TO TOURISTS, CARINTHIA MIGHT SEEM LIKE A DREAM LOCATION, BUT INSIDE AUSTRIA THE PROVINCE HAS BEEN TARRED WITH BEING A HOTBED OF RIGHTWING POPULISM. AND YET, OR MAYBE ALSO BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS HOME TO SOME OF POP’S MOST FEARLESS ANTI-HEROES, CHIEF AMONG THEM HERWIG ZAMERNIK AKA FUZZMAN.
WHERE IN CARINTHIA CAN YOU HEAR EXCITING MUSIC?
In your tape deck.
CAN RESISTANCE AGAINST NARROW-MINDEDNESS BE AN INSPIRATION?
Yes, probably. But also no, because so much energy is spent on resisting and complaining. I think you can look at this whichever way you want.
CAN A MUSICIAN CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND THEM?
Yes, but not just a musician. Anyone can do that.
NAME A FORMATIVE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE YOU HAD IN CARINTHIA.
As a child I heard Abba for the first time in my life, and at the time I happened to live in Carinthia. But this has less to do with Carinthia than with Abba. It might also have happened in the Tyrol. Or in Paris…
WHICH HOTEL WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO FELLOW MUSICIANS?
The Kleinsasserhof in Spittal an der Drau.
WHICH CLUBS?
Kulturhofkeller in Villach.
WHICH MEDIA DO YOU TRUST IN CARINTHIA TO INFORM YOU ABOUT ARTS AND MUSIC (RADIO SHOWS, PAPERS, BLOGS)?
Radio Agora, Kleine Zeitung… But can you trust anyone? Most of all, can you trust any media?
WHAT WOULD YOU SHOW TO VISITORS FROM ABROAD?
In Carinthia? Ah, there’s plenty! Geographically, Carinthia has a lot to offer (lots of picturesque mountains and lakes, ed.).
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC FROM AUSTRIA, PAST AND PRESENT?
I don’t like lists of favourites, but there has always been a lot of good music in Austria. I think there is actually an extremely large amount of very good and very independent music for such a small country.
FUZZMAN´S TIPS IN CARINTHIA
KLEINSASSERHOF
Kleinsaß 3, 9800 Spittal an der Drau
www.kleinsasserhof.at
KULTURHOFKELLER
Lederergasse 15, 9500 Villach
kulturhofkeller.jimdo.com
WHAT ELSE THERE IS TO DISCOVER
INNENHOFKULTUR / RAJ – KLAGENFURT
Badgasse 7, 9020 Klagenfurt
www.innenhofkultur.at
KAMOT
Bahnhofstraße 9, 9020 Klagenfurt
www.facebook.com/JazzkellerKamot
VOLXHAUS
Südbahngürtel 24, 9020 Klagenfurt
www.facebook.com/volxhaus
((STEREO))
Viktringer Ring 39, 9020 Klagenfurt
www.stereoclub.at
ACOUSTIC LAKESIDE
Sonnegger See, 9141 Sittersdorf
www.acousticlakeside.com
Discover more music from Austria in:
AUSTRIAN HEARTBEATS
A CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TRAVEL GUIDE TO AUSTRIA
Commissioned by Austrian Music Export
Publisher: Verlag für moderne Kunst, Vienna
Contributors: Austrian Music Export and various authors, photographers and illustrators
Design: 3007, Eva Dranaz, Jochen Fill
Edition: 1st English edition, 2014
Translator: Robert Rotifer