Mit „NOT ALONE“ melden sich John Coffey mit einem Album zurück, das Gemeinschaft, persönliche Krisen und gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen miteinander verbindet. Dabei geht es der niederländischen Band vor allem um die Erkenntnis, schwierige Gedanken und Erfahrungen nicht allein bewältigen zu müssen – und um Musik als Möglichkeit, Emotionen miteinander zu teilen. Im Interview mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine spricht Alfred van Luttikhuizen Gitarrist und Sänger über die persönlichen Hintergründe von „NOT ALONE“, die Verbindung zwischen politischen Themen und individuellen Gefühlen sowie darüber, warum John Coffey ohne ihr Publikum nicht vollständig wären. Zum Abschluss wird es deutlich weniger ernst: Alfred entwirft das wohl absurdeste John Coffey-Festival überhaupt – mit Metallica, Deftones, Refused, einer Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2-Bühne und einem ziemlich ambitionierten Finale.
Frontstage Magazine: Your new album “NOT ALONE” strongly revolves around human connection and the feeling that we’re not alone with our thoughts and struggles. Was there a specific moment when you realized that this should become the central theme running through the album?
Alfred: I remember we talked about the theme of the album about a year ago. David had written the first lyrics for the Not Alone single and in that period we just started talking about the things we see happening around us. In that time we were in touch with the family of Niels van der Ham, someone we got to meet years ago when we played on Pinkpop, a big Dutch festival. He was the guy who threw that famous beer at David. His wife told us that he decided to step out of this life… so Niels always stayed in our thoughts when writing the single and the album.
Frontstage Magazine: You say, “Talking helps. Singing helps. Screaming along at the top of your lungs helps.” What role do you think music can actually play when people are going through difficult times – and where do you think its limits are?
Alfred: Yes, of course there are limits as this is very personal. In our own experience it has always helped, not dealing with all this stuff alone, but sharing inner thoughts and problems with loved ones. I personally believe that music is a vessel for all my emotions. I have felt solace and comfort through music and it has helped me through difficult times. As an artist you can only hope that your music does some good for the people listening to it. When we read all the beautiful reactions and personal stories to the release of Not Alone, we are very proud.
Frontstage Magazine: John Coffey have always been a band that doesn’t shy away from social and political issues. At the same time, “NOT ALONE” seems to be a very personal and human record. Was it difficult to find the right balance between political conviction and personal emotion?
Alfred: Not really. But this is because Not Alone is not a thematic record with just one story. It’s a collection of songs with things that we feel need to be said in this moment. For example in the song Do Not Teach we sing about unchecked capitalism and all the destruction it causes to our society. We see this as the poison of our age… and yes, it causes us to be extremely lonely. When we only focus on our own success as an individual and forget the community we need so much.
Frontstage Magazine: Over the years, you’ve built a reputation as an incredibly intense live band. Since “NOT ALONE” is so much about community and connection, do you feel like the album will only truly become complete on stage when hundreds of people are screaming these songs together with you?
Alfred: Well, I think that we as a band are only complete when we share this with people in general. If the people weren’t there, we’d only be 5 guys on a stage. Without the crowd we are nothing. But it doesn’t matter if it is 10 people being at a show or hundreds. As long as we get to experience the music together.
Frontstage Magazine: To finish with something completely different: Imagine you could organize your own John Coffey festival anywhere in the world for one night – unlimited budget, any band from music history can be on the line-up, and the location can be completely ridiculous. Where would it take place, who would play, and what is the one absolutely absurd thing that would have to happen at the festival?
Alfred: Wow, this is cool.This is what it would look like:
Location: Angkor Wat in Cambodia
Line Up: I would choose all the bands that have had the biggest influence on us to play on the Main Stage, so: The Chariot, Every Time I Die, The Ghost Of A Thousand, Silver , Deftones, Refused and Metallica. But next to that there is a skate-stage where all the bands that play in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 play a show and all the skaters featured in the game do tricks during all the gigs.
Absurd: John Coffey does not play a set, but we are invited by all the bands to do guest performances the whole day long. The festival is closed by all the bands singing the Uefa Champions League anthem, as a choir, together resulting in world peace and an end to all wars.
Das neu Album erscheint am 09. Oktober auf allen gängigen Streamingplattformen und überall im Handel.
Fotocredit:Nick Heldermann
