She Put A Record On: An Interview With Gudrun Gut

Interviewed by Julie Finley

Gudrun Gut isn’t a household name (not in North America, anyway). You’re not going to hear her on any Top 40 radio stations, but you might hear her whilst shopping in those bath and body stores called The Body Shop (true story, I actually heard a song of hers whilst shopping in there). However, her level of North American obscurity doesn’t make her any less important.

Photo © Malte Ludwigs

Gudrun’s history in the music and art worlds is an interesting one, and it’s not full of the kind of ugly or embarrassing moments that can tarnish a reputation. In other words, she didn’t slut around or exploit herself and then try to pawn it off as “art” or “empowerment” (like so many women do) to reach her goals. She’s been creating music since the late 70s in many different incarnations, and always on her own terms.

Her earliest ventures in music started while she was still a student at the respectable Hochschule der Künste, Berlin. She was part of a collective referred to as “Geniale Dilletanten” (ingenious dilettantes), which also included Einstürzende Neubauten (she was actually an early member of that group, as well as DIN A Testbild). During that period she started the all-girl group Mania D, and then moved on and formed the successful eighties all-female art rock band, Malaria!. She simultaneously formed another group known simply as Matador, and released albums sporadically throughout the 80s.

In addition to that curriculum vitae, she also has worked on some film scores, videos, and radio plays. In 1991, she started the transatlantic project Miasma in collaboration with Canadian Myra Davies. Two years later, she started a new project called The Ocean Club. The Ocean Club is described as “a loose collective of like-minded souls with a unique approach for music, taking it from a variety of angles.” Some of those like-minded souls included Blixa Bargeld, Anita Lane, and Inga Humpe. She also started and owns not one, but two record labels (Monika Enterprise and Moabit Musik).

Gudrun produces live electronic media events, and also works with Thomas Fehlmann in hosting and co-producing OCEANCLUB Radio, which is a weekly two-hour show on Radio Eins, Berlin. In the midst of all of this musical output, she is also active in the art world. Her most recent exhibition in Germany was called “Transgression,” which showcased visual works by seven female artists including: Gudrun, Lydia Lunch, Niagara, Françoise Cactus, Danielle de Picciotto, Breeda C.C., and Myra Davies.

Needless to say. . . Gudrun is well rounded. I recently conducted the following interview in the midst of her hectic schedule during which she graciously provided the following.

Click to read more from Gudrun Gut on. . .

Not the average girl
Mania D, Matador, Malaria!, Miasma
The Ocean Club
Monika Enterprise and Mac
Recent activities
Not so serious

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7