Norbert Leisegang on Keimzeit's 14th Album, Romanticism, and Rejecting Therapy

Norbert Leisegang, the primary songwriter for the band Keimzeit, continues to write 95% of their material as they prepare their 14th studio album. The musician, now 66, reflects on the band's evolution from their ambitious beginnings in the 1980s to their current, more deliberate pace, which he likens to a "Bummelzug" (slow train). For the new album, Keimzeit collaborated with longtime producer Peter Schmidt to refine the twelve new songs, emphasizing a process of teamwork and personal satisfaction. Leisegang describes himself as a romantic rather than a rationalist, a perspective he believes essential to his songwriting. In the album's closing track "Therapie," he explores the idea that love is incompatible with therapy, preferring to let emotions flow freely. Despite acknowledging human flaws, he expresses a deep affection for people, rooted in decades of experiencing empathy and social connection. The band recently organized a special concert journey, traveling on a restored vintage train from Dresden to Cottbus with guests. Leisegang maintains a humorous outlook, valuing the human capacity for humor as a way to engage with difficult topics.