LEÆTHER STRIP For those fewwhomight never have heard ofyou...Can you tell us about the origins of Leæther Strip and the influences that shaped your sound in the early days? Claus: I started Leæther Strip back in ‘88 after being in several bands from ‘82 to ‘88, becoming a better musician, producer and songwriter. I’m self-taught so I needed to try out different synth genres and grow up to find my sound. I couldn’t find any other serious synth musicians where I lived so I did it solo. Growing up I loved all kinds of genres. Everything fromglam rock,like Sweet and Slade,to J.M.Jasse and Tangerine Dream,to Punk bands like The Skids,Sham69, and New Wave like Ultravox, Gary Numan.. Fad Gadget’s debut single “Back to nature/ The Box” sparked my interest in buying a synth. Depeche Mode, Twice A Man were also among my favourites in those days. I’ve always been very open to different genres, as long as it’s got heart, I can listen to anything. What is your creative process like when producing new music? Do you have a specific routine or environment that inspires you? It varies. Sometimes I got a full song idea in my head where it’s just about getting into the studio before I forget. Other times I just sit down and program sounds and that can easily trigger an idea.My head is full of ideas 24/7 So I’ve never experienced “writers block”. www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be - 18 - Over the years, howhas your sound evolved? Are there any particular albums or tracks that mark significant changes or milestones in your musical journey? Hard for myself to see it, but I just try to become a better composer really.The never ending hunt for the perfect song. As for albums, “Solitary Confinement” is the biggest “milestone” for most of my listeners, and that’s fine. That album is still opening doors for me and it changed my life to where I could live from my music. I was in a very dark place writing it so the fact that it flipped my situation upside down was amazing. For myself,my latest work is what I focus on. I am far from done writing new songs, It’s not just a living, it’s a need and my therapy. Your music often explores dark and intense themes. What inspires the lyrical content of your songs, and how do you approach writing lyrics? Yes,my songs are like a darkness vacuum cleaner for my soul. Makes the dark clouds go away. I don’t really think “Now I’m writing a dark lyric”, it just happens, and then I won’t boil over. How do you prepare for live performances? Are there any memorable live shows or tours that stand out in your career? I rehearse the lyrics inmy car when driving,I sometimes hate
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