Stefanie Heinzmann: Strong voice, gentle soul

m&k: Stefanie Heinzmann, you've been in show business for thirteen years. Is it a dog-eat-dog world or a haven of comfort?

Stefanie Heinzmann: Back when I was eighteen and won Stefan Raab’s talent show, I was completely overwhelmed. I was unstable, very emotional, and very sensitive—I didn’t trust the industry. But that just reflected the fact that I didn’t trust myself.

And today, after more than a decade on international stages and in TV productions?

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a public figure. How do I deal with it as a person? How do I deal with it as an artist? And by now, it doesn't feel like a dog-eat-dog world at all. I feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm not afraid anymore.

What's the deal with the fire? «Stefanie Heinzmann». Have you ever wanted a stage name—like Gentleman, DJ Bobo, or Rihanna—that would protect Stefanie's private life?

Setting boundaries is a big deal in my world. Now I can say, no, I’m glad my name is what it is. Because I’m not a good actress. I never have been. I can only work as a brand if I’m truly myself. I can’t do anything else. I don’t want to constantly have to think about how to cultivate my image, what’s part of the brand and what isn’t.

I'm sure you get a lot of requests to promote products. How do you choose which ones to promote?

In this age of social media, there are an incredible number of requests from random brands. Beauty products, clothes - They send a package and want you to post about it. So far, I've flatly refused.

Why?

I don’t want to sell anything to my fans who follow me on social media just because I’m getting paid for it. But I do get asked to enter into long-term partnerships. If it’s a brand I can truly stand behind, I discuss it with my team. Does it make sense? Does it fit with the Stefanie Heinzmann brand? Is this a product I’d want to lend my name to?

Have there been any wrong calls yet?

Sure, everyone makes mistakes. But I'm 32 now, and there are fans who look up to me—and I don't want to take advantage of that. It's important to me that I don't feed these young women and girls any bullshit.

Have you ever felt it was a burden to let your fans get so close to you?

Yes, I've experienced that feeling. At the beginning of my career, I was incredibly insecure and didn’t have much self-love to spare. At times, I almost felt like I was being made fun of, because I thought, “You can’t be serious—how can you possibly think I’m any good?” After all, I know the truth about myself: I’m not good. I was completely overwhelmed.

How did you get through that?

I've realized that my fans are just like me. And that we've actually been walking hand in hand through the years. And we support each other. I’ve made them feel like I’m there for them, and in return, they’ve shown me that I’m great. That’s a really beautiful development. And I think that now, at 32, I’m fully aware of what I can bring out in some people, what some people see in me, and what some people might even project onto me.

I get the feeling that you have found yourself, both outwardly and inwardly; you radiate a wonderful sense of calm.

(Laughs loudly) Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, I’ve found a way to share my thoughts with the world—through my voice. I have something to say, and people are listening. That’s wonderful. And yes, the journey has been very exciting—from an 18-year-old girl lacking self-confidence to becoming an artist in my own right. A journey with many ups and downs, all of which were necessary. Full of emotions and plenty of drama. (laughs). And that’s exactly what I then channeled into songs like «Digging in the Dirt» or «In the End.» The lyrics were a very important outlet for me. And now I’ve found a sense of inner peace—a very comforting one—and I’m happy about everything that is. There’s room for everything. Every emotion. Especially in music.

«I make my living from live performances; I don't make any money from CD sales or streams.»

How do you write your songs?

I collect everything that’s on my mind. Then I go into the studio with a team—there are usually three of us: a producer, a topliner, and me. We talk, and I tell them what’s on my mind. The topliner takes notes on his laptop. And the producer might already have a bass in his hands and be grooving along. And I’ll say something like, “Hey, it’s gotta be up-tempo somehow—it’s gotta have a bassline.” And then a line comes, or a beat, or a guitar riff. We jam, and suddenly we have a song. It’s crazy. It’s magical.

Isn't it wonderful when you can touch other people's lives?

I have to be honest—when I get messages saying that I’ve comforted them, hugged them, or taken them by the hand through this song, that’s the greatest gift. I couldn’t be happier.

How did you experience the pandemic? When live performances were suddenly no longer possible?

I make my living from live performances. I don't make any money from CD sales or streaming. Still, I'm incredibly privileged, because even if I have nothing to do for a year, I won't go broke. I went into the studio so I'd be ready when things pick up again.

