Recommendations of the Editorial team
Ms. Esken, you made street music as a very young woman in the pedestrian zones of southern Germany and played Neil Young, among other things. “Heart of Gold”, I assume?
Sure, “Heart of Gold” was part of, “Helpless” or “Cowgirl in the Sand”. You could also sing with friends in a multi -part voices.
Did you also play something like “Powderfinger” or “Cortez the Killer”?
Sure, “Cortez” and also “Pocahontas”.
How did you get in the pedestrian zones?
That was very different. But I learned: When there are children, the audience is more donor.
Why this?
For example, I remember how a group of listeners forms a huge circle in Stuttgart. Not because they are so many, but because they want to be so far away. You only get money from those who have children with you because, otherwise you would have to approach yourself.
The children occur and throw the money into the can?
In the guitar case. But in Tübingen, however, students almost sat on my lap and sang. Every city has its peculiarities.
Could you live on it?
No no. That was not a very long phase of my life either. But it was very formative for me because it is a challenge for an 18- or 19-year-olds to stand with their twelve strings and to dare to do it.
What songs are safe money charms where people just do something out?
It is everywhere that people give more when they know the song and possibly even hum.
That’s the same with politics, isn’t it? If you play an old hit, it is rather clapped than when you say: I’m now playing something of the new turning plate.
That’s correct. If you quote Willy Brandt, there is applause. Let’s see if I can still accommodate him here.
If Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen criticize President Trump today, does that bring something or stabilize only the polarized camps?
I believe that it strengthens their backs that have hope that there is another America. It is important that artists also comment on the inside, and especially those who find a lot of hearing and have reach, so that the individual also knows that there are also others who think like me and who have not yet lost hope.
Interview: Peter Unfried
You can read the full interview in the July edition of the Rolling Stone.