As of: February 29, 2024, 1:04 p.m
By: Katja Kraft
Comments
Press
Split
The Swiss author Martin Suter (left) and his compatriot, the rock chansonnier Stephan Eicher, have been close friends for years.
Suter is now 76 years old.
© Diogenes
Best-selling author celebrates his 76th birthday.
He has been close friends with musician Stephan Eicher for years and writes song lyrics for him.
Our conversation with the two friends.
Martin Suter is punctual to the minute.
Wrinkle-free white shirt to match the pocket square in the olive green suit.
The hair was neatly slicked back.
He sits down in the meeting room of the Diogenes publishing house in Zurich with a reserved, almost shy smile.
And then: Enter Stephan Eicher.
He storms in wearing a black shirt and black pants, a gold ring in his ear.
With loud laughter.
“Martin!” he calls and hugs his old friend.
The writer and the musician – the quiet one and the limelight.
The two have been making music together for years.
Or rather: Suter, author of novels such as “Small World”, “The Dark Side of the Moon” or the “Allmen” crime series, writes the lyrics, Eicher, Swiss rock chansonnier, creates the songs.
In 2018 they released a “songbook”.
14 new songs and three versions of well-known hits by the two.
The highlight: Suter has come up with a story for each song.
Regarding the song “The pure simplicity” – “the pure simplicity, yes, you’ve come to the right place!” comments Eicher with a laugh.
And Suter smiles meaningfully.
Pure simplicity then.
In the text, the novelist ponders what it would be like to create an artistic oeuvre “whose uniqueness lies in not having an answer to anything.”
Actually?
Do you sometimes feel pressured to use your art to provide answers to political, social and personal questions?
Stephan Eicher
: On the contrary!
It would be nice if we were asked questions!
I have a few answers.
I think musicians, writers, dancers and artists are not asked enough about their view of this world.
Economists and bankers are asked, but I don't think the solution is there.
But I'm only half of the duo.
A questioning look at Suter, who clears his throat briefly and then answers in a quiet voice.
Martin Suter:
I see it a little differently.
I don't feel good in this role of explainer to the world.
I'm even often asked: What did you want to say with this book?
Then I always say: The book begins with the first sentence and ends with the last sentence.
And if it has some lasting effect on you, all the better, but I have no further intentions.
Stephan Eicher:
You're right, Martin.
I may have expressed myself poorly, because that's exactly what it's about: this lingering of a train of thought that we have awakened.
I wish there was more time for it to resonate.
But I also have to disagree with you!
You're one of the people I really enjoy listening to about their perspective on the world.
I don't know if it's the right one.
But always an exciting and always an inspiring one.
There it is again, the writer's gentle smile. He looks mischievously at his friend.
Martin: Suter:
Kiss your hand!
But I'm not like Günter Grass, who constantly spoke up.
I don't think it's the writer's job to stand as a lighthouse in the desert.
Stephan Eicher:
“To stand as a lighthouse in the desert!”
(Laughs wholeheartedly.)
But maybe there will be water, then that is very necessary, Martin!
Rather? What then is your job as an author?
My news
Lisa Fitz: “We live in an educational state!” read
2 hours ago
Christian Friedel about his role as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höß: The monster in all of us read
2 hours ago
What's next at the Buchheim Museum Bernried: Elated into the future?read
2 hours ago
Architecture Museum of the Technical University of Munich shows new show “The Gift”: Poisonous candies?read
Famous painting in Oslo is only visible for a few minutes at a time
Giovanni Zarrella about Roland Kaiser: “He has elegance and class” read
Martin Suter:
I'm almost not allowed to say it...
Stephan Eicher:
“Here it comes!”
(Imitates drum roll on the edge of the table.)
Martin Suter:
I see myself as an entertainer.
And you, Mr. Eicher?
Stephan Eicher:
My idea of art is very simple.
There are arts that cannot be expressed in words.
When exchanging with a still life, words have to stay outside.
Or with a Beethoven sonata.
Martin Suter begins to snack on the beans that have been laid out on the table.
Stephan Eicher:
Martin!
I'm saying very intelligent things here, and you're eating beans!
So where was I?
It's not about grass or about any people who have anything to say on every topic.
I think the solution lies somewhere else.
Namely where you have been deeply touched, where you pay attention to something.
What art can trigger in a person at this moment is something extremely exciting. That cannot be expressed in a television interview.
