2023-06-14 07:11:45
Up until three years ago, SEBASTIAN SPERL had never held a microphone in his hand. Then Corona comes. The Upper Austrian gives himself the name FLONKY CHONKS and starts to write. About everyday stress next to street tanks, the cops and Sobotkas turds. SPERL, then still Radlkurier, ends up in the final of the protest song contest. The Standard describes him as a “spoken artist.” His album “Bastard” is released. The fact that FLONKY slaps his fists on it doesn’t just have to do with a soft spot for oddballs. The trained ornithologist and park ranger sees injustices and can name them. Without cringe, but with dialect jokes. A conversation regarding utility strips, Eminem and cereal boxes.
You are a biologist, park ranger and ornithologist. How does someone like that get to rap?
Sebastian Sperl: That was always my secret dream. Not just rapping, but being on stage. I used to be in the music club in Steyr. At the beginning of my student days I even had a band and played the electric bass. But following three performances it was over. That means: Until almost exactly three years ago, I never held a microphone in my hand, let alone wrote a text.
When you were 30 you thought: now rap!
Sebastian Sperl: In fact, that was a classic lockdown thing. Lots of time, few social contacts, but a new apartment, which I moved into with my roommate a few weeks earlier. In the evening we sat together, he with his keyboard, I with the pen. At some point we said: Let’s try it.
You started writing lyrics.
Sebastian Sperl: At first I didn’t think anything of it. I shared the first number among friends, the feedback was quite good. Then I thought to myself: Maybe an album will come out because: I’m a friend of…
Challenge?
Sebastian Sperl: On the one hand that, but also: old-school hip-hop. It’s too boring for me when a song like today doesn’t last two minutes. That may sound a bit strange, but: I really wanted to tell a real story. I then continued to write, shared once more, collected the feedback. And then came the moment when I asked myself: Is that cool or is it cringe?
Because you can’t write separate texts on transport policy and climate issues?
Sebastian Sperl: Yes, eh. Then I wrote “Fächendeckend 30” and that was great – also because a lot of real experiences flowed into it.
You were a bike courier in Vienna.
Sebastian Sperl: During my studies I am for Rita brings it, a vegetarian delivery service, cycled through Vienna. That’s why I’ve sat on my bike a lot. After I was too old for the semester ticket, I became a year-round cyclist. That’s a tough patch, especially if you don’t want to keep cutting back. That’s why there’s an anger in the lyrics that I derived from my experiences.
What situations do you think of?
Sebastian Sperl: Less situations, but these multi-purpose lanes, where you either have to drive in the dooring zone and there is a risk that a car door will open unexpectedly, or in the middle of the street that the drivers immediately think, the shitty cyclist! I would describe myself as a self-confident cyclist, but sometimes you get into situations that are really bad. No wonder the proportion of cyclists is stagnating. Some people just don’t want to put themselves through that.
And that’s how you got into hip-hop?
Well, actually not. I used to Eminem heard – especially the first three albums I sometimes still put on. Actually, I was more of the indie type. Santa was my favorite band for a long time. Sometime then Muse. Hip-hop only became the dominant style of music during my student days. That was in 2009. I’ve been in Vienna for 14 years now.
“COLLEAGUES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MAY ASK WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY TO DRIVE AROUND FAT CARS IN MUSIC VIDEOS.”
And you still don’t need a car.
Sebastian Sperl: No, but lately I’ve been thinking that colleagues in the music industry might be wondering if it’s still necessary to drive around in fat cars in music videos these days. Even on FM4, every fifth song is regarding cars. I find that embarrassing. You might enjoy the mobile quality without a car, especially in Vienna. The moments when you cycle across the Reichsbrücke in summer or drive around late at night in your Leiberl, that’s something!
Nevertheless, one listens to your album and knows: a lot is going wrong. Not just on the street.
Sebastian Sperl: Yes, I have a clear opinion and I always wanted to be able to express it. That’s what writing lyrics gave me, because I’m sure that you have to address some things. At the same time, I don’t want to come across as a high school teacher. “NACABBM” is regarding the police. That was too much for one of my friends because he doesn’t like political things in hip-hop. Music has always had a message for me. That’s why I don’t have to say “ACAB” in general terms – even if one is often tempted to do so.
You say it: often enough!
Sebastian Sperl: If you keep your eyes open, you’ll see that a lot, of course!
Fritz Ostermayer likes to say that his son is the only left-wing policeman in Ottakring.
Sebastian Sperl: I wish there were more – everywhere. But I tend to distrust the police. At one of the last Critical Mass events, where I take care of the supporting program, among other things, we were up at Schuhmeierplatz. A friend smoked a hand-rolled cigarette. Because there was a smell of grass nearby, the police immediately wrote them down. That makes you wonder…
How many times have they stopped you at the Radl?
