atomic Picnic Project's new single ‘Out Of My Shell’ has exploded on radio and puts this pop rock artist on the world map.
BLAKE: As an artist on the rise, what is one thing you are most excited about and one thing you are most afraid of happening in your career?
HELMUTH: I am not afraid of anything. The worst that can happen is that people stop listening to our music. Well, then I guess that would be goodbye as an active musician. Since we also have a publishing house, life in music will go on. For now, we enjoy the ride. Needless to say, we are thrilled that we get that positive response to our music.
BLAKE: Your song’Out Of My Shell’ is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
HELMUTH: Pride! You never get used to it, even if it’s playing on numerous stations worldwide. I get as exited every time I hear a song of ours as if it were the first time.
BLAKE: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
HELMUTH: When I had enough of the corporate life, I needed to make a few drastic changes. It is that outer image that I have patched together from all of the messages I had absorbed about who I “should” be, what people expect of me, what I had to be in order to be accepted and loved. It is a hard shell! For a long time, it served me – it protected me. Over the last couple of years, I started noticing those empty spaces. So that is when I started searching, going deeper, introducing myself to myself. I courted that self. I have gotten curious, asked questions, spent time sitting silently and just listening for the feelings that cannot be put into words without losing their meaning. Now I sit at this new boundary – struggling and trying to learn how to “be” that authentic person in interaction with this world. With one hand, I hold tight to the hand of that inner self – with the other hand, I am grasping. I am reaching, struggling, sometimes grabbing impatiently. And, so often, it hurts – it doesn’t work, I’m uncertain, I’m afraid, and I pull back into my shell again. I know I want to be me now, all of the time! I know I want to look in the mirror every day and see myself looking back without judgement. How to make a leap of faith into a life full of adventures, new exciting things, and happiness and fun? Where do we begin this journey in order to liberate ourselves from our own loving shells? The answer seems easy: become happier and less upset; change your mood from bad to good; stop thinking about your sadness and start thinking about positive things; stop being withdrawn; open your heart and mind to life; stop being insecure; stop being shy; become more confident; become the one you always wanted to be! I am getting Out of my shell. Think about it!
BLAKE: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
HELMUTH: Coming out of modest beginnings, growing up in questionable neighborhoods, but still not succumbing to crime and despair. We needed a springboard or a channel to release the energies built up inside and a chance to escape those environments. And of course, like for most musicians love’s pain. It is powerful when we can take a negative or tragic experience and use that energy to create something. Quite a few experiences help to fuel or inspire our writing and performance.
BLAKE: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
HELMUTH: All of the above, depending on the day. On a more serious note, as one can see from the span of topics we tackled on our albums “Raven’s Dance” and “Out of my shell”. Topics range from traumatic events in human history to compassionate love songs to tributes to friendship to just plain and simple (well, not so simple) rock. The use of various professional musicians and singers contribute to the intensity and variety of this project. We are all marked by vast and interesting life experiences, and have our heads full of creativity and creative drive.
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BLAKE: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
HELMUTH: They are all professionals! Joking aside, the collaboration with the core members of the Atomic Picnic Project (myself, Amanda Dieck, Roland Kopper, Buddy Brudzinski) was nothing but a joyful ride. We just clicked. Meeting and teaming up with Amanda was also coincidental about three years ago in my then home of California. Of course, we debate, but there is only constructive criticism. Sometimes, the addition of other musicians can be a pain in the butt. It is kind of like herding cats. In addition, given the fact that we are dispersed over the globe (Germany, USA) it can be a logistical nightmare, but well worth the wait.
BLAKE: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
HELMUTH: No, I did not. Of course, all of us learned to play various instruments during our formative years, but the drive to become active musicians was more mundane: We wanted to get our stories heard, and yes, bath in the recognition and response of the audience. After all, every musician is an exhibitionist.
BLAKE: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
HELMUTH: What I find to be most rewarding is also, what I find to be the most challenging. I love when you can look into an audience and see how the audience is moved or feeling the music. If I strike a chord in my listeners (“…yeah, I can relate to this”), then I am happy. Bringing the creative energy stored inside out in the open is such a unique experience, you can easily get addicted to it. Music makes you a better person, more centered in oneself and it is incredibly rewarding. The most challenging experiences in our careers are the emergence of the social networks and the fact that everyone wants to be paid instead of paying for a performance. However, that is a sign of the times and today's musicians need to come to terms with this. You can borrow from martial arts: Use your “opponent's” strength to your advantage
BLAKE: Who are your role models in music?
HELMUTH: I grew up with the music of Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, Wishbone Ash, Chicago, Depp Purple, Journey, to name a few. Every band or musician that can create a song that touches my heart and soul is my role model, no matter the musical genre they come from.
BLAKE: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
HELMUTH: During some earlier days of my musical career, my then band participated in a rehab program for incarcerated people. We were chosen as the only band (to this day) to play a concert in the largest female-only prison in Germany. You can imagine, that they just went crazy looking at five handsome, longhaired musicians in tight jeans. Maybe it was that or the quality of our music. When the music started, everyone started dancing and singing along and everywhere I turned people had smiles on their faces. It was powerful and a memory that I will never forget.
BLAKE: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
HELMUTH: You first have to find yourself, who you are as a performer and a person and fight to hold onto that. The more you know and hold to that the easier it will be and the more people will support you. Never give up on your dream! It does not matter in what stage of your life you are. If you have to say something, say it. Try to be unique. It is like signing a contract with the devil following straight mainstream. It is harder not to, but at least you did not sell your soul. Of course, that is easier said than done, since the expression “starving musician” is not a hollow one.
BLAKE: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
HELMUTH: The new CD is already in the works. We identified the 14 songs we want to put on the album, tentatively scheduled for publication mid-2017. The title is Poetry. We secured again the help of seasoned, awesome musicians. It is just going to be a great album! This time it will be even more about stories that needed to be told, more subdued and sophisticated showing yet another facet of our creativity. True to our mantra: forget your ego! The musicians that deliver the best result are participating in our journey.
BLAKE: That sounds great! Thank you for giving us a peek into your life as an artist. I wish you continued success in your career.