Favourite Beverages
Speaking of drinking. These are questions I always like to ask. Favourite drinks. What are your favourite drinks? On stage, off stage, backstage?
G.: “I’m a classic German beer drinker. A few years ago, I discovered white wine. I used to drink only red wine. Now I drink white wine sometimes. And on tour my favourite drink is sparkling wine with mate.”
So, this mixed drink, with tea, it’s a bit strange…
G.: “But when I drink it, it’s like the concert is about to start. Although I think mate is also something that calms me down a bit.”
So, it’s a good contrast to sparkling wine?
G.: “No, it has a lot of caffeine. Yes, the thing is, sparkling wine makes me tired. “
What’s your favourite beer?
G.: “I’m a real lager drinker. I can’t really get carried away with Helles and stuff like that. I prefer a bitter Pilsner, quite bitter, but a Jever is too much for me.”
N.: ”But actually, we both like to drink Becks.”
G.: “Exactly, we’re from the Northern German school in this case.”
A Restriction
For you too, Nele?
N.: “Well, I also have Type One Diabetes, so I’m not like that when it comes to alcohol. Thus, my first answer would actually be water. I know it’s super boring. But I just must take care of my health. It’s my number one drink and I love coffee. I’m a total coffee lover. And if I don’t have coffee in the morning, it’s really difficult. But what I also really like to drink is mead. I love mead. I really like to drink that. In the classic style. Every now and then if there’s a good cherry mead. I’m into that too. Those would be my favourite drinks.”
How do you cope with diabetes? What restrictions do you have?
N.: “I think with all the technology these days, I also have an insulin pump with a sensor, it’s quite simple. As far as making music is concerned, of course I always must look.”
You can actually live quite normally?
N.: “There are restrictions which still are there but it’s a question of how you deal with them. I’m relatively lucky that I’m still quite young. I don’t have any problems with technical things. I can adapt myself quite well when there’s something new, all the technical developments. There are also sensors that are connected to the insulin pump, so you can have a lot of things taken care of. But I also have to say that diabetes is a challenge. It takes a lot of attention. And a lot of time every day. I limit myself when I know I have 7-8 interviews in one day. Then I notice that I’m getting hypoglycaemic. Then an interview is postponed. Or I can only go to the rehearsal later. You always must be prepared for these things. It’s unpleasant. People often don’t understand.”
Favourite Food
What about food? Favourite dishes? Do you have a favourite dish or anything like that?
N.: “I only have dopamine kicks, Nutella for example. That’s my guilty pleasure.
But I also have a crazy love of salad. It’s not even for the reason that I say it’s super healthy. I grew up eating a lot of salad and vegetables. I just love it so much. It would be my favourite food.”
Gilbert, what is your favourite?
G.: “I don’t know. Food is not that important for me anymore. I rarely go out to eat. But I love Sushi. Yes, Sushi for sure.”
Personal Role Models
Do you have any role models as a musician or as a person?
G.: “As a musician I could say it straight away. But human role models is a good question.”
That’s why I like asking it.
G.: “There are no stars in my circle of friends and acquaintances.
But of course, you wouldn’t know them.”
N.: “I could start. I would call my sister a person. My sister is one year older than me. We’re pretty close. I have two siblings. My brother is nine years older. He is definitely my role model in many ways. But especially my sister, I have a lot of respect for what she does.”
What kind of work does she do?
N.: “I don’t mean her main job. But she is very involved in political work. Especially towards LGBTQ+. And agricultural issues. My sister has travelled a lot. She studied Ecotrophology. The woman is just unbreakable. She never gives up. No matter how hard things get. My sister is always on the move. She does everything she can to make the world a better place. I don’t know where she gets that strength from. But she’s my big role model. She’s always there for me. I can call her at 3am and say please take half an hour for me. She always has something smart to say. She’s actually an incredible inspiration for me in terms of life.”
Would your sister say the same about you?
N.: “I hope so. I imagine the feeling is probably mutual. I hope so. I’m definitely going to give it all. I know that when my sister talks about me in her circle, she refers to me as her best friend. It’s an incredibly close relationship. I wouldn’t exchange her for anything in life.”
What about you, Gilbert? Did you think about it?
G.: “I honestly indeed don’t have a person like, as much as I thought of it…”