Interview with Callider

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Callider/Stefan Lange:

Musically, I experienced my most decisive moment as a teenager, when my father arranged to go to a Deep Purple concert with a few work colleagues, but then spontaneously couldn't go. Without further ado, he sent me to the concert - and thus ignited my enthusiasm for making music. Seeing Steve Morse working his axe on stage really clicked something in my brain. I picked up the guitar, became a part-time guitar teacher, worked as a dance and contract musician in various formations and founded the melodic death metal formation Gatecrusher, with which we released one album. In addition to the guitar, I play various other instruments in low perfection.

I do not do music for a living though. I am a systems engineer and team lead in the electronics industry and a part-time university lecturer.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

I enjoy doing sports a lot. I used to play handball until a year ago but my ankles are not as good anymore. I migrated to cycling, running and hit the gym instead. Not sure what it does to my creativity, but certainly makes me feel better.

How long has your band been around?

Callider/Stefan Lange:

Well you know Callider at this point is a studio-only project. I started in the pandemic where I found myself with a little bit of extra free time. I had some half-finished songs on the shelf from the past and I thought I d give it a shot recording and producing them. And here I am. So Callider is kind of a new endeavor, but it is certainly strongly related to my melodic death metal band “Gatecrusher” which we ran in the 2000s. We released one album back then but hat to part ways due to eventual geographical distance of the band members.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Callider/Stefan Lange:

I am located in Nuremberg, Germany and there Is definitely a vibrant punk and metal band scene there. If you are into metalcore I would recommend you check out “Defy the Laws of Tradition” and “Shark Tank”. I wouldn’t say there is much of a direct influence on my music from the city itself, but it definitely provided me the people and infrastructure to do a large part of the project here without the need for much travelling.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

When I was looking for a name for my project I thought about myself, my ideas and how I see myself interacting with the world.

So I came up with this neologism which is a combination of “collider” and “call”. “Collider” for myself colliding with the world when attempting to put my ideas into reality. And “Call” for trying to get my message out.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

Playing in the renowned “Backstage” music club in Munich with my melodic death metal band “Gatecrusher” at the time felt really good.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

(lets probably skip that question as Callider is a studio project only)

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

(lets probably skip that question as Callider is a studio project only)

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

  Callider/Stefan Lange:

Do with passion what you like doing, but bring professionalism into it to make it effective. Plan ahead, work with the most professional people you can get your hands on and pay them the money they deserve.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

Stefan my friend, think bigger, haha.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

I think my first single “Short Steps” means the most to me because it has been around for quite a long time. For me it comes closest to using my best songwriting abilities to create a melodic death metal song.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

 (lets probably skip that question as Callider is a studio project only)

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

  Callider/Stefan Lange:

I am inspired by things and emotions that I go through in everyday life. I also take deep inspiration from travelling and taking up local history and connecting it to the presence. The vast changes in society, technology and culture occurring over only few generations time and time again make it hard for me to spin my head around and keep me enormously inspired.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Callider/Stefan Lange:

I have always enjoyed exploring my possibilities throughout life and stepping onto new roads without knowing where they may lead. I encourage my listeners to do the same thing, being brave and making use of the freedom one has mostly creates even larger freedoms and personal growth.

My lyrics typically can be interpreted in multiple ways but this key message is somehow always interwoven with the songs’ narratives.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

Since Callider is a solo project, this particular problem does not really exist for me, luckily. I have a lot of people I collaborate with and whose opinion I cherish, however when it comes to decision making, everything is in my hands.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 Callider/Stefan Lange:

 I am currently producing a new album which will be released about in one or two years. It has got some more rocky aspects and also two very fast and heavy tracks so there should be something in it for everyone. I am also working with a small brass ensemble for two of the tracks which is quite rare in the metal scene and quite exiting. Keeping it to a reasonable level though, haha don’t worry.