VALID BLU’s latest single MINDFUCKERS dives headfirst into the chaos of modern life—addiction, overstimulation, societal pressure—with unfiltered intensity, sonic freedom, and a refusal to fit any mold.
1.
"MINDFUCKERS" is a bold title for a song. What does it represent to
you, and what made you decide this was the message the world needed to hear right now?
In our songs, we always try to get a clear message across – musically, but
also visually. With Mindfuckers, it was super important to us to capture the
madness of our time. Honestly, it really feels like the world’s gone totally
off the rails – whether it’s politics, society, or just human relationships.
There’s so much chaos, so much confusion. And that’s exactly what we wanted to
express – raw, honest, and unfiltered.
2. The track explores addiction in its many modern forms—digital, chemical,
psychological. Was there a personal or societal moment that sparked the
creation of this song?
Short and sweet: definitely both.
3. The music video visualizes a descent into overstimulation and performance
pressure. How closely does this visual narrative mirror your own experiences or
observations?
The music video really taps into something we all know too well – that constant
pressure to be better, prettier, more successful. It feels like our world is
all about “faster, higher, further,” and we’re always comparing ourselves to
others. That can seriously mess with your head – mentally and emotionally.
Whether it’s at work, among friends, or on social media – the pressure is
everywhere. And at some point, you start asking yourself: how long can this
actually go on? No wonder so many people try to escape it – one way or another.
4. Progressive rock often leans toward the conceptual. How do you balance
musical experimentation with the emotional urgency of a topic like addiction?
You’re right. Our idea from the start was to create more than just an album –
we wanted a full concept, something that works as an album and as a live show.
That’s how our debut WFYB.TV came to life. It tells the story of a main
character struggling in a fictional world that’s completely controlled by a
media company. The whole thing is split into an A- and B-side, which gives it a
cool flow and its own dynamic. We packed a lot of detail into both the story
and the music – so it’s definitely not a one-listen kind of album. The more you
dive in, the more you’ll discover. Each album tells its own story. But that
doesn’t stop us from looking beyond that and shining a light on other important
topics as well. So sometimes we end up writing songs that have nothing to do
with the WFYB.TV storyline – and that’s totally fine.
5. Your previous albums WFYB.TV and The Missing Link were both
narrative-driven and thematically intense. Is MINDFUCKERS a standalone single
or part of a bigger story arc leading to your 2026 release?
WFYB.TV and The Missing Link are part of a bigger story – a trilogy. We’re
already working on the third chapter, and if you take a close look at The
Missing Link’s cover, you might catch a hint at its name. Our goal is to drop
it in 2026... but let’s be real, time’s running like crazy, so it might end up
being 2027. Either way – it’s coming. Definitely within the next two years. On
top of that, we’re planning to release a few standalone singles this year and
next. We've got way too many ideas to keep them all locked inside the WFYB.TV
universe. Some stuff just needs its own space to breathe – and we can’t wait to
share it.
6. You create music on the former death strip between East and West Germany.
Does that historical backdrop influence your sound or perspective?
Most of us in the band come from the former East Germany. Peter – the musical
brain and guitarist of VALID BLU – and I are the oldest, so we still remember
quite a bit from back then. Peter even more than I do, especially when it comes
to politics and society. I was eight years old when the Wall came down.
Back in the day, a lot of bands from the East had to rewrite or hide their real
thoughts about the system in their lyrics – otherwise, they’d get censored.
That definitely left a mark, and I think it still influences the way we write
music today.
We don’t want to be told what we can or can’t say. Sometimes you’ve got to say
things in an exaggerated or unconventional way – just to get people to stop,
think, and actually get the message.
7. VALID BLU’s music is described as raw, genre-fluid, and challenging. How
intentional is your refusal to fit into a single musical box?
I'm not even sure if "refusing" is the right word. We’re definitely
inspired by tons of amazing bands and artists from all kinds of genres and
generations. But in the end, it’s all about finding your own artistic voice.
And I think we’re on a pretty good path with that. When we come up with a song
idea, we don’t ask ourselves, “Is this going to be prog, rock, or pop?” It’s
always more about: What do we want to express? What’s the message? What’s the
emotion we want to get across?
8. There’s a recurring theme of societal critique in your work—from social
media dependency to the illusions of self-optimization. What role do you think
music should play in confronting modern dysfunctions?
I don’t think music has to play a role in anything specific. Music just is –
and it always does its job, no matter the time or place or situation. No matter
what kind of music it is, it finds the people who need it in certain moments of
their lives.
9. Suzen’s vocals are often both haunting and vulnerable. How do the vocals
and lyrics for MINDFUCKERS capture the chaos and numbness you describe?
For me, the voice is like any other instrument. What I love about singing is
how many different vibes and layers the voice can have – it’s super versatile.
In every one of our songs, we try to make the emotions, the vibe, and the
message we want to share really come through – something you can actually hear
and feel. Same goes for Mindfuckers. It’s about inner and outer chaos,
emotional highs and lows, addiction, losing touch with reality, being high and
feeling amazing – and chasing that feeling over and over again. Hopefully, we
managed to bring that across – through the instruments, the lyrics, and the
vocals.
10. What has the response been like so far from fans and new
listeners—especially those encountering VALID BLU for the first time through
MINDFUCKERS?
The song’s only been out for a couple of weeks. I think there are always two
camps – the ones who instantly connect with it and totally feel it, and the
ones who are kind of confused and don’t really know what to make of it. Right
now, the feedback has been mostly positive. Our fans love that we’re different
and that we hold up a mirror to society in a creative way. We’re kind of like a
surprise bag – you never really know what you’re gonna get. ;-)
11. Both your albums were well-received in the vinyl community. Is analog a
form of rebellion in your digital critique?
Primarily, listening to music really holds a lot of value. That’s why we made a
conscious decision to produce the albums for vinyl. For us, the most meaningful
way to experience music is still dropping the needle on a record and giving it
your full attention. It’s about slowing down and taking it in. In a world where
everything’s moving faster and faster – with streaming, Insta reels, TikToks –
it’s easy to just swipe past everything. We wanted to offer something that
invites you to stay for a while. That doesn’t mean we reject digital
possibilities or are completely against them. They have other advantages.
12. Finally, your tagline reads: “No jacket fits. Welcome.” What does that
phrase mean to VALID BLU—and what do you hope listeners walk away with after
hearing MINDFUCKERS?
We’re inspired by all kinds of music, honestly. But at the end of the day, we
just do our own thing – we don’t really care what people expect or what box
we’re supposed to fit into. Prog gives us the space to throw all our ideas and
influences into the mix – no rules, just freedom. Whether it’s heavy, dreamy,
weird or catchy – it all has a place. But hey, we’re not even sure if you’d
still call it prog. If anyone out there has a name for what we do, let us know!
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