Over the years, BLOODRED has always been centered around the music. The songs came first. The riffs, the atmosphere, the lyrics, the emotions behind them. That has never changed, and it never will. But at the same time, I have often felt that there are things behind the music that do not fully come across in the usual ways bands communicate today.
That is one of the reasons why I decided to start something new: the BLOODRED Twitch channel!
To be honest, I simply wanted to try something different. Not because the old ways no longer matter, but because I felt the need to create a space where things can be more direct, more spontaneous, and more personal.
When COLOURS OF PAIN was released, I had the feeling that some important parts of the album remained mostly unspoken. There were not that many interviews around it, and while that is just how things sometimes go, it also meant that many thoughts behind the music, the lyrics, and the themes never really found their way outward. For me, that was frustrating in a quiet way, because this album carries a lot of weight. It is not just a collection of songs. There is a lot in it that matters deeply to me. All the more I’m really thankful to all those outlets who reached out for a conversation!
With Twitch, I now have the opportunity to talk about these things in my own way. I can speak more openly about where songs come from, what certain lyrics are rooted in, what drives me creatively, and what happens in the background that listeners usually never get to see. It feels less like promotion and more like an actual conversation, and that is exactly what I was hoping for.
What matters most to me is the possibility of real interaction (if the chat is active!). I do not want BLOODRED to exist only through finished releases, social media posts, and the occasional update. I also want to build a more genuine connection with the people who listen to this music, support it, and give it meaning beyond the studio. I think that kind of exchange is valuable. Maybe now more than ever.
The streams themselves are in German, simply because that allows me to speak naturally and without any barrier. But I still want this format to be accessible beyond that. The videos will later also be uploaded to the BLOODRED YouTube channel, where automatically generated subtitles can be activated in other languages. That means listeners outside the German-speaking world can also follow along and hopefully get something meaningful out of it.
This channel is also meant to become more than a place for looking back. Going forward, I want to use it to talk about new developments, ideas, and plans related not only to BLOODRED, but also to URTHUM. So in that sense, this is not just an experiment for the moment. It is something I want to build into a lasting part of what I do.
I like the idea that music does not always have to end once the album is out. Sometimes it can open another path. A more direct one. A more human one.
So if you want to join me there, I would be glad to see you on Twitch. And if you cannot make it live, the YouTube uploads will give you the chance to catch up later.
Maybe this is just a small new step. But to me, it feels like a meaningful one.