Trading Shadows comes from Germany and they´re an upcoming band which I was ”forced” to interview. This was done in the end of november 2024.

Please tell me a little history of Trading Shadows how you met and why you did start to play together and when? 

-Trading Shadows was founded during the Covid pandemic (arround summer 2020). After a few changes on drums and guitar, we ended up with the current line-up.

Have it been the same members all the time, or have it been many lineup changes? Earlier bands ? Tell me a little about every member, age, family and something odd about everyone?

-So 3 of us Phil (Vocals), Domi (Bass and Vocals) and Jeremy (Lead guitar) were part of a punk rock band called “Split Point”.(You can still find it on Bandcamp or Spotify :D)  Dominik met Phil and the other Split Point members after he changed schools in 2011. One Year later, his little Brother Jeremy joined on the drums. The band broke up in 2019 after 8 years active together. After a break of one year we decided to start a new project together. For the first year we´ve had a different drummer and guitarist. By the beginning of 2021 our line up was completed Timo was introduced to us by Basti (another Fellow Musician Friend) who knew that we were searching for a drummer. We started to jam and hang out together a lot and eventually he became not just a band member but an awesome friend. Johannes already played with Jeremy in two other Band projects at that time, so we offered him a spot, and he was in. 

Phil is 28 years old, our singer, and was also our main singer in our previous band “Split Point”.

Timo, 23 years old, our drummer who finds every geo cache

Jeremy, 25 years old, lead guitarist, main songwriter and plays as drummer in a band called Dezibel and also was the drummer in the bands, “Vicious Circle” and “Split Point”.

Johannes, 25 years old, rhythm guitar, plays also with Jeremy in the band “Dezibel” as bassist, and was also bassist in “Vicious Circle”.

And I'm Dominik 28 years old, bass guitari and second singer in “Trading Shadows”, (and who would have thought), I also played guitar/bass in “Split Point”. 

Trading Shadows is the name, where did it came from and you wasn´t afraid that some other group would be named so?    Any deeper meaning with it?

-The name “Trading Shadows” was a suggestion of our drummer Timo when we didn´t had a name. It is actually a song name by a band called "Night Verses". He thought it sounded awesome as a band-name and so we agreed on it. 

So we just googled to find out if there is already another band called TS - fortunately we didn’t find one!

So, for us the name represents the fact that our modern capitalist society is trading their "wealth" on the cost of so many on the other side of the world. Or in general: the more privileged trade their wealth on the cost of the less privileged. 

You have a sound which is a little bit hard to say which type you play…and you sing with two different voices…how would you describe it yourself?

-Thank you! We would describe our sound as somewhere between metalcore, post-hardcore with punk and nu-metal influences. We all love different styles of music and we hope that our fans hear that in our music. As a band we love to create new sounds outside of the boundaries of just one genre. 

Is it important to give out the record as physical releases do you think? Would it feel like you have released a record if you only release it digital? Did you ever talked about that you only would release the records only digital or wasn´t that an option?

-Tough question. It was important for us to hold our art physically in our hands, cause we love to look at album artworks, booklets, stickers and so on. Also we love to collaborate with local artists and for them it's also pretty cool to see their artwork on CDs and their design on shirts “walking around in public”.

The second point was to have some merch we can hand over to our fans at gigs. 

But there is another side to listening to music these days. The climate crisis requires us to think about how to use our resources the best. Now it's the question: "Is it better to burn something on plastic (CD) or using huge amounts of electricity (servers for streaming). Everything throws its shadow I guess....

Also the behavior of us, the listeners, has changed a lot from the days we were kids to now. Only a few people listen to whole records these days because of the fact that it became way more accessible for people to record and publish their songs online, which results in a huge amount of songs you could find everyday. 

And also there is the cost factor. As a band it's way cheaper to release songs only online instead of hiring a company for putting your tracks on a CD for you. 

In the end we came to the conclusion that we want to focus (as long as we have no record deal) on publishing singles mainly online, while selling our printed EP at our live shows.

Do you play any covers when you play live? If you do, which then? Or do you have material which is enough for an own concert with only own songs? 

-We haven't played covers with Trading Shadows yet. But sometimes the idea comes up. Stay tuned ;)

Please tell me a little about what your songs are about?

a) Obstacles

b) Purgatory

c) Carry on

Obstacles

“Obstacles” talks about the current state of society. In the end it questions our system (capitalism), and that something has to change if we as a society don't want to fuck up our existence and this planet. It criticizes that we're kind of blind to what our behavior in the "wealthier" countries causes in the "poorer" parts of our planet. 

But it also has a positive view (like many of our songs). 

"We have the power to heal us all" by overcoming those structural obstacles like racism, discrimination, corruption and so on. 

Purgatory 

“Purgatory” describes my view on the monotheistic religions. It's a rough hardcore-punk-track against everyone that uses religion and “God” as a hypocritical excuse for murdering and torturing other people for their own greed. So many conflicts were and are fought because of the question "who has the most awesome imaginary friend" which kind of pisses me off, so I wrote a song about it. 

