EMILY KINSKI’S DEAD
Q: What motivated you to write “Dancing on the Battlefield”? Was there something that happened, or just a moment, that really led to that song?
The inspiration for the song was our frustration over the fact that, despite all the evidence about climate change being on the table, no action is being taken. Measures are simply postponed to the future, and even the wealthy countries are doing far too little. I don’t even remember exactly what sparked it – there are shocking news reports almost weekly, and far fewer that give hope.
Q: How do you balance all that frustration and anger in your lyrics with the poetics throughout this song?
We don’t really know ourselves. Working on the song was a bit like being in a fever. I (Thomas) locked myself in the studio for two days, and by the end, the lyrics and music were done. How exactly it happened, I can’t even say – sometimes, it just happens like that.
Q: The dialogue in the song feels very personal and vivid. Is it based on a real conversation or purely fictional?
The dialogue is fictional, but it could undoubtedly take place just like that. We are convinced that many of the super-rich live at the expense of the public, particularly the poorer sections of the population, and have built themselves their own cocoon. As a representative of the super-rich, we chose a fossil fuel executive because he is directly linked to the issue of climate change, making him the perfect antagonist to tell this story.
Q: “We’re dancing without shield on the battlefield” is such a striking refrain. Can you talk about what that image means to you?
We found this image so powerful – dancing on a battlefield – because it can be interpreted in multiple ways. If you think of someone dancing on a battlefield after winning a war, they appear arrogant and show no respect for the losers, much like some managers or the super-rich today. However, if someone dances while a battle is still raging – for instance, the fight against climate change and without any protection – it reflects irresponsibility, extreme risk-taking, or even a kind of death wish. And that’s what I see in many people today who simply choose to ignore the problem.
Q: Your song critiques greed and apathy toward the environment. How important is activism within your music?
We do think that song lyrics shouldn’t just be about great love, past Christmases, or rapper feuds, but also about topics we consider important for society. That said, we’re not activists – we’re just expressing our opinion, whether people agree with it or not.
Q: There seems to be a sense of hopelessness in such lyrics as “This planet’s gonna die anyway. ” Is there really any hope for a change, or does this simply reflect your outlook at the moment?
In the song, this line is spoken by the fossil fuel executive to justify his inaction. However, there are moments when we feel just as hopeless about the situation ourselves.
Q: Your images of the field of battle would suggest a state of war. Would you say that man’s relationship with the planet is one of war?
Humankind has essentially always fought against nature rather than living in harmony with it. In that sense, it’s a kind of war we’re waging against it, especially when I think of fracking, nuclear waste, and deforestation.
Q: How do you convey such massive emotions in your work without getting caught up by these feelings?
By pouring all those negative emotions into a song and loudly screaming “Fuck off,” I was able to let go of some of it. I’m curious to see how it will feel performing the song live because you end up reliving it every time.
Q: That song seems to be deeply rooted in the idea of profit over truth. Would you say this is an issue throughout societies as a whole?
Exactly. Just think about the fact that the fossil fuel industry has been making 2 billion USD in profits every single day for over 30 years. Every day! They don’t want to give that up, so they pour enormous amounts of money into disinformation campaigns. On top of that, many people can’t afford an eco-friendly lifestyle, which has turned it into something of a scapegoat.
Q: There’s palpable tension in these lyrics. Was there ever a temptation to soften the message, or did you feel that it needed to stay sharp?
We don’t see why we should tone down the lyrics – if anything, we feel they’re almost too tame.
Q: How would you want people to respond when they’re listening to this song? Do you want them to feel any angst, feelings of sadness, or something else entirely?
To be honest, we didn’t really think about that. It was more about expressing our own frustration and perhaps finding some strength in that. We certainly don’t want to create fear, but maybe some listeners will realise that the true threat to the planet doesn’t come from other religions, lifestyles, or skin colours—it comes from the greed of the fossil fuel industry.
Q: You take on very serious subjects, such as environmental degradation, in your work. Do you feel like music can make actual change happen?
Yes, we do believe music can help bring about change. But we’re probably far too unknown for that. So, I see the song more as a form of self-therapy. That said, if we manage to convince just one person, it’s already been worth it. And who knows, maybe it’s even someone reading this interview.
Q: Finally, how would you want “Dancing on the Battlefield” to be remembered within your work?
For us, this is an important piece because it was the first song from our second album, and we’re really happy with it. Through Fabio Rincones’ video, it’s also been brought to life visually, so I hope the song clearly represents what Emily Kinski’s Dead stands for today.
