Erobique HHV Records 2 Items

A Born Entertainer

Carsten Meyer was born in 1972 in Saerbeck, Westphalia, and his musical education began at a young age with the piano. But it was a specific event at the age of seven, a fire department event, that set him on his path: “There, I had to read jokes, and I had so much fun doing it. I think it prepared me for what I do today.” An entertainer was born. In the late ‘90s, the stage enthusiast made a name for himself in Münster’s club scene – performing under the pseudonym Erobique, he presented his own obscure mix of dance and pop. In 1998, all of this was captured on his debut album Erosound!, which led to concert dates all over the country. At the same time, Meyer caught the attention of the Hamburg-based rap group Fischmob, who took him on tour as their support act – and the newfound colleagues became friends. When the crew later faced dissolution, the musician joined forces with the two former Fischmob members, DJ Koze and Cosmic DJ, to form a new band: International Pony, an electro band, was born and soon caught the attention of the Sony subsidiary Columbia. In their new major-label home, the trio released their first album We Love Music in 2002, showcasing a versatile mix of genres – somewhere between house, funk, rock and R&B.

Bubbling Basslines and Heartfelt Schlager

With the remix album Bass Is Boss, a series of renowned producers were commissioned to reinterpret Pony’s tracks, and in 2006, the final album Mit Dir sind wir vier was released – a concept album that tells stories of love. There, it bubbled and crackled, distorted voices and bubbling basslines intertwined with elaborate deep-house beats – and the trio performed them live throughout Europe. At the same time, Meyer’s focus shifted to composing for the theater. He wrote for a play at the Schauspielhaus Zurich, and for a Munich retrospective on the London artist duo Gilbert and George, he put together a 40-minute suite in 2005 that broke genre boundaries and showcased the diverse composer in an avant-garde light. In addition to these projects, there were ventures like the 2009 album Songs for Joy, where ordinary people were invited to submit their poems and songs and then record them with Meyer and his colleague Jaques Palminger in Berlin. The result was heartwarmingly honest Schlager songs and another milestone in Erobique’s body of work – but having fun remains at the forefront for the versatile sound artist: “I feel that I connect with people best by bringing them joy.”

The Audience as a Band

Furthermore, Meyer immortalized himself in various film soundtracks, including the anarchic mockumentary Fraktus, as well as the popular series Der Tatortreiniger. Erobique released his probably most famous song Urlaub in Italien in 2018, which once again originated from joyful interaction with the audience. He commented, “When I go into the studio, half of the band is missing: the audience.” Much of it comes from a sense of spontaneity, almost improvised – songs emerge from interaction with the listeners and often remain undocumented. This is how Urlaub in Italien was created, however, Meyer is not focused on the exact wording of his tracks: “This way, everyone can incorporate their own experiences and emotional worlds.” After over 20 years, the second Erobique solo album, No. 2, was released in 2023. It comes across cinematically like his soundtrack contributions but also ventures into disco realms and even approaches Schlager music. Entertainment, association, and having fun are of utmost importance – Rolling Stone rightfully described the album as the “best German entertainment record of ’23.” With a series of guest musicians, Erobique creates a new spectacle on the spot, and the common thread is himself: “I don’t think so conceptually. I am my own concept, my own genre.”