During the clean vocal part I talk about the fact that the real "truth" is already in all of us. If we listen carefully into ourselves, we know what's right and what's wrong, that it's better to accept than disrespecting others. And no self-called guru or priest, or religion should ever tell you to not do anything you love, just because they might think it's morally wrong or whatever (like who to love, what to wear, what to like etc.)

Carry On

“Carrry On” criticizes the mindset that you are only valuable by your income and the amount of hours you spend at work. 

In our opinion, too much pressure on an individual automatically causes a psychological outcome on the other end. (increasing burnout cases and so on)

Is it important to get out your opinions in your music, or do you only sing about “trivial things”? Which is your most political song or shouldn´t you put politics into music?  Never in german?

-As mentioned before, our lyrics often have a socio-critical matter behind them. We think it is important to speak out when you're given a stage. But we also have more personal or emotional songs. For us, our music is always a way to channel our feelings and views on the world. Sometimes it's more personal, sometimes we talk about bigger topics. 

At this moment, there are no German Shadows songs hidden somewhere :D

Do you think that your lyrics can have effect on other people who listens to them…any example on it? Have you changed anyones mind? 

-Definitely, but it totally depends on how someone listens to music. Some focus on the live show and the mosh pit, others like to listen to our songs at home. 

Changing someone's mind is hard, but we're totally fine if people just feel our music and can relate to it.

How is it to play this sort of music in Germany and which type of bands are you having concerts with? Which is the most peculiar band you have been playing together with? 

-Awesome, many mosh pits, most people are super chill and open minded, a lot of good memories. But it totally depends on your location. Here in Nuremberg it is pretty accessible to find stages like “Luise - The Cultfactory”, “Quibble”, “Kopf und Kragen” where also young and alternative musicians are given a stage and can share it.
But you also have bigger venues or more professional venues like “Z-Bau”, “E-Werk”, “Hirsch”, etc. They provide a stage for bigger bands, tour bands.
Overall, we have a really nice local scene in our region which we are really lucky to be a part of.

We played great shows with Circvit, Drown The Sun, Hollow Path, Impulse, Shark Tank, Revanchist, Feeding Zebras, Rise From The Abyss, House of Anxiety, and Matriarch just to name a few. 

With our previous band we lived in a small town where it wasn't that easy for a punk rock band. More opportunities for cover projects and very few opportunities for subcultural band projects.

Do you have any footballteam that you support? (I support Arsenal and a Swedish team which is called GAIS)….have you ever done a song as a tributesong to any team or something similar? Or doesn´t you music fit into that sort of thing?

-For me (Domi) it's “1. FC Nürnberg” (The local club in Nuremberg). For my brother Jeremy it’s St Pauli (but we both support both teams ^^).

The rest of the band isn't really supportive of a specific team or doesn’t care at all about the sport.
So I guess writing a tribute song wouldn't fit for all of us. 

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word, or only music or is it some sort of lifestyle??

-For me it's a philosophy and an awesome genre which got me hooked up with alternative music in first place. It's trying to not care too much about other opinions and to question authorities and it's about trying to speak out for the ones that aren't heard or mistreated.

I like beer and also make beer.. If Trading Shadows would do a beer , what would it be named and which sort of beer would it be? Or maybe you´re straightedge?;-)

-Phil, Jeremy and Dominik, regularly have a few ones and definitely would love to get a "Special Shadow Brew" ^^
For Phil a dark one, Jeremy and I would go for a pale, please :D 

Johannes drinks almost never and Timo is pretty close to living straight-edge I'd say. 

And how is it to live in Germany now? Racists, the cost of living, and is people going to Sweden nowadays to buy things or isn´t it so much cheaper here anymore? 

-We like it here and couldn't imagine living somewhere else permanent at the moment. However the inflation, the uprising of the right wing party “AFD” and the whole climate of how to discuss pisses us off, for sure. I think people really should take a look outside of their bubbles again, meet in real life and discuss with each other respectfully.  

On the other subject I have no clue. Never heard of people traveling to Sweden for shopping. I think usually people drive to Czech Republic from here (Bavaria) if they want to go shopping cheaper. Sweden would be quite a trip just for shopping 😀

Which is your own favorite song among your own songs? And which song is the people's choice?

-For everyone of us it's a different one but the song that we all like to play live the most and is also an all time fan favorite from our first gig on is "Becoming One". When we hear all our friends and fans screaming the chorus with us, it just hits differently. 

What's the biggest difference when you play live nowadays if you compare when you first started to play in a band?

-When we started to play live there were way less digital amps, way more genre-gate-keeping and we didn't know what we were doing compared to nowadays. 

What is the most odd thing that has happened during a livegig with the group?? 

-At one show Johannes jumped down into the crowd to engage with the guests and on his way down the stage he smacked his head mid jump on the PA speaker above him. He had a light concussion after the show. Had a good laugh afterwards. 

