FOOD IN VEGAS

Vegas is really a Foodie destination these days. So many choices and so many big name chefs are represented in Vegas. While there with the NTO’s, we had a chance to sample some really wonderful cuisine.

Tao

This bistro has an Asian fusion menu that has the restaurant and nightclub in the same venue located at the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian hotel. Cuisines from Hong Kong Chinese, Japanese, and Thai make up the menu selections. We had hot edamame which are steamed soy beans in their casings sprinkled with sea salt. Service was fantastic and attention to the patrons was prompt. Some had sushi and sashimi. I chose the wok-seared New York Sirloin with Shitake Mushrooms and Szechwan Potatoes. The portions were huge, so I could only make it half way through the dinner. But everyone was pleased with the selections.

Lavo

Located in the Palazzo Hotel and Casino, this Italian Restaurant/Nightclub/Lounge was hopping when we visited on September 3rd. The music was quite loud, so be prepared to shout at each other, or just rock out in your seat. While waiting to order, one of the ladies looked up and said, “Hey, that’s LMFAO!”, and they walked right around our table to the VIP section. What are the odds that in Vegas we would run into another Cherrytree Records artist while there celebrating our boys from Tokio Hotel?

We all agreed to get some appetizers. OMG! The Crispy Fried Calamari was tender and crisp all at the same time. And the Prosciutto service was delicious. Some of our group did not like the grapefruit that was served with it, but I found it refreshing after the salty food.

I also chose to try a bowl of the Lobster Fra Diavolo Bisque. They served me the bowl with the cream/butter/lobster in the middle, and they poured the bisque over this. It was fabulously decadent!

After appetizers and soup, I found it impossible to get through all of my entrée. But the Center Cut Filet was perfect, as well as the roasted asparagus I ordered to accompany my entrée.

SushiSamba

Our last night in Vegas was a tough call. We finally agreed on SushiSamba, a fusion of Japanese, Brazillian, and Peruvian flavors. This fine dining experience was the perfect end to our journey. We began with drinks at the bar while we awaited our table. I am now completely enamored with Cucumber Martinis. This one had a hind of spice to it. Complete bliss!  Michelle had something fruity and yummy, and wow!  It looked so pretty!

At our table, we decided to go family style and share several dishes. We had Japanese Vegetable Tempura, Lamb Robata (grilled meat), and the Chef’s Inspiration Sushi/Sashimi plate. The lamb was so spectacular and just cooked to perfection with an amazing sauce/glaze. The sushi and sashimi was first rate and melted in your mouth! I think it amazing that we were able to order the Rosca, a doughnut served with a hazelnut/chocolate dipping sauce. Yes, we rolled ourselves out when we were done!

The Vegas experience is not complete without trying at least one of the culinary masterpieces available. Be adventurous, and you will be pleasantly surprised!

Happy 21st Birthday, Tom and Bill Kaulitz

Happy Birthday, Tom and Bill Kaulitz!

There are certain milestone birthdays that inspire major celebration. Turning 21 years old is up there on the list for major fanfare.  And why not? For most places, in the U.S., 21 years old is the legal age to be considered an adult.  The twins of Tokio Hotel have entered the new phase of life - welcome to adulthood, guys.

In tribute to this day, we have an interview from Martin Kierszenbaum, who is a key component in the Tokio Hotel phenonmenon around the world.  Martin is the is head of A&R at Interscope Records and president of Interscope’s subsidiary Cherrytree Records. He was gracious with his time to answer a few of our burning questions.

NTO: I (Michelle) have a daughter who wants to be a film director. Advice given to her is not to major in film directing, instead take a curriculum that is broad and well-rounded. So applying this advice to the music industry, what would you tell a college bound teen who wants to be on the management side of the music industry?


Tricia, Eileen-her daughter, Martin

MARTIN: I believe you need both to pursue a career in your field of choice: a general, well-rounded education to develop things like writing skills, organizational abilities, finishing an assignment, working in teams, navigating an administrative system, mastering general math and gaining a basic understanding of arts and sciences. In addition, you need to study and develop your knowledge of your particular field so you can function effectively and achieve within its discipline. The latter can usually be done on-the-field while the former acts as a base. However, I’ve found that it’s best to try and develop a measure of both simultaneously by getting on-the-field experience (through a job, internship and/or independent research, for instance) while pursuing your studies at the same time, if possible.

NTO: How would you describe the landscape of the music or music recording industry? Are you a "glass is half full", "glass is half empty", or "stop your whining" type of person?

MARTIN: Ever since I entered the recording industry, I’ve been hearing “well, kid, you missed the heyday of the music business.” And yet, I’ve managed to make a career in it and work in what I love. I’m grateful I’ve been able to work with artists, producers and executives who have had long careers and they’ve taught me that if you work hard and do good work, there will be a demand for it. My father instilled this in me by example from an early age too. I believe music is beautiful. It inspires and nourishes the human soul. There will always be a place for music. The means of making and distributing it may evolve but music is an essential. I love music and I’m committed to protecting it and the artists that make it. I’m also excited by the ability to communicate directly with the audience and learn more about how they want to absorb music.

Swedish pop star - Robyn

NTO: CT is the only record company that we've registered with and follow online. The online presence has helped create the brand loyalty and introduced us to other singers like Robyn, Lady Gaga, and La Roux. Who is the worker bee behind the online strategy? (By the way, love the acoustic sessions on the website!)

