Joy Denalane and Max Herre, both 51, will release their first joint album “Alles Liebe” on November 1. In an interview, Denalane discusses what their collaboration has taught them about love, how their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, and the surprising structure of their touring life. She also shares thoughts on living outside Berlin and their plans for a Christmas vacation after the tour. The couple intertwines their personal and professional lives throughout their creative process.
Joy Denalane (51) and Max Herre (51) are set to release their first collaborative album, ‘Alles Liebe’, on November 1. In an interview with spot on news, Joy shares insights into what the duo has learned about their love through this collaboration. She discusses how their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, the surprisingly structured nature of their touring life, and whether they can envision living outside of Berlin.
What have you learned about your love during the creation of the album ‘Alles Liebe’?
Joy Denalane: While working on the album, we have once again discovered how resilient, urgent, and harmonious our love truly is. It adapts to prioritize what each situation requires in that moment.
Did everything go as you both envisioned during your collaboration, or were there setbacks?
Denalane: Of course, things seldom unfold precisely as imagined while you’re immersed in a project. However, I wouldn’t categorize any of those experiences as setbacks. There’s a continuous process of adjustment to circumstances and the current state of things. That is what makes music creation exciting; the end product is often unpredictable. To use a song as an example: you might have a rough idea of what you want, but you only truly know how it should sound once it’s recorded.
What are each other’s strengths and weaknesses in making music together?
Denalane: Fortunately, we have different strengths and weaknesses. For instance, my challenge lies in my perseverance; I tend to lose focus and mentally check out an hour or two before a session ends, whereas Max remains highly concentrated until the very end. On the other hand, my strengths lie in the quality of my deliverables and my lack of vanity.
Did you consciously separate your personal lives from your work on the album, or do they blend together?
Denalane: As artists, we’ve never kept our personal lives and music-making separate. They intertwine continuously, albeit in varying degrees, but it’s always a part of our journey.
You collaborated with many producers on this album, and there’s also a featured artist. How is it to work with numerous people? Do they perceive you as a couple or as individual artists?
Denalane: It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with a diverse range of colleagues. It’s special to share space with people you trust, respect, and who possess significant expertise. The dynamics and outlook change when you share the studio with others; achieving consensus is essential for collaboration, and that can be very exciting and multifaceted.
The perception of us as a couple or as individuals often depended on how long we spent together in the studio. If it was just a day, we might be viewed more as a couple. However, over longer collaborations, we were definitely seen as individuals, as we each bring unique traits to the table.
In the song ‘Réunion’, La Réunion is depicted as a shared place of longing. Could you imagine living outside of Germany?
Denalane: We enjoy living in Berlin, but we are also open to the idea of living elsewhere. Since we haven’t taken that step yet, it’s hard to say where we might envision our lives, as many variables play a role in that decision.
Your tour is scheduled for November and December. How have you planned your touring life?
Denalane: Our tour life is more structured than one might think. We strive to get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, and not neglect exercise, all so we can deliver great performances night after night.
Will you take a holiday after the tour for Christmas?
Denalane: Yes, we plan to take a Christmas vacation after the tour, but we haven’t decided where we’ll spend the holidays yet. It seems like it will remain a mystery until just before Christmas.