Please tell me your relations to the following records

-Agnostic Front – One Voice

-Hatebreed – The rise of brutality

-Iron Maiden- The number of the beast

-In Flames – A sense of purpose

-Toten Hosen – Ein Kleines bisschen horrorschau

-Hatebreed - The Rise of Brutality is one of my favorite records from the band (Phil)

Iron Maiden - The Number of The Beast : Domi: Total classic in metal. My Favourite Track from Maiden in general is “Fear Of THe Dark” though.
Timo: I saw Toten Hosen a couple years ago from a Bridge in Dresden (Outdoor) at a river (Elbe) without paying for the Tickets.

To the rest we don’t have that much relation. Oopsie

The first record you bought, and the latest one?

-Domi: First one: Boxcar Racer, Latest one: Paramore (both self titled) 

Phil: First one: I can’t remember, Latest one: Shoreline         

Timo:First One: American Idiot - Green Day, Latest One: I don't remember              

Johannes: First one: Master Of Puppets - Metallica, Latest one: Nne mis-an-trophe - DED 

Jay : First one : Baby bash - Shuga shuga

What´s your biggest livegig you have done this far? The biggest band you have played with? And which is the best gig you ever have done? Are you only playing in Germany?

-I think the biggest show we played was at the E-Werk in Erlangen at the Newcomer-Festival. Hard to say how many guests were at the show, but I guess around 200 people. The biggest bands we played with would be “Impvlse” & “Shark Tank”. Both are local bands from Nuremberg.

We played one show in France in the city of Rennes. We hope that we can play more shows outside of Germany in the future but for now we focus on playing more outside of our region.

What do you know about Sweden? What is typical Swedish?

-Sweden has a good welfare system (public healthcare, education, etc.). Also Sweden provides the genre of metal music with a lot of good bands - Thank you! Also Pewdiepie and IKEA comes to mind ^^

What is typical german behavior ?

-No idea mate. I think everything I'd write here would be super stereo typical. 

Have you ever been here? Any good bands from Sweden that you like?

-Phil visited Sweden once with his parents when he was a little kid. The Astrid Lingren Näs in Vimmerby was a big thing for him as a kid. He grew up with Astrids storys like Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on-the-Roof & Ronia the Robber's Daughter
The rest of the band has not been to Sweden yet. 

Johannes likes Opeth, Meshuggah, Humanity's Last Breath, Vildhjärta

I (Dominik) like The Hives, Ace of Base, Refused, Millencolin and Royal Republic

Phil likes Meshuggah, Opeth, The Hives, Royal Republic

Jeremy likes The Hives

Timo likes Katatonia, Meshuggah, Humanitys Last Breath

Your audience when you play live, which type of people comes, age? 

-Many metal and punk listeners (guessed by the outfit) but also everyone else. We often talk to people after our shows which tell us that they normally aren't into harsh vocals or hardcore at all but liked our stuff. 

Our core fanbase is from the age 17 to 35 years old, but also everything beyond and above shows up. 

What´s the best of playing live?

-Exchanging energy with the people, connecting people, having a good time. Seeing people who came alone first leaving after the show with a lot of new family members. And making music with the boys is just the best :)

Is there any good bands in Germany today? New and young bands which is good? 

-Everyone we mentioned before is worth checking out! Matriarch, Dezibel, Hollow Path, House of Anxiety, Circvit, Enni, Pesterous Mind, Bad Assumption, Sun Eater, Mental Cruelty, Consvmer, Shoreline, Soulprison, Thormesis, Defiance.

There is a lot to discover these days. 

Which is the record that you always must have in the tourbus?

-Seeed - Dancehall Caballeros is an all time favorite of Domi, Jeremy and Phil
Title Fight - Shed (Domi)

Hello Emerson - To Keep Him Here (Timo)
Gnarwolves- Chronicles Of Gnarnia; Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood Of Colour (Jeremy)

Johannes likes Beatdown or some Hardstyle while driving. 

Do you buy much records, or is it only Spotify and those type of things to listen to music? Is there any good record shop in your hometown?

-We mainly listen to music digitally. But to support bands we like, we also buy records here and there. 

If you look for a good vinyl store I'd recommend "mono-Ton" in Nuremberg.

Do you care about reviews? Which is the most peculiar you ever had, with this band or any other band you have been to?

-So far we didn't have a review but we would be hyped for one!

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosen?

-Title Fight, Turnstile, Seed,  Enter Shikari, Nirvana

And if you been paid for do a cover-record with four songs,which four songs have you done then?

-Billie Eilish - Ocean Eyes

Alligatoah/No Angels - Daylight

Matriarch - Accidentally Murderers

I think it would only be those three tracks :D

Futureplans for the band? And for yourself?

-Playing more shows outside of our region, play more  festivals, record & release new songs.

Wisdomword?

-Don’t be an asshole! Respect each other. One Love.