Sebastian Sperl: I’ve had very few punishments in my life. But two months ago they caught me at the traffic light next to the rhiz. Another example: At the institute building of the university there is currently a construction site situation where the traffic light situation is unreasonable and also not compliant with the German Road Traffic Act. The cops don’t have to hide at all. People drive over red before their eyes. Instead of trying to get clarification, the police take advantage of it. That makes me aggressive.
Have you found personal peace through writing?
Sebastian Sperl: A lot has built up for me, I see even more injustice. There is no other way if you are of the opinion, as I am, that in general car traffic is wrong and bicycle traffic is right in the city. If motorists then deliberately endanger, i.e. cut into it and so on, I find it difficult to remain calm.
It’s not just a struggle with words then, I suppose.
Sebastian Sperl: Well, if it’s mentally possible, I try to address the drivers matter-of-factly: Look, you’ve overtaken me dangerously, now you’re back at the red light. But that may have led to insight in ten experiences. The rest goes in the direction: sneak up, you bastard! Or: Men get out and want to thresh themselves. That I do not understand.
Fragile masculinity in 50 meters full throttle between two traffic lights.
Sebastian Sperl: Yes, because people are under constant stress in their cars. The cyclists are like an outlet where they let out their anger. Anyway: I definitely didn’t find any peace. Encouragement in the bike community but yes!
Sorry for the question, but why Flonky Chonks?
Sebastian Sperl: In the beginning I picked out funk playlists on YouTube, looped them and wrote my lyrics for them. As it should be in some hip-hop, I wanted to drop my name in the first few lines. The thing is, I didn’t have one. So I’ve been thinking. At some point ten years ago there was a story where I thought Flonky Chonks would be a good name for cornflakes. Somehow it worked, so I took it because I wanted to continue writing. Also, you can abbreviate it so nicely and just say Flonky.
Say you have…
Sebastian Sperl: Sorry, doesn’t your recorder overheat when it’s out in the sun?
No, the thing is as old as a button cell phone.
Sebastian Sperl: I still have one like that.
Sebastian pulls a Nokia cell phone out of his pocket.
Old school! A conscious decision?
Sebastian Sperl: Definitely! As long as I can use it to participate in social life in a meaningful way, I would like to do without my smartphone. I’m already on the computer so much anyway, and now I have a tablet to enter data for my work on the go. But I don’t want to use it more than necessary, because I’m critical of the whole long-term fun. Fadesse is the source of creativity, I noticed once. That’s what I’m trying to live – even though I’m now even using Flonky on Instagram.
“I HAVE TO ACTIVELY SPREAD THAT I DON’T HAVE A SMARTPHONE.”
No smartphone as self-protection.
Sebastian Sperl: Exactly, that’s why I have to actively spread the word that I don’t have a smartphone. People no longer expect that you aren’t constantly on your cell phone to check your e-mails or messages.
Your sound is also old school. No trap, no Gucci. But boom bap and history.
Sebastian Sperl: It’s more tiring than just rapping the hook all the time, but I want to tell something coherent. That runs through the whole thing, I recorded intros and outros, skits in between and so – the biggest praise so far – an album that you can listen to cover to cover because it makes sense as a whole.
You have the album once with a Soundride von Conny Zenk played.
Sebastian Sperl: On the cargo bike at the Floridsdorfer Markt. I drove the thing, Raphi (Raphael Rameis, drummer with Catastrophe & Cure and Flonky Chonks, among others) was on the back and played. Then he said: Never once more! Also because it was stressful. We are a lap around the market, immediately someone yelled out the window: Sneak, you oaschloche! I still think it was a cool thing.
You are currently working in the Neusiedler See National Park. Hip hop is a hobby. Where do nature and road connect?
Sebastian Sperl: Sometimes I stand in nature for hours and watch birds. There’s plenty of time to think. Or to work on the lyrics.
Ornithology prize question: Which bird find makes Flonky particularly cheerful?
Sebastian Sperl: Do you happen to know a bee-eater?
Unfortunately, no.
Sebastian Sperl: One of the most beautiful birds that live with us – like a bird of paradise. Be sure to check out a photo!
I will, thanks for your time!
Christopher Benkeser
++++
Links:
Flonky Chonks (Facebook)
Flonky Chonks (Instagram)
Flonky Chonks (Soundcloud)
1686796076
#SHARE #CYCLISTS #STAGNATED #FLONKY #CHONKS #MICA #INTERVIEW #mica
