White Hand Gibbon is the solo project of Dominik Jureschko. Since 2014 he’s released off-kilter, folky dream-pop, which at first glance seem fragmentary, owing perhaps to the incorporation of field recordings, ambient passages and a certain bedroom-recording aesthetic. On second listening though, ‘Songs About Cars’ exposes itself as a lyrically as well as musically accomplished and intimate softcore-emo album, placing it somewhere between The Postal Service and the soundtrack of the film ‘Drive’. Dominik gives us his answers to our 11+3 interview:
FACTS:
1: Compassion is the key for a healthier society and environment.
2: I believe in quotas, because until fltqi* artists are offered the same privileges as male artists they form an important role in shaping the music scene with a more safe and diverse structure.
3: I love a good hot cup of black coffee.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Country songs, car rides, long coffee talks, the relationships surrounding me, friends and family.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started to play keys when I was pretty young, but really got into making music (and switching to guitar) once I discovered the Cure and the punk and hardcore scene, I must have been 12 or 13.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
This is so tough. Not in the right order and probably not true, but these are the once that had a major impact on me:
The Cure – Disintegration
My chemical Romance – ‘Three Cheers for a Sweet Revenge’
Des Ark – ‘Don’t Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker’
Bon Iver – ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’
Against Me! – ‘Reinventing Axel Rose’
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Restlessness.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
I love shows at Funkhaus, Coffee at Maybachufer & all the lakes surrounding the inner city of Berlin.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
When I was younger I wanted to become a director, so probably make artsy movies or animal documentaries.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Elvis Depressedly – ‘Depressedelica’ on vinyl.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Sharon van Etten.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Des Ark around 8 years or so at the AZ in Aachen as a spectator. As a performer probably ‘Wo der Hund begraben liegt’, it is a festival on a farm and the stage is in front of the woods. This was special and I made really lasting friendships there.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
I rearrange a lot in DAW after recording and I love the deep sea of options you have to manipulate sound.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
After my increased use of autotune my brothers like it a lot more now haha.
Photo © White Hand Gibbon
