Last year was an eventful year for Oliver Wand. He started his own label and also released his third studio album, “Soulstrip”, with Obscenity Trial.

Nine months have past since the release, so I decided to contact Oliver to see what’s going on.

Blackvector: Hi Oliver, How are you doing?

Oliver Wand: Hi there. I’m fine, thanks. A bit exhausted though since I am answering this interview right after the Amphi Festival 2010 which I visited :-)

Blackvector: How was it?

Oliver Wand: Amphi was pretty cool. Met a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while and enjoyed some great live shows. Obviously some bands are a bit dull when it comes to live performance but that’s part of a festival, isn’t it? :-)

Blackvector: For those who don’t know who you are, give them a short presentation.

Oliver Wand: My name is Oliver Wand, 37 years old, divorced, 2 cats, no children :-) Enough? *lol* Ok, to add some serious facts: I founded the electropop project OBSCENITY TRIAL in 1993, I am an educated singer and also songwriter and remixer. And label owner :-)

Blackvector: Last year you released your third studio album “Soulstrip” with your project Obscenity Trial. Are you happy with the result?

Oliver Wand: I am very happy with “Soulstrip” on a song level as every single song is very intimate. Probably the most intimate ones I’ve written over the past years. Of course I do know that it is difficult playing most of those songs live since people expect a party on stage and playing more mid- or down-tempo songs would be difficult. So I consider the album being more an album to listen to rather than one that is made to heavily perform live.

As for the fans I sometimes wonder about some comments coming up. You might find me arrogant saying it this way but this is the way I see it: 90% of todays’ scene releases have a massive lack of quality, either in production or – even more – when it comes to vocals. But since DJs over here are mostly spinning more of the same boring „I am sooooo evil“-tracks with only distorted vocals and stuff most of the fans tend to being not able to judge a difference anymore, just because they are not used to listen to different songs than they here at every club night. If people are happy with it so be it, but my approach is different from that :-)

Something else which was kind of strange to me was when I announced my collaboration with Tino Oac as a producer last year. Yes, he is a singer with one of the most successful German mainstream-pop bands but still he is a musician. And that’s what this is all about. Music. But still a lot of people already judged just from the announcement and refused to even listen to the songs. Why? Well obviously that is one of the main problems of the scene over here these days: It seems that image is more important than music. Which explains a lot, but people: It should be the opposit!!

Blackvector: During the work, what was your own expectations for the album?

Oliver Wand: I try to not have any expectations for an album when I write it. During writing process this can’t be too helpful if you try to aim for a certain goal already which is hard to achieve anyway. So just write good songs and then take it from there :-)

Blackvector: How long did you work on it?

Oliver Wand: Since I am constantly writing songs I pretty much always have a lot of songs or song ideas lying around. So at some point I sort those, decide which to produce, start final production on them, throw half of them away, writing new ones and at some point the album is finished *lol*

That’s pretty much a normal process for me :-) The overall time were about 3 months which also included the studio time with Tino Oac working on the two singles.

Blackvector: You had huge success in your country with both singles preceeded by the album. Was that the plan and try to go big for the german audience?

Oliver Wand: “Huge” is a big word. Let’s say we were able to achieve radio airplay which is a success, yes. When you know how German radio is working than you really can be happy about receiving airplay. And yes of course it was in a way. When you’re a pop musician and you all of a sudden get the chance working with Robin Grubert who is one of the most successfull songwriters in Germany as well as Tino Oac who is not only a highly experienced producer but also an amazing musician (despite the fact him being a singer with “Söhne Mannheims” for 12 years or so which is one of the most successfull pop-bands over here) this at first is more than just a gift which I am still extremely grateful for. Working with musicians on such a level is something every musician’s heart wants. And yes of course you try to aim for “higher goals” when you get a chance like this. Anything else would be a lie. Every pop musician wants attention and success – whereat everyone defines success differently.

Blackvector: You started your own label Remote Music last year. What made you start it and how is it to run your own label?

Oliver Wand: That is something I wanted to do for some years already. Now the chance was there so I took it. Of course it is difficult given the times we live in. I don’t understand why people have no problems paying 50 EUR for a concert ticket but complaining a CD for 13 EUR is too expensive. Or buying a sticker at the merch booth for 5 EUR but refusing to pay 0.99 EUR for a paid track download. That is a strange mystery I definitely did not understand yet.

As for the past relationships with labels. I am happy that I was able to work with INFACTED as well as MAJOR RECORDS as an artist. There were certain things they did good, some I didn’t like. Maybe because I do have a strong experience being in field sales and marketing for a long time.

Running your own label can be an advantage, but of course the risk is a lot higher since now 100% of the investment is on my back. Nevertheless I do have a small team of experienced people around me and so we at least try to avoid heavy mistakes :-)

Blackvector: How many are involved?

Oliver Wand: The team now consists of three people, including myself.

Blackvector: You decided to bring your own band to the label. Any thoughts?

Oliver Wand: Well that’s what it all started :-) And then I talked to my distribution partner about wanting to give other bands a chance as well and they agreed.

Blackvector: You where earlier signed to Infacted Recordings. For me personally, I completely lost track of Obscenity Trial after the “Daydream” EP which was the final release on Infacted. What made you leave?

Oliver Wand: Well, Torben (Infacted) and I had different visions about OBSCENITY TRIAL and so I decided to leave Infacted. As I just said before he did a great job in a lot of ways, some things I didn’t agree upon. I guess that’s the usual thing in every form of relationship :-)

Blackvector: Are you working on anything new for Obscenity Trial at the moment? Any planned releases?

Oliver Wand: Yes. But as always I will not reveal anything until the work is done :-)

Blackvector: Well, that was the last one. Thanks a lot for your time. Any last words?

Oliver Wand: Thanks for the interview and furthermore thanks for the incredible support over the past months. Keep up your great work!

To all fans out there: THANK YOU!!!