The Band Explains: LIONLION - 'Language'

We speak to German outfit LIONLION about their expressive visuals for energetic indie rock song, ‘Language’, which is concerned with communication, conflict, not taking ourselves too seriously and finding peaceful resolutions to overcome differences.


Where was the video for ‘Language’ filmed?
The video is set in the ‘Haus des Volkes’, the “people’s house”, right In the middle of Germany. It is the largest Bauhaus ensemble in Thuringia, built in 1927 as a palace of culture by Alfred Arndt, who was a Bauhaus Master, teaching interior design, illustrative geometry and perspective. In the year of the 100th anniversary of German ‘Bauhaus’ architecture, we are producing our videos in the reduced and minimalistic vocabulary of the famous modernist architectural style, which serves as a visual guideline and an encouragement to keep a clear head and arrange one’s course of thought.

How does the video connect with the song?
’Language‘ is about talking at cross-purposes even though you speak the same language. The video fully connects with the song: it stylizes the regular every-day madness of our bandlife and a day on tour. It also shows communication in all its aspects: out of the shared great plans trouble is brewing and leads to non-verbal escalation. Finally, the tension eases when we reconcile the conflict in an act of musical self-therapy. In the video, the protagonists (played by our front men and twins Matthias & Michael Rückert) are at cold war. That’s actually quite a realistic scenario: on the one side, we are united as bandleaders and team up in the creative process of songwriting. On the other side, aiming for our goals leaves us estranged from time to time. That culminates in a conflict between brotherly telepathy and the hankering for individuality. It’s a highly explosive mixture, our bandmates André and David can tell you a thing or two about it. Not only the modern architecture matches the electric lyrics of the song: situated within the restricted zone of the inner-German border, the Bauhaus Hotel is a symbol of the conflict within Germany and the front between West and East in the times of the cold war.

Do you have any behind the scenes stories you can share with us?
We had been working on the idea of the video for almost half a year and couldn’t find a setting that would meet our requirements. Then we came across this buried treasure of modern architecture. The complex has been completely restored and reconstructed in an exemplary way after years of decay, forgotten in the restricted zone of the former GDR border. It’s almost a miracle that we were able to film in such an impressive Bauhaus ensemble with our tight budget. The building is now a hotel and we’re truly honored by the generosity and trust of the owners (www.bauhaushotel.com). And if you take a closer look, you can see our drummer and bassist dressed as the two chefs (they appear right before the fight scene). It took some convincing to have them play the role, but in the end we’re all happy with the result!

Could you tell us about the ideas/ themes/ imagery used?
The Bauhaus school and its architecture embodies functionality and thought-out design. In the video, this rational and clear visualisation is juxtaposed with the emotional turmoil we have as twin brothers and bandmates. The straight and stringent use of forms and colours contrasts with our conflict and reconciliation.

Is there a message the video is trying to convey?
We believe that violence is never the right answer. “Love alone is worth the fight” is what our friends from Switchfoot (a San Diego based, grammy-winning rock band. We just opened up two of their shows in Amsterdam and London) sing and it’s so true: Communication is a multi-dimensional task, but stepping up to that plate always pays off. We think that instead of letting bitterness and resentment grow, it’s really worth to overcome differences and talk things out. And sometimes it’s important that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Words are powerful, best not take them all at face value.