Interview with Liz, singer, guitarist of Die Dorks and Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (https://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: What type of artist are you?
Liz: Hi, I´m Liz, singer, guitarist and founder of my band “Die Dorks” We are a German-language
rock/metal band known for our very unique and distinctive style. Some also describe us as crossover, but in any case, we are stylistically almost unlike any other German-language band.
PD: Tell us the brief history of yourself.
Liz: The Dorks, originally founded as a punk rock band, have steadily evolved stylistically and in terms of quality over the years, from album to album. Since I’ve been the band’s main songwriter from the very beginning. I always tried to make sure that every album was a step forward, even through lineup changes. And I’m very proud that I’ve brought the band to where it is today.
PD: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Liz: Personally, I have a very broad taste in music, encompassing not only all subgenres of metal and rock, but also classical music. I particularly enjoy classic, earthy, old-school heavy metal, such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Accept, and so on. However, I also enjoy listening to completely different music that has nothing to do with rock. It always depends on my mood.
PD: What are your dreams and goals?
Liz: Two of my biggest dreams are about to come true. We’re playing one of my favorite festivals this year, and next year we’re booked to open for a really big act on their tour. I’ve never played in front of so many people before, and I’m incredibly grateful that I’ll soon be able to experience this. If I could have one wish, it would be to be on tour with my band until the end of my life.
PD: Who writes your songs, what are they about?
Liz: As mentioned before, I’ve been the main songwriter for Die Dorks from the beginning. With the lineup change and the addition of my very creative new bandmates Francesco and Christina, I’m really looking forward to tackling the songwriting process collaboratively soon. My lyrics deal with a lot of personal topics, about life, society, and the anger one sometimes feels in this world. I always try to write them in a way that everyone can somehow relate to. With the current album, “Unberechenbar” (Unpredictable), I seem to have succeeded quite well, at least according to press feedback.
PD: How do you promote your band and shows?
Liz: We’re currently pursuing different avenues and don’t have a major record deal or professional management. I’ve divided the workload among a few people. Our bassist, Francesco, has contacts with various agencies that book us across Europe, but we’re not exclusive to any one. In Germany, I work privately with Ari on my booking lists and social media content. For promotion in Germany, I have support from Frank Wilkens (Nauntown Music). I assembled our current team myself, and anyone in a similar situation will know how much work still falls to you personally.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online?
Liz: Streaming platforms are important, especially for allowing young people to discover new music. We won’t get rich from it. But it helps people discover us – and that means everything. We regularly have concertgoers who say, “Hey, I discovered you on Spotify.” So, in that sense, it’s still a sustainable benefit for us, even if we only get a few cents per stream.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
Liz: “The Number of the Beast” by Iron Maiden, because it was the first heavy metal song I heard in my innocent youth.
PD: What are some of your pet peeves?
Liz: I hate the arrogance and lack of respect some people in the music business have. You should never forget where you come from and that we’re all just human. “You don’t have enough followers, you’re still too small, I don’t even listen to you because you don’t have a “name”). I’ve heard that a lot in the past. I hope one day our success will speak louder than their doubts ever did.
PD: What is your proudest moment in music?
Liz: Whenever I’ve written a new song. That fulfills me.
PD: So what are you working on at the moment?
Liz: We’ve just integrated our new guitarist, Christina, into the band. Once we’ve played our first shows with her, I’ll finally have time to work on new songs again. It’s been really stressful for all of us lately, since we’ve been setting up our new in-ear system. We had to familiarize ourselves with the new technology first.
PD: Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.
Liz: We’re supporting the band Ost+Front for six shows in Germany. You should definitely make the trip to see us with our new lineup. Our current tour dates are always available at www.diedorks.de.
DIE DORKS links:
Band/Artist location – Marktl, Germany
Website – Facebook – You Tube – Soundcloud – Bandcamp – Merch –
Instagram – Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer – Tidal – TikTok – Last Fm –
Check our page for Die Dorks
