I love my stay here.
There is so much life in this city.
But I've also seen something shine with its absence.

If I said that in New York
everyone is longing for love,
it would be quite a sad statement.
The idea of a city where you can see
the lack, need and longing for love
in the eyes of everyone you meet
is to me a very melancholic one.
But it would also be a lie.
The truth is even worse.
With all its wonders and enchantments
New York is still perfectly unromantic.
Everyone seems to be here for other reasons.
And love is just not on the list.

On a Kate Moss poster
someone has written
"Rich girls break your heart
Poor girls steal your money."





I had an inspiring music talk with a friend
and producer colleague of mine,
visiting NYC for just a few days
to hang out with his american girlfriend.
While she was busy working
we killed a few hours on the streets
discussing my last album
and how I should definitely
explore a different sound this time around.
We discussed how Songs From the Silent Years
was extremely well produced
and in retrospect almost too nice,
too neat and overall soothing in its sound.
We talked about our love for contrasts,
how the sweet becomes so much sweeter
next to the sour.
I wrote in my notebook
"Mix the soft with the hard
The beautiful with the ugly,
the refined with the raw.
Dream in vivid, electric colors
Then add dirt."