Upclose with Ute Lemper
Returning to Hong Kong as the closing act of the 39th HKAF, Beverly Cheng talks to sultry German songbird Ute Lemper about her rise to fame, from humble beginnings in Germany to her upcoming performance with the legendary Piazzolla Sextet.
HK Magazine: What was your musical inspiration growing up?
Ute Lemper: Growing up in the 70s, I loved everything from Pink Floyd to Joni Mitchell —it was a great time for music.
HK: Have you ever performed in Hong Kong?
UL: I was once in Hong Kong many, many years ago—in 1999. It felt familiar, not foreign at all. It’s almost a little European.
HK: What has been your most memorable project so far?
UL: I signed my record contract in ‘87 and suddenly they wanted to re-record the entire works of Kurt Vile. It was important to tell the story of this [Jewish] composer who was so revolutionary throughout the years of the Weimer Republic, who was then chased out by the Nazis and humiliated. It was my mission as a young German of the post-war generation to open the history book and to keep the memory alive.
HK: What brought you to the music of Astor Piazzolla?
UL: I met Astor Piazolla in the 80s in Paris. I felt a lot of compassion for the stories, the lyrics—they’re all about life and the decadence of a big city that swallows you whole, about survival and power struggle, about relationships, loss… the big subjects of existence.
HK: Is it hard being away from your family and kids when you’re on tour?
UL: I don’t tour too often. Even though I work in New York, I’m at home every day and I pick up the kids from school. I do either my work or I’m very committed to my family. I don’t waste my time on small talk or social events.
HK: Looking back, did you ever think that all of this could be possible?
UL: I didn’t have a specific dream of my future. I was very existentialistic. I didn’t have my future planned out at all. I was always very happy with the moment and what the moment gave me.