PREMIERE: LARY - Kryptonit

It’s a big year for Larissa Sirah Herden, aka Lary Poppins or just simply LARY. After roaming the German music scene with a string of intriguing single releases, the Berlin-based singer released her highly-anticipated debut full-length #FutureDeutscheWelle (The Future German Wave) last month. German media and fans alike celebrated the album, as one of the most impressive German music releases in recent times. With a sonic style that can be interpreted as a seductive melange of minimalist, lo-fi sounds with hip-hop, and R&B elements, the 26-year-singer is poised for bigger things to come. Today, we have the pleasure to premiere the visual companion for her new single “Kryptonit.” The clip marks the follow-up to her recently-unveiled visual “Problem.” Combined, both clips form an ambitious film project, which was directed by Joey Elgersma and Stephan Wever. Shot by Stephan Wever and photographed by Paul Ward, the visual displays LARY alongside Sean Lyles and Gil Veni Vici cruising around the Golden State. Or to put it in her own words, “No big budget or camera team but balls. No script but enough drama. Four creative homies, one camera a plane ticket and a vision. Kind of a new way to shot a video, or maybe just a very real one.” We sat down with Larissa, who gave us an exclusive outlook on the concept and making of-process of the film, as well as the delicate relationship between American and German music media. Watch the video above, follow our conversation below, and cop #FutureDeutscheWelle here.

Who are you?
I am Lary. Sup?

You’ve just released your debut album #FutureDeutscheWelle which was hailed by German media and critics. What can you tell us about it? What does the title refer to?

Literally, the title refers to the “Neue Deutsche Welle,” which was a music (life)style born in Germany in the late ’80s. It was mostly characterized through the German language and it’s free-spirited. It’s also a local phenomenon that spread out globally. Future Deutsche Welle is like my own little movement. I was looking for a term, which described who I am and what I sound like without having to fit into any pre-existing box. I tried to translate myself into music as honestly as I could with this album. So Future Deutsche Welle is pretty much everything: what I like, what I do, the people I meet, the places I visit, the guys I fuck.

Tell us about the visual companion Kryptonit. What’s the message/concept behind it? Why did you decide to release it in two parts?

“Kryptonit” is the second part of a music film. We originally went to California to shoot two videos without knowing what would happen. There was no script or anything. I think it was more about the journey and four creative homies and a vision. Joey and I are longtime friends, and also Stephan and Paul have been part of the Berlin crew for a while. We wanted to create something real and authentic, a visualization of who we are and what we are into. And we wanted to be free and have fun, so we basically just went on a roadtrip and with the flow. We ended up shooting one music short film, which we then divided into two parts. Part one, “Problem” has already been released alongside my first single.

You shot it in California? Why?

Well, we didn’t have a big budget or a fancy camera team, and visually, you just can’t go wrong with Cali. It’s also the perfect spot for a roadtrip.

That is true. Do you feel it’s suitable for non-German speaking ears?

Sure, of course it’s a different kind of experience but music vibrates on an emotional level. You either feel it or you don’t.

Your labelmate Cro told us, the language barrier and the fact that you are not physically there, makes it real hard for German artists to break into the North American market. Do you agree?

Yes and no. I mean you can always take a plane and be where you need to be, but yeah, of course there is a language barrier. Then again, if you look at the bigger picture, we all live pretty similar lives. We watch the same tv shows, we listen to the same tunes, and we dance to them in the same way. We wear the same brands and browse the same blogs — no matter if we live in Berlin, Paris, Hong Kong or New York. We live, breathe and create pop culture together, so it shouldn’t really matter which language we use to express it — as long as it’s real. But I am probably an idealist and will be broke forever.

He also argued that the overall criticism and narrow-mindedness is a big issue for the German market. Would you agree?

Yeah, for sure. Criticism just comes very natural to us, whereas support and pushing people seems to be like walking a tightrope, buuuut we’re getting there.

What are the positive things about the German music scene?

There is a lot of potential, but we’ve been told so many times that we need to fit in in order to be successful. We’ve just become used to all the closed doors. I believe that an audience can be educated, but if you make them listen to that one dimensional, unintelligent clap-along bullsh*t all the time, they will obviously take the easy road. All these closed doors mark an opportunity for me. To push them open, to change the game. I’d rather be a gamechanger.

Back to you, what’s your next project? Are you touring?

Yeah, I am going on tour this month! My first headline tour, it´s gonna be so rad!

What can one expect from your live shows?

It’s gonna be me, my drummer Will and my guitarist Sam who also fucks around with the synths. We dance and drink and we are loud, very loud. I want everyone to have a good time and forget about their bullshit. Will is insane too, lord knows what he’s gonna do.

You also have Jamaican roots. How important is it for your music?

That’s part of who I am, just like me being half German, or me being into Tequila and beautiful words, and not more or less important than any other things that make me I guess. You can definitely see it on stage though.

You are based in Berlin. Why does everyone want to go to Berlin? What’s so special about it?

Berlin lets me be exactly who I wanna be and how I wanna be, without killing or bankrobbing me.

Any final words?

#FuturueDeutscheWelle und so.