Name: Suzan Köcher
Nationality: German
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Current release: Suzan Köcher's Suprafon's new full-length album In These Dying Times is out via Unique.
Recommendations: Jonathan Richman - That Summer Feeling (One of the best lyrics I’ve discovered in quite a while); Alvvays - "In Undertow"
 
If you enjoyed this Suzan Köcher interview and would like to know more about her music, visit her band's official website. She is also on Instagram, and Facebook.  
 


Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in writing lyrics or poetry? How and when did you start writing?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. The idea of keeping a diary and creating my own world with words fascinated me from an early age.

I’ve always felt more confident expressing myself through writing than speaking. It’s like my thoughts flow more clearly on the page and I can say exactly what I mean without hesitation. Writing has always been my preferred way of communicating.

When I started writing my first songs at 14, everything seemed to click into place. Combining words with music brought a whole new dimension to expressing myself. That’s where the magic happens for me - where feelings that can’t be described come alive through sound.

It is sometimes said that “music begins where words end.” What do you make of that?

Exactly this! When I was a teenager, I made myself a tote bag and wrote the words, "When words fail, music speaks" on it. I found that quote on Tumblr back then and it’s still exactly how I feel.

Whenever I need to express something I’ve experienced or felt, writing a song is always my number one outlet. It’s the perfect way for me to capture emotions that go beyond words, letting music speak where words fall short.

Entering new worlds and escapism through music and literature have always exerted a very strong pull on me. What do you think you are drawn to most when it comes to writing?

Escapism is a big draw for me as well. The idea of creating my own world and imagining anything I want is so fascinating.

That’s exactly what I did with "Sleepless Strangers."



I was inspired by Cinema Noir, especially Alphaville by Jean-Luc Godard. I found myself creating my own movie in my head - visualizing the scenes, the lighting, the outfits, the characters, the dialogue - and then I wrote a title track to go with it. It was so much fun to bring that imaginary world to life.

But it’s not always like that. Most of the time my inspiration comes from real-life experiences. I think what draws me the most to songwriting is self-expression, freedom, and a sense of empowerment I gain through it.

What were some of the artists and albums which inspired you early on purely on the strength of their lyrics? What moves you in the lyrics of other artists?

As a teenager Avril Lavigne’s music hit me in a way nothing else did at the time. It felt like she was speaking directly to me, like someone finally understood everything I was feeling.

Her songs about heartbreak and growing up and all the emotions in between captured what I was going through in a way no one else seemed to be able to.



Now, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan anymore - I’ve found other music that resonates with me more these days. But I still admire the way she captured those raw, real moments.

It’s incredible when an artist can describe something so personal, yet so universal, that it feels like they’re singing about your life. That’s something I’ll always appreciate.

I have always considered many forms of music to be a form of poetry as well. Where do you personally see similarities? What can music express which may be out of reach for poetry?

When I started making music, lyrics were always my focus. Now I see it differently.

While words and music can both express emotion, music goes beyond that for me. There are limits to language, but a melody can reach places and touch your soul in a whole different way.

For me it’s the best way to express myself, the most powerful form of therapy and the best way to heal.

The relationship between words and music has always intrigued me. How do you see it?

I love the sound of words. Sometimes, they already feel like music on their own and inspire the way the music goes.

On a song like “Desert Air Motel“ the theme of the lyrics already set the tone for the composition and then led the song into a wordless long outro that is a journey in itself.



What kind of musical settings and situations do you think are ideal for your lyrics?

When the music not only supports the lyrics but reveals another layer of emotion, it deepens the connection and makes the listener feel even more understood. Sometimes the music can take the lyrics to a different place altogether.

In “Living In A Bad Place“ we contrasted the dark lyrics with powerful music that helps you overcome the depression that runs through the words.



It feels empowering and makes you want to dance to shake off the negativity. But the lyrics give the track a different and deeper feeling.

When working on music, when do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

For me, the process is always different. My notes app is full of little snippets I’ve thought of in random moments and sometimes I start a song from one of those. Other times, I’ll come up with a melody in the shower, quickly record it after and build from there. There’s no right or wrong way - it all just depends on the moment.

We also sometimes write songs together with an Irish lyricist called Michael Cummins. He sends us already finished sets of lyrics to which we then write music. This gives us freedom to concentrate on the music without worrying about writing words to it as they are already there and inspire the way the song goes.

Michael wrote the lyrics to “Living In A Bad Place“, “Maybe I’m a Lemon“ and “Falling For Autumn“ and this allowed us to take them into a totally different direction from what we probably would have done if we had been coming up with the idea ourselves.



Do you feel like the music triggers specific words inside you? Or is more of a feeling or a memory? Would you say there is instantly an entire idea in front of you or does the story grow as you keep listening to the music?

When I listen to music I listen to my emotions.

I’m definitely not an architect; I love the freedom of starting from anywhere and allowing myself to be surprised by where it leads. For some reason, I find it much easier to get into the flow that way.

More generally, in how far can music take you to places with your writing you would possibly not have visited without it?

When you write you self reflect. A perfect example of this for me is our song "Seventeen."



I initially wrote it about someone who mistreated me as a teenager, but later, I realized that many of the lines can be interpreted as me speaking to my 17-year-old self. I always get goosebumps when I remember the moment I understood what I was truly expressing without even realizing it at the time.

Through this song I felt like I was reaching back in time to give my teenage self a hug. It was the most profound healing I’ve ever experienced.

When you're writing song lyrics, do you sense or see a connection between your voice and the text? Does it need to feel and sound “good” or “right” to sing certain words? What's your perspective in this regard of singing someone else's songs versus your own?

Oh, absolutely. When we record vocals, I always have specific ways I want to pronounce or sing the lyrics in certain spots. It’s not just about the sound; I want to evoke a certain feeling through it.

I also love singing someone else’s lyrics. I do this on our new record on a couple of songs and sometimes I forget I didn’t write them because I feel so connected to the songs. I enjoy creating my own interpretations, making them feel like my own in a special way.

In how far are you consciously aware of the meaning of the lyrics you're writing during the creative process? Do you need to have a concrete concept or can the words take the lead?

I like to let the words take the lead. My brain just always worked this way in creative processes. It’s easier for me to just “let it happen“.

What is the value of song lyrics or hip hop bars outside of the music?

They’re a work of art that can stand for itself. They definitely don’t need the music to shine.

Lyrics alone can give you chills.

How do you see the relationship between harmony, rhythm and melody? Do you feel that honing your sense of rhythm and groove has an effect on your lyrics-writing skills?

Harmony sets the mood and structure, melody carries the emotional storyline, and rhythm breathes life into it all.

Developing a strong sense of rhythm and groove definitely impacts lyric writing - it makes you consider not just the words but how they fit with the beat. Rhythm shapes how a line lands, giving the lyrics a natural flow and intensity that enhances their emotional impact.

In a way, it turns each line into a rhythm of its own, creating a stronger connection between words and music.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of poetry is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

A good cup of coffee can be art, but it will never resonate with me like music does. Through music and poetry, I can express my deepest thoughts and feelings, things I can’t put into words any other way.

Listening to music that truly connects with me feels almost like floating - yes, it sounds cliché, but there’s something supernatural about it. It taps into parts of the brain that seem beyond ordinary understanding, reaching synapses that nothing else quite touches.

Even though I could need a cup of coffee right now. :)