2Raumwohnung have been busy. In 20 years, the Berlin electropop duo has released eight albums. In an interview, Inga Humpe and Tommi Eckart talk about their band history and reveal what fans can expect live on their anniversary.
When Christmas comes around, "Last Christmas" by Wham! plays on the radio in an endless loop. When the thermometer climbs to a critical height in summer, radio stations up and down the country play "36 Grad" by 2Raumwohnung. This catchy tune has burned itself into our consciousness - and not just among fans. The Berlin electro duo's biggest hit dates back to 2007, but Inga Humpe and Tommi Eckart are already celebrating their 20th anniversary with 2Raumwohnung.
The two musicians would never have thought that the electro-pop duo would still be active 20 years after they formed. "We ourselves were actually the most surprised," says Tommi Eckart. 2Raumwohnung started out as a studio project - with the idea of future music in which the digital and the emotional dance together, according to the band's biography. 2Raumwohnung combined German pop music with lightness and melancholy. That was new. "Apart from hip-hop and Schlager, there was nothing with German lyrics back then. We tried to combine dance with German pop," explains Inga Humpe. "It was an experiment." One that really hit the spot.
Even the first album "Kommt zusammen" was a hit. And the fan base grew with each subsequent album. "We were definitely carried on a wave for five or six years, where everyone understood us and we felt loved," recalls the singer. Hits such as "Sexy Girl", "Bei dir bin ich schön" and "Wolken ziehen vorbei" have taken 2Raumwohnung as far as Turkey, South Africa and China. But: "We didn't have a day off for over a year. At some point we felt like stones. Then we went to India to regroup," says Inga, describing the intense time.
Inga is now 64, her partner Tommi 57 years old. The two now take a relaxed approach to work. "We've created space for ourselves," explains the music producer. "We don't have to break out anymore," adds the singer. They are all the more pleased to see how committed today's young people are. "We are thrilled that young people are so political and so committed to their causes. We feel totally inspired," says Inga. The singer quickly rewrote the lyrics to "36 Grad" for the anniversary tour. It now reads: "Only half a degree to catastrophe, the world is already singing the last verse." The songwriter is now publishing her 70 or so award-winning lyrics in the book "Wir met uns in einem Garten" (We met in a garden) to mark the 20th anniversary.
The album and the tour "20 years of 2Raumwohnung" bring together all of the electropop duo's hits once again. "It's a kind of retrospective with all the important songs," explains Tommi. "And at the end, our wrecking ball is announced, where we hammer together a few songs in non-stop tempo." 2Raumwohnung will also be performing their new song "Das ist nicht das Ende, Baby" live. But how long will they be on stage as an electro duo? "As long as you want," Inga and Tommi answer unanimously and with full conviction.