What got you into music, and what are your influences?

Band: Le Poisson
Members: Melanie Sadenwater: Vocals ,
Helmut K: Bass, Tilman Zeissner: Drums
Michael Le Noir: Guitar
Location: Nürnberg-Fürth-Erlangen
Music Style: Rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
poisson.musique/timeline
Please introduce yourself and the other members of the band, and what their spot is in the band?
Le Poisson is a German band, based in Nuernberg/Mittelfranken. I am Michael Le Noir the principal
songwriter and guitar player. Recently, we added a new singer to our ranks, Melanie Sadenwater. Our
bass player goes by the name of Helmut K. At the moment we’re looking for a new drummer.
How long have you guys been together?
The band was founded in 2010. Throughout the years, there were many lineup changes. I am the only
constant presence in the band. Hopefully, we have a stable line-up now.
What was the creative spark that pushed you to form the band?
I always wanted to write original music. I wrote my first song at the age of ten. It has become an obsession
and it never stops. Song ideas keep popping up everywhere, in the supermarket, in the elevator, I even
hear and compose melodies in my dreams.
How often are you guys able to get together and practice?
We have at least two rehearsals per week. Mostly, we work on specific things, e. g. vocal lines, bass parts
or drum patterns. This is a very flexible approach. The whole band rarely plays together.
Where do you guys practice at?
Our rehearsal space is located in an old office building that was part of a power plant complex. It's a kind
of musical melting pot with 37 rehearsal rooms and all music genres.
What got you into music, and what are your influences?
I grew up listening to German / Teutonic Thrash (aka Kreator, Sodom, Destruction). But a key factor in my
musical progress were classic prog bands like Rush and Yes. I analyzed their arrangements for many years,
it taught me a lot about song structure and melody writing.
What sacrifices have you had to make to do what you love?
It is difficult. You need a job, a stable income to develop the infrastructure (buy equipment, studio costs, rent
a rehearsal room). Songwriting, arranging, recording and promoting our music, these things are very time
consuming, very costly. This is very challenging, but you have to set priorities. I am working as a
neuroscientist at FAU university. Fortunately, I have flexible working hours.
Who did you get your musical talent from?
Frankly, no one in my family either played an instrument or had a musical education. I'm the only one that
jumped on the music train. I started playing the guitar at 12 years of age. I made a bet with my dad that I
wouldn’t stop. He thought it’s just a short-lived enthusiasm. I won the bet! Plus a new acoustic guitar and
guitar lessons…!
How did you come up with the name of the band?
That is a good question. There are still many misconceptions surrounding the band name. It is not necessarily
pronounced in the French way (we do not use the French version). P-O-I-S-S-O-N is pronounced with a
sharper second "o" (as in „not'). It is a kind of wordplay. It’s not about fishes, it’s about poisonous things...
Where can people find out more about the band?
You can find us on Facebook (https://de-de.facebook.com/poisson.musique), Soundcloud (https://
soundcloud.com/le-poisson-1), YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/LePoissonMusic), Twitter (https://
twitter.com/band_le_poisson), there is also a nice little homepage (http://www.poisson-musique.eu).
What are your goals for the future? Where do you hope to be in 2 years?
At the moment we are recording new songs for an album release around January 2015. Our plan is to release
even more music in mid-2015. Additionally, it would be great to find effective ways of distributing our music,
recouping our recording costs.
What recording studio do you use?
We use a little studio in our neighbourhood. It's operated by an audio engineer who also teaches at university,
a visionary with great expertise in this area.
If I grabbed your IPod from you, what would i find you listening to right now?
Rush „Hold Your Fire“, Empire Of The Sun „Ice On The Dune“, Mercyful Fate „Don’t Break The Oath“, Harem
Scarem „Mood Swings II“, Megadeth „Peace Sells…But Who's Buying“, Stryper „No More Hell To Pay“
How would you define "success" for the band?
One of the most important things is to write songs with strong, memorable melodies. Furthermore, getting
radio airplay in different parts of the world, finding a receptive audience and playing at big music festivals.
What do you guys do to relax?
My version of escapism typically involves watching science-fiction movies, reading philosophy and medical
books, walking in the woods and - from time to time - heavy partying.
What sets you guys apart from all the other bands out there?
We have a unique sound. I really think that there are not so many bands out there that sound like us. We're
definitely a hard rock band with a focus on writing quality songs. Often we use other musical textures, e. g.
melodic metal elements, traditional rock chords and even chansonesque structures. That's quite a mixture of
sounds!
What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you at a show?
We played at some beer festival (called Kirchweih in our area). During the show some strange looking guy
entered the stage multiple times trying to get the audience’s attention, he spoke words that no one
understood (maybe Esperanto?). Finally, he was removed from the stage by the soundman.
Who spends the most time in front of the Mirror?
You all know the singer „thing“ (especially pronounced in women). Life is centered around mirrors, lipstick
and hairstyle. You are always dealing with limitations ("are you kidding, I sang for two hours, I look
horrible...").
Who is the biggest prankster?
That’s probably our bass player. He’s the hoochie coochie man. Always playing tricks on us with mustard
cakes, weird masks and even water balloons. Isn’t that cute?
Anything else you would like to tell the world?
Le Poisson is like a beam of light traveling through dark space. Horridas nostrae mentis purga tenebras,
accende lumen sensibus („Purify the darkness of our mind, kindle a light to our senses“)
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