This happens in a completely different place.
I was just lucky enough to look at a wonderful landscape that touched me deeply.
Maybe that's why I'm a little emotional right now.
Give me a bean too!
(Laughs.)
Met in Zurich at Diogenes: Martin Suter, Stephan Eicher (right) and cultural editor Katja Kraft.
© kjk
So can art change people?
Stephan Eicher: Let me put it this way: I live in the Camargue, an area where the National Front is very strong.
I discussed with people: What's going on here?
The answer always came: We choose them to pee on the others' feet.
Then I say: “French people, if you had a vote every two or three months like in Switzerland, that would be okay - but you only ever have five years until you can piss on someone again!” That's why I founded a choir .
There's the French butcher standing next to the Arab chambermaid.
They would tear each other apart in political discussions, but here?
Raise your voices together to “Aux Champs-Elysées”, in perfect harmony.
These are the moments I'm talking about.
Can literature and music also make lasting changes?
Martin Suter:
No, I don't think so.
Stephan Eicher:
WHAT?
Martin!
Let's start at the top: the Bible - a book!
“Das Kapital”, sometimes misunderstood, but – a book!
No, Martin, it is books that have changed us.
Martin Suter:
Well, I'll put it this way: I don't write books to change the world.
But you read books and they change you?
(Martin Suter shakes his head.)
Stephan Eicher:
(Slaps on the table and points to Martin Suter.)
He gave me the first book that shocked him just the other day!
I read it and thought about what affected him so much about it when he was 17.
And now he just says
(deepens his voice)
: “Books are entertainment.” Stop with these beans!
(Laughs.)
Martin Suter:
Oh, you mean “The Devil’s Elixirs”?
That didn't change my perspective on life, it made me...
(He struggles for words.)
Stephan Eicher:
Well, come on now!
Martin Suter:
It taught me a lot about writing.
Stephan Eicher:
And writing has had such a profound influence on your life.
But you say there is no connection!
N/a??
(Laughs.)
Maybe a stone that has had a decisive impact on your life path. The stories you write are about lives you could have lived. Do you sometimes struggle with decisions without which you would lead a completely different life today?
Stephan Eicher:
I don't feel like I'm making decisions.
I fall from one situation to the next and try to handle it with a certain nonchalance and elegance - always thinking of Martin.
Looking back, the more painful, the more difficult decisions are the ones that really enriched me.
If I hadn't made the decision to separate when I was 17 in Paris, I probably wouldn't be here eating a few beans with you.
And that’s pretty spectacular every day!
And you, Mr. Suter? They often took radical steps. Quit lucrative jobs. Where did you get the courage from?
Martin Suter: It didn't take any courage at all.
It is the privilege of my generation.
I was born into a world where you never had to be afraid of existence.
Sure, I had a great job – when I was 26, I was creative director at a successful advertising agency.
But I stopped there, bought an old Land Rover and took a trip to Africa.
I never had any concerns that I wouldn't have a job when I came back.
I always assumed for granted that I would survive.
Young people don't have that today.
This is crazy: a world in which there are countries in Europe where half of the young people are unemployed and have no prospect of finding a job.
I never had this problem.
It didn't take any courage.
And how much courage did you need to go on the big stages with Stephan Eicher to put on a show together?
Martin Suter:
First of all, a little bit, because I've never done anything like that before.
But we're well-rehearsed now.
Stephan Eicher:
When I notice that we are becoming too confident, I ask Martin absurd questions on stage.
For example: Why do we put the piece of paper in an “urn” during elections?
Isn't that a bit negative from an artistic perspective?
Then he stands there in his tuxedo.
And smiles at me for a very friendly sword duel.
Mr. Suter, it is said that the song lyrics are the works of which you are most proud. Why?
Martin Suter:
Yes, I'm not otherwise proud of my books.
I am satisfied or not satisfied.
But I hear these songs over and over again.
Poetry is generally something that can be read several times.
Because how something is said is important there.
If it's rhymed poetry, it has another effect, namely that the rhyme tells you where it's going.
That's fascinating.
I still enjoy certain rhymes from the songs.
For example?
Martin Suter:
“U mostly stay in a few seats / There would still be no room.
Verzelle vo inflamed teat / U vo three-liter chüe.”
Stephan Eicher:
Got it?
Now sing it!
(Laughs.)