An Interview with Sushi of GHØSTKID
Photo by Benjamin Klose, BK Productions
1. You wrote and worked on your new album Hollywood Suicide while in LA. How did the vibe of the city help your writing and recording process? What was it like working with producer Sky Van Hoff?
Basically, I didn‘t write that much music when I‘ve been there but the whole vibe definitely helped me to discover a lot more about myself as an artist in general. In LA art is celebrated differently and that helped me to make a huge step out of my comfort zone.
Taking that vibe back to Germany, I started writing music with a different kind of consciousness.
After all the tracks had been done in preproduction, I went to Sky Studio.
He‘s one of my best friends and working with him is pretty intense haha but what I love about working with Sky is, that he‘s working with the same kind of passion as I do. We‘re working and connecting on another level and he‘s the one who‘s shaping the Gk sound in the end.
2. The lyrics of the album discuss things like depression, gaslighting in relationships, and isolation. Where do you pull lyrical inspiration from? How do you manage through writing about such heavy topics?
I‘m just telling my story…music is the way for me to express my thoughts and feelings. Ghøstkid is another side of me, something like an alter ego, where I can express things Sebastian probably couldn‘t talk about. Every time I feel bad or have bad thoughts in my mind, I need to get them out…the best way to do it for me, is to transfer my emotions into music. Sometimes it‘s tough, cause you have to reflect on a lot of painful things over and over again but when the song is done, everything is alright.
3. What is the hardest part of the songwriting process? What is the easiest?
The hardest part for me personally is to finish tracks. I am tempted to overthink a lot till the point where I need to step back and let it sit for a while. The starting point is probably the easiest chapter, cause you feel the urge to express what you feel and there is lots of motivation.
4. You're going to be touring with Black Veil Brides. How are you preparing for tour? What are you most looking forward to?
I think we prepare like every other band. For me as a singer, I always try to bring back the routine and try my best to become fit. The most I‘m looking forward to is, to meet new people in a country we never played before and to share the stage with an awesome band like BVB.
5. What is a misconception of GHØSTKID you'd like to dispel?
There is not much…I think most people don‘t know that GK is a solo project, with a permanent lineup.
6. What is the best advice you've gotten for navigating the music industry?
I think the most important advice that I got is: at some point in your career, your identity as an artist is more important than the music itself. It‘s not an easy business…and you need a close connection to yourself, that you don‘t get lost.
7. Where do you find inspiration for your style? Do you feel how you dress can affect your mood or your live performances?
I think that we‘re communicating on many different levels besides the music and the visual aspects like fashion, graphic design and whatever…goes hand in hand with the music. So i think yes! The way you dress on stage and the whole visual concept, is as important as the music.
8. You've done several music videos for the singles from the new album like "Heavy Rain" and "Hollywood Suicide." What's been your favorite video to film so far?
Haha…so usually it’s always a pain in the ass cause shooting music videos is super exhausting. I‘m not shooting by myself tho but I‘m responsible for the concepts and creative parts. It’s hard to tell which one was my most favorite, but I‘d probably say heavy rain.
9. What's the first thing you plan to do when you get home from tour?
Oh I think…sleeping for one week would be awesome! haha
10. Anything else you'd like fans or readers to know?
If you like what you hear and see please spread the word :) and stop smoking!