In a short interview, Fatoni talks about his new album “Drama never ends”, the fear of AI, emerging fascism and the pain of separation behind it.
Fatoni’s new album DRAMA ENDET NIE (release: July 3rd) is coming out soon. Reason enough to ask him four quick questions about it. Here we go…
ME: Your new album combines many different styles – from West Coast hip-hop to singer/songwriters to very modern sound finesse. Were the pieces created over a longer period of time?
Fatoni: The songs were created over three years. I always took a break every now and then – for example to film my Netflix series or for the joint album with Edgar Wasser and Juse Ju. It usually takes me a few years to make a really good solo album.
In “When will I finally be replaced” you ironize the change scenarios through AI. What experiences are you currently having specifically with this new development? Does this all scare you?
For me, the song is more about the general feeling of being overwhelmed by the world and one’s own everyday life that so many people have at the moment – and about the utopia that being replaced by AI would be a relief and not a threat. In real life, of course, I view this whole development with great concern. The rise of fascism combined with the so-called AI revolution is not something that gives me much hope – neither for my professional life nor for the rest of society.
Criticism of capitalism and consumerism runs through the album. How do you feel about the glorification of money, especially in American hip hop?
It has its justification. I prefer to talk about German billionaire families who were able to increase their wealth immensely through forced labor during the Nazi era – something that hardly anyone talks about today – than about members of marginalized and underprivileged groups in the USA who hope to achieve social advancement through music.
A second common thread runs through DRAMA NEVER END: pain of separation and heartbreak. Is this a processing album?
Yes. Perhaps the best thing about being an artist is that you can still turn the shittiest feelings out there into something productive.
Pretty sure the best songs in pop history were created this way – and DRAMA NEVER ENDS perhaps a few of my best songs.