Musical life stations
Take a closer look behind the scenes. At this place I would like to introduce myself, so you learn the person know behind Electrozombies. My name is Thomas Frenken and I was born on December 4th, 1974 in Mönchengladbach, Germany. Musically I grew up with rock music (father's side) and German pop music (mother). This was also the mainstream music which the radio has played most of the times.
In the early 80s, when I was around 7 or 8 years old, my big cousin Stefan showed me the band Kraftwerk. Before that day I wasn't interested in music at all, but this music had such a huge impact on me that I ask him to copy me this records on tape.
Since that time I love electronic music, and I listened to this music cassettes minimum a thousand times. My cousin copied all regular albums for me until to Computerwelt (Computerworld), but for me was the most impressive one Die Mensch-Maschine (The Man-Machine).
It could be that I got a very strong connection to these albums because I was a big sci-fi fan at that time and still am. Even when I'm listening today to some Kraftwerk songs, I have memories of different moods, how some things smell, taste and touch and as seasonal weather.
Discover new music without the internet is an adventure
I tasted blood. For a kid without the internet, you have to be creative to find new music. An example: I went often to the carnival, that appeared twice a year in our town, just to listen to the current synth pop songs. I spent many hours at the funfair just to hear the music and it did not matter how bad the weather was.
On a Sunday in 1984, I recorded a radio broadcast with the new No.1 hit in Germany. It was People Are People from the British band Depeche Mode. This song was so outstanding and extraordinary because the song has used no audible, conventional instruments. A brilliant song! I was only 9 years old, but on this day, a new devotee was born.
Almost the same musically impact happens, as I listened the first time to The Great Commandment by Camouflage and Blue Monday '88 by New Order. Thus, the musical path was paved. I also had a little punk rock/grunge/metal music phase for a few years in the early '90s, but I never lost focus on electronic music.
Electrozombies established in 2010
It all started because I simply missed the music television broadcasts. Yes, music television was offically dead. Of course, some pay tv broadcaster still has some music television channels in 2010 like MTV, Viva, etc…, but the most times they transmitted just stupid "reality shows" (except Jackass) and if they played music videos, then only those from the big major labels. It was only a great promotional machine with a boring heavy rotation with always the same mainstream artists.
For several years the internet streaming became more popular and with all the upcoming video blogs I assumed: "Perhaps there is a site with a focus on music videos for Synth‑, Electro- and Futurepop and genre-related.".
So I started a long investigation, but the result wasn't as successful as I expected. As a professional graphic designer and front-end developer, I decided to close the gap and so I launched Electrozombies in December 2010. Until today I think that was the best idea in my life.
The meaning of 'Electrozombies'
"Why the name Electrozombies?", you might like to ask. Fact one: In the beginning, I publish among other things a lot of zombie movie trailers. Fact two: For me, the zombie is in itself a pop cultural metaphor that reflects the feeling of the time in which we live. And a gloomy melancholy can also be found in almost every synth pop song.
I don't think, that the "Electro" part in the name must be explained. So roughly Electrozombies means Electronic Pop Culture. But it's not only a brand. The meaning is much more complex and multi-layered. Because everybody who hunts for new electronic music is like a zombie who hunts for brains. And furthermore, I use it also as a synonym for "various artists". You see, we're all Electrozombies!
More than a regular music blog
The journey continues and grew to something bigger than I expected. Besides the music videos, I also write track by track reviews of albums that I really like. Furthermore, I publish DJ mixes and providing links to free downloads of albums that are worth to listen to. Since November 2013 I have extended the Electrozombies brand with a 24/7 online radio broadcast that is hosted by laut.fm.
For me, this was the next logical step, in order to promote young and new talented bands that have a rough start to gain a foothold in an old fan base. Mixed with synth pop classics, I hope that this young generation keeps the music genre alive for the next few decades.
The first official Electrozombies release
In Autumn 2015 I started to work on the first Electrozombies compilation to celebrate the upcoming 5th year anniversary. With the help of many passionate bands, and also some genre well-known like Parralox, Machinista, Junksista, Psy'Aviah, Julien‑K, Twisted Destiny and many more, the compilation was a huge success for both sides. This compilation called Undead And Open-Minded is now planned as a continuous series. I'm in general not a fan of swear words, but I remember I was "Proud as fuck" when I released our first compilation. A real milestone.
Besides the free downloadable in-house compilations, I wanted to publish tribute albums, in order to honour the bands that have left a big influence in the scene. The first tribute belongs to Apoptygma Berzerk and I hope many more will follow.
Electrozombies TV — The next big thing
The next big future vision is to establish Electrozombies TV. I really want to start a 24/7 streaming television for music videos. The same as an online radio broadcast but of course with visuals. "It's just a question of time" like Depeche Mode once quoted. Until we will have a streaming television broadcast, you're welcome to subscribe to our official YouTube channel Electrozombies TV.