This album might never have come to life if something hadn’t finally clicked for Gentleman. In an honest and deeply insightful conversation with Munchy, the artist opened up about appreciation, acceptance, and vulnerability – and how, of all things, letting go ultimately helped him reconnect with what truly makes him happy: creating music free from pressure and expectations, driven instead by fun and genuine passion. The result is his ninth studio album Gratitude, a rich and diverse 17-track epic, unmistakably “inna Gentleman style” and as real as it got in years.
Gentleman, you are about to release your brand-new album Gratitude, a body of work which you said is different because for the first time in a long while, there was “No plan, no ego, no pressure”. Tell me in which situation and with what state of mind you created this project?
Well, Munchy, you know there was a time when I felt a little bit tired. After almost 30 years in the business, I felt like I’m on repeat mode. This whole cycle of creating new songs, going in the rehearsal room, doing the shows, doing the interviews, doing the tour, and after the tour is before the next tour and then you start from scratch again. And I felt, for years actually, that when I reach the moment that I feel tired and I get this lack of motivation, it’s time to step back, because nothing lasts forever. Even though I love music so much, I felt like maybe it’s time to step into the background a little bit and just give it a break. Maybe I’ll finally create my label, build other artists, produce, stuff like that. But being on the forefront I felt a little… a little… (pauses) yeah, you know what I mean! The moment I accepted that very thought “OK, it’s a new chapter now. Jetzt hat sich’s ausgegentlemant (So much for gentlemaning). One day, it’s enough“. I accepted that thought and all of a sudden it came back. And it filled me with deep gratitude.
That it is not about pleasing people, it’s not about proving, it’s not about “Who’s gonna like the new song?! How are the people going to embrace it?”. It’s actually about “Let’s have fun again!”. And Claye was the person who inspired me. He came in my studio and said “Hey, let’s have fun, man! Let’s voice a song without thinking if people are going to hear it!”. And then some great things happened. Anytime you feel like you don’t have to do it, you start to feel free and the mind ticks different, then all of a sudden it was there again. So, I said “I want to do it again”. (laughs) It happened very effortlessly, I think that’s the very key word. Without this “I have to prove something, people have to like it“. No, man! I did it and I’m done there. It was not about that, it was more about the best way to be in tune with yourself is when you make music. And this very feeling, after you voiced a song and you get your goosebumps in the studio, that’s why we’re doing it.
I also changed the record company, so it was a fresh vibe. There was a new team, fresh energy. After I played them the first songs, I felt like “OK, let’s do it again!”
Nice! What about the spirit of having only 4000 weeks in life, an idea or thought you had that fuelled also the song Bypass the Sorrow featuring Nico Santos?
Actually, a lot of songs! The moment you become aware of evanescence, when you realise that every moment is unrepeatable, you start appreciating it more. It starts with that. I am 52 now, Munchy. I thought, OK, the new dudes and the new dudettes are coming in and I had my time. It’s time to step back. But I still enjoy being on stage, I still love that vibe after you voice a song and you hear it. When I realised that life is super short, I stopped thinking about how people embrace it or not. I stopped spending my time with people that I don’t feel. I want people who give me energy and don’t take energy. If we get 80 years, it’s 4,000 weeks. Also, Tamika and I took out the Christmas carols from the basement and we said “Wow, another year passed!”. Life is too short to worry about what people might think. It’s so much bigger than that. It’s a very comforting thought when you realise we won’t last forever. I never like the Highlander vision that we live forever. Then you’d have no motivation for anything. So, to be aware of the end and thinking of that, gives you more joy for life.
Yes, absolutely! Speaking of things that are bigger than us… The first released track – and also the opening track – is Lion and you said about the track that “there are things that are bigger than all of us”, a presence that you feel when you look at the stars from your studio. Can you recall when you wrote the track and what you felt in the very moment?
First of all, I’ve got to say, the moment when you realise it’s so much bigger than us, it’s a very, very precious moment. We’re super small in this universe and it’s about being grateful, appreciating that we are just a little part of this whole thing. I switch between Mallorca and Cologne. I still have a base in Cologne, but I have a base in Mallorca, too. And I have a nice studio in Mallorca. That was the first time I saw stars every night and shooting stars. Every day you see the sunrise here and the sunset over there. You’re just more in tune with nature. Far away from the city life. City life is very exhausting. That gave me that vibe. I wrote that song together with Keely. I don’t write alone anymore. I did a lot of songs by myself but it’s always good to let people in after they got your vision. That’s also an ego thing. Every time you write alone, it’s nice, it works, it’s good, people embrace it but you get a different angle if somebody else comes in. I think most artists do it, but nobody says it. I think it’s time to say it! Let’s have a writing camp, get people together, embrace the vibe, feel the vibe! I talked to Keely about being astonished, being grateful that we are a part of this for these 80 years, if we get 80 years. Be grateful, man! That was the ancient inspiration for this song Lion.
The first line is “What is life without purpose”. What do you consider your purpose, Gentleman?
To unite people. This is why we’re in the music business. Sometimes you are more aware of it and sometimes less but at the end of the day it’s this community of strangers. No matter if it’s a concert or the feedback for a song. People really gain power through your music and then, all of a sudden, there is a deeper meaning in what you’re doing – and then you get motivation. Sometimes we’re locked in this room of artists and music business but Michi from next door, she feels it differently. And then, all of a sudden, you get this inspiration, and it really makes sense. There’s a deeper energy and it’s not about you or me, it’s about us. There is this universal energy, whether it’s a melody, whether it’s lyrics, you just put it together and the song goes out there and people really get energy from it. So, you feel like you’re making this place a better place through the music.
Right! You know that this thought and so many more aspects of this album resonated with me so much. When I listened, I felt like “Yes, man, that is it!” and that’s what I loved so much about the record. The second track is no less emotional. It’s I’ll Be There, that you dedicated to your wife of 20 years now, also your musical companion Tamika. How did she react when she first heard the song?
She loved it. She loved it! In five years, we will have the Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Yes, right. Wow!
You remember back in the days, the Silver Wedding Anniversary was that celebration where there was a bunch of old people…
(Laughs) Yes, right!
We actually married in 2005, we got together in 2000. It’s been a long time and I really, really appreciate her. So, love songs will always be in my catalogue. And then Meleku, the son of Sizzla came in… Don Corleon built that riddim and when he sent me the riddim, I loved it, and I reached out to Meleku. He voiced the hook line and sent it to me, and it was such an effortless thing, it just happened without thinking. It was just a vibe! Because everybody needs somebody to hug, somebody to love, somebody to kiss. Big up King Shango!
How does it feel when you sit down, and you create a song for someone so special?
It feels nice. There is a deeper meaning, and I think people can identify with it. First of all, you don’t do music because you want to please anybody. But if you can manage that, people really dig it, people really feel it because they can identify with it, then it becomes magic.
It’s not really us; it’s an energy in the universe. Without Tamika the whole path wouldn’t be how it is right now. She was there from day one. It’s a blessing to have somebody who really understands you on different types of levels. Sometimes you can just live together under the same roof, and you give each other space, but she is the mother of my child, she sings with me, we never piss each other off… (Laughter)