And your crew, including the band?

I couldn't really help, and that drove me crazy. I have over 30 people in my band and crew chat. It doesn't do them any good if I give an interview; it doesn't help them if I write the album. I mean, sure, of course it does, because we’re going on tour next year with the new songs. But at that moment, I couldn’t share the bread I’d earned.

They couldn't put her on short-time work either, could they?

That’s right, they don’t work for me. It’s hard to see that culture is suddenly considered non-essential and that people are supposed to do nothing but eat, sleep, and work. And at the same time, the rate of depression is skyrocketing. We’re not just entertainers. Music, theater, culture, art—that’s what it means to be human. That’s the soul. But the beautiful thing is, you simply can’t digitize emotions. You can put on a streaming concert, but it’s not the same as being together. And that’s what music does. You feel connected, and that’s what people need. We’re not meant to wander around this planet alone.

The resulting album is called «Labyrinth»—why?

«Labyrinth» is a song from the album and symbolizes life. We end up in dead ends, have to turn back, and constantly have to make decisions: do we go right or left? Decisions mean pressure. How do I behave in the labyrinth? Do I let myself be constantly pressured? Am I constantly afraid of what’s lurking around the next corner? Or do I choose to tell myself that this is a unique, one-of-a-kind adventure for me? It’s my labyrinth. There’s no other like it. Right or left? Who knows—we’ll see; I’ll let my gut decide. If I end up at a dead end, I can say, “I have to go back,” or I can say, “I’ll just wait here for now.”.

How do you see the next 13 years in this labyrinth of life?

I feel very comfortable in my own skin. But I know the next challenge is already waiting for me. And to be honest, I'm looking forward to it.

Most people are afraid of it.

I’ve reached a point where I feel, “Yes, life, show me everything.” On the day I die, I want to have experienced everything. I want to have felt everything, because then I will have truly seen life. I won’t go through the same dramas I did eight or thirteen years ago, because I’ve gained the tools and the perspective to pull myself out of tough situations.

How?

I’ve taken responsibility for my thoughts. I always have a choice in how I react to things. I’m really looking forward to the future myself. Sure, I can say that I’d like to become a mother, and I’d like to be successful. Of course, I want to fill concert halls and venues. But I don’t want to make my happiness dependent on that. That would be unfair to my own life—to my soul and to who I am. I simply exist, and I have a right to do so—no matter what I do or don’t do. We live in a meritocracy, and I don’t want to play by those rules. I believe I’m allowed to just be.

«I feel comfortable in my own skin. But I know the next challenge is already waiting for me. And I'm looking forward to it.»

You're in a relationship, but you keep it out of the public eye—why?

I hadn't had a real personal life in a long time. I didn't have any hobbies—nothing at all. Then, four or five years ago, I had a breakdown. I wanted to throw it all away. I’d once dreamed of having a family, and now I didn’t even have a life of my own anymore. And then I got into this relationship, and of course that changed a lot of things. My personal life feels like a truly precious diamond. I feel a sense of responsibility because it’s so incredibly important to me. My boyfriend simply doesn’t want to be in the public eye, and I respect that. He doesn’t want to be tied to my job. He wants to be with me as a person. That’s the greatest compliment anyone has ever given me.

As a woman, you navigate the music industry. How do you feel about issues related to equality and diversity?

I need to distinguish between these perspectives here. When I think about my band, I can say that there are probably fewer women playing bass, drums, or guitar.

«I'm at a point where I feel, »Yes, life, show me everything.' On the day I die, I want to have experienced it all."

Because there are fewer role models.

That's exactly the point. It's a fact that clearly takes time.

And what about the other perspective?

This is about the entertainment industry as a whole. When I’m serving on juries or working as a coach, or appearing on panel discussions or talk shows, I’m often the only woman there. Arguments that there aren’t that many female artists are nonsense. I’m surrounded by amazing women who stick together, support one another, and are there for each other.

What needs to be done?

We have to be loud—which is really tough at first. And everyone’s annoyed by the feminists. But this is what we have to do right now. We have to keep speaking out until we no longer have to talk about it. Until I no longer have to say: “Hello, I’m Stefanie Heinzmann, I’m white, I’m straight.”.