MTV Unplugged album
Sturmer becomes the first woman in German-speaking countries
On March 15th the MTV Unplugged album by the Austrian singer Christina Sturmer will be released. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
No woman in German-speaking countries has ever done this before her: Christina Sturmer is releasing an MTV Unplugged album. Not the only reason for the Austrian to celebrate.
The Austrian is absolutely certain Christina Sturmer is not the first to be on stage with her music for 20 years, but now she is the first woman in German-speaking countries with an MTV Unplugged album.
“A good friend of mine had the first idea for this. It was obvious to him to do an MTV Unplugged for the 20th. For me it was clear when I heard that I would be the first woman in the world German-speaking area,” said the singer in an interview with the German Press Agency. There were already a few men on MTV before her – for example the Toten Hosen (“Days like these”) and the Fantastischen Vier (“Die Da!?!”). “To be honest, I was horrified by it. After all, there are such incredibly great female musicians – even before the Silbermond, Juli, Sturmer, We Are Heroes generation.” The album will be released on March 15th.
The concert was recorded over two days at the Volkstheater in Vienna. “It has a lot of character, it’s not run-of-the-mill. I liked that,” said the 41-year-old striker. During the concert she also brought in, among others, the Salzburg singer Mathea (“2x”), the Sportfreunde Stiller (“A Compliment”), the children’s band Deine Freunde (“Schokolade”) and the Austrian songwriter Wolfgang Ambros (“Schifoan”) Stage.
Striker: Like an old hand
It was important to the singer, who first became known through a casting show in Austria and then in Germany, to record the anniversary album in her home country. “After all, that’s where I grew up and that’s where it all started. It was also very important to me to have as many Austrian guests as possible.”
As many Austrians as possible in the audience? Why? Because it is still difficult for artists to leave their homeland to this day, Sturm replied. “I don’t know why that is. But when I started 20 years ago, it was always said: “We have to conquer Germany!” The other way around, a Westernhagen or a Lindenberg wouldn’t necessarily have happened in Austria. But of course there are counterexamples, said the singer. For example, the rock band Wanda, which was founded in Vienna and is also enjoying success in Germany.
Sometimes she feels like an old hand now and then, letting Sturmer slip in conversation but laughing about it. “Back then I was one of the first to have a homepage.” It should be noted that younger artists grew up in a different world – perhaps a world with social media and streaming. “They deal with it completely differently. When I talk about it, I feel like an ancient old woman.”
During the last 20 years, there were times when the singer lost herself, Sturmer recalled. “There was a time when everything was supposed to sound a bit like Rose Pride. Because it works so well. But that wasn’t me.” Today – says the singer – her music suits her better again.