Female Vocalist: Su of Haggard

 

Is Haggard is your only Band or do you have other ventures?

Actually there's another band called “Die Mundrauber” (Mundraeuber). It's medieval-folk style and I really like it.

Apart from that I have some smaller projects which are, however, based on a more classical style of music.

That I always encounter musical new challenges is – so to speak – “normal”, since my main profession is that of a concert singer and I am happy like anybody else who loves his profession to be able to exercise it mostly.

Besides, I love to work as singing teacher and to “torture”… er - to teach my students. Anyway, it's fun for me (and as far as I know for my “proteges” too)!

As a premier vocalist, how do you train and maintain your voice over long periods of touring?

Do you mean apart from the usual, regular and never ending ?vocal praticings“? O.K., no kidding: In the very first place is the training of the singing technique, this is the essential basis. I feel if you lack in technique it is difficult to survive longer exhausting tours.

Nevertheless: Man is not a machine … sometimes everybody will get flabby. Singing is high performance sports. I mean it as I say it. So many factors should coincide at best to have things going smoothly over a longer period of time – which hardly come about during a tour.

Enough sleep (I try to fall into bed early enough if the next gig will be the next night). It takes time for the body to recover.

The problem of smoke and fumes all the time (either I leave smoky rooms if it is possible, but in any case I drink liters of alcohol-free stuff like lots of herbal tea (at best fennel-sage tea! Hm … yummy), fruit-spritzers well thinned down with water and anyway water again and again. I better don't tell you about disgusting stuff like raw egg in whisky … ( ;-P It is said to be a real help! However, so far I did not need to try it!)

Besides (if you're probably falling ill) there are lots of ?little helpers“ – lovely little household remedies. I prefer one called “Umckaloabo” – these are fine drops working wonders. What is more, to gurgle salt solutions or to wrap potato wet packs around the neck or even onion sirup. Some of the ancient household recipes just make it! If everything breaks down – no sound comes out of you. At the latest at that time you should produce NO sound in the next days and should drown oneself in tea;) ). Er, well I also wear scarves.

I could enlarge on this without end, but then a big novel would come about. So better enough of that now.

Are there any major difficulties involved with touring with so many musicians?

Hm…who's to get up first and get the rolls from the baker!

No, I easily answer this question with a clear no. All in all we are an absolutely harmonic band! As long as nobody will block the toilette in the tour bus …

Haggard's music is so unique and original, what type of crowd do you get at a typical show.

First, thank you very much for the compliment. Just as other bands we try to consolidate our own style.

First of all, there is a good deal of Goths and Metalheads who like to listen to melodic metal. And they are of all ages. Even small kids and old-age pensioners come to see our shows (Its incredible how they can go off! ;) ). As is, however, basically and insistently points out that kids should not listen to the show without wearing earplugs to protect them from the sound volume.

I think it is strange if apparently right-minded guys turn up and want to listen to our concert seriously … this happened – as far as I know – only once so far, but I already wondered whether they would not realize that just our band on its own is a mixed multicultural community and that we are culturally open-minded people.

Is there any new element you would like to introduce to the music that has never been tried.

No – in fact not. Haggard's music is complete as it is for my opinion. To change anything in it's complete works, changes the music and so the feeling. I really, REALLY love that feeling actually Haggard's music can give. Of course, little undramatically changes at Orchestration are okay, but of course only if they don't change the main sound of Haggard. For instance: The new CD will add such of some little new orchestral parts we've never had before, but the main sound of Haggard won't be lost.

What does being in this band mean to you?

I'm proud of it!

I learn much from being a Haggard Member. I guess I never learned so much different stuff, if I've had continued only the traditional career of a classical vocalist. Okay, I'm still classical singing (and I don't want to sing any other style) at Haggard, but I guess I never would have that great feeling at an Opera-House, where not the whole audience sings right from the ground of their lungs all the parts together with you. I really like that feeling!

What do you hope fans get from your music?

First of all: A “Wow” effect. And then all the spectrum of emotions…except a dislike-feeling in relation to our music of course ;) …