MARTIN: Thank you. It’s an honor to hear this from you. Cherrytree functions under a philosophy that information should flow both ways: from our artists and us to our audience and from our audience to our artists and us. The more direct the communication, the deeper the relationship and the more satisfying it is for both. The team here at Cherrytree -a wonderful group of individuals with whom I have the pleasure to work every day - is very interested in receiving information from our audience about what music they want to hear and how they want to hear it. We treasure that relationship and work hard to provide exclusive entertainment and information back to our audience. Our artists’ creativity drive the content. I’m also very involved in the content creation, as is the whole team. The editorial is created and shaped by our personal “pop alternative” taste and I think you can feel that through CherrytreeRecords.com and CherrytreeRadio.com. There’s no way to concoct that feeling. It entails sleeping very little and working really hard to think of entertaining ideas, initiatives, contests, “’treeflips,” web episodes, videos, etc. But it’s what we love doing. We want to make CherrytreeRecords.com a robust entertainment and cultural experience.

NTO: Unfortunately, Michelle missed the wonderful meet up you held recently at the El Adobe. I (Tricia) attended and captured the experience on the blog. Will there be others, whether in L.A. or elsewhere? (Since Michelle’s an east coaster)

MARTIN: I hope so. I thought Cherrytree El Adobe was loads of fun and I’m thankful to our artists and our Rec’ers – our CherrytreeRecords.com community – for turning up and helping to create what was an extraordinarily special event.

NTO: What prompted you to step up and be founder of a record label? We'd love to have a bio to show your journey. It's one thing to think of something that huge, but to take the steps to do it and then have several years of success under your belt is a massive accomplishment. Kudos!

MARTIN: Well, thank you. I started as a musician and songwriter. My sister is a musician too. She and I grew up practicing, taking lessons and playing in ensembles. Writing songs and making music is when I still feel the happiest other than hanging out with my family and friends. As I was coming up, I realized that I also had a knack for interfacing with people on the music business side and on behalf of my fellow musicians (band members, writers etc.). I began to hone that ability at the same time I developed my music making skills. That led me to getting a job at a record company. That’s where I felt I could best apply both sets of skills. All of the most renown record companies were founded and run by creative individual: e.g., Barry Gordy, Herb Alpert, etc. I think that might be one of the reasons some of the best music was made around the time those individuals ran labels. Because they fostered an environment that encouraged artists to feel safe, free and push the creative envelope. I aspire to that every day even if I know I can’t come close to filling those gentlemen’s shoes.

NTO: Pardon our ignorance of the inner workings of the business. Would I, a singer or band, approach you with a CD and a letter asking you to listen to my work? Or do I have to come represented by a manager or some other professional? What is the typical way to get signed to CT?

MARTIN: Yes, you could. I’ve found that the best way to discover talented individuals is to just keep my antennae on and honed. A new artists can come from anywhere. That’s why I travel a lot and spend a lot of time researching and staying in communication with colleagues. We also check out submissions via our web site.

NTO: Our goal is to increase the band's exposure to the 25 year olds and up. We're not shy to say that we're in the 40+ group. Realizing that our demographics may not be online as much as a younger group or not be willing to register onto a fan forum, we started the blog (http://nto4tokiohotel.blogspot.com) as an easy introduction to us and the group.

MARTIN: Thank you for this support.

NTO: How did the first introduction to TH occur?

MARTIN: I caught a glimpse of their Scream video – German version – online and flipped my lid. I contacted them right away – via our friends at Universal Germany - and, luckily, convinced the group to sign to Cherrytree Records for the USA.

NTO: Were they the youngest artists you've ever worked with? Outside of general teen angst (bless you on that), are there any challenges to working with young artists?

MARTIN: I think t.A.T.u. were 16 and 17 when I signed them and I think TH must have been about the same age when I started working with them. We are very protective of our artists and their vision in general so, in that regard, their age doesn’t make a difference. The members of TH are very smart and make decisions in a very astute and measured way with the help of their management team. It’s a pleasure to work with them.

NTO: When you consider the breadth of their career (with more to come I'm sure), can you share how you feel about TH’s current and future success?

MARTIN: Tokio Hotel are really talented and true originals. As with all true originals – and these are rare – they will evolve, change and keep us interested and entertained. That bodes well for a long career and we’re pleased to have a chance to play a part in that.

NTO: Please feel free to share anything else that you'd deem appropriate for the blog.

MARTIN: I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in - and support of - Tokio Hotel, Cherrytree Records, our artist roster, CherrytreeRecords.com and CherrytreeRadio.com. Thanks too for inviting me to do this interview.

NTO: Thank you very much.

Strong Female Musical Artists of Cherrytree/Interscope, Part 3

Elly Jackson

Most Tokio Hotel fans devour new interviews with the fierce foursome. When Bill Kaulitz mentioned La Roux on several occasions, I was moved to look into La Roux myself. Turns out La Roux is not just one person, but a duo comprised of lead singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson and keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid.

Elly first grabs you with her unique style and sweeping hair. The first video up for viewing was ‘Bulletproof’. This single was released in Aug. of 2009. When listening to it, you can’t help but be drawn to the great dance beat and amazing vocals. Listening to Elly brings happiness to your ears!

Strong individualism is Elly’s life theme. When interviewed by The Los Angeles Times, she says of stylists that try to change her look to something more girlie:

 "They don't think you're serious. Like, 'Seriously, you don't want these Jimmy Choos?' No, you could give me a room of them and I wouldn't care. But if you put me in a room of Gucci loafers, I'd live in there."

Her sound is considered electro-pop, though she doesn’t think much of the labels people put on music today that don’t fit a traditional mold. Her early influences were folk singers, such as Carole King and Nick Drake. But as a teenager, she was more influenced by rave music. David Bowie was one of her favorites (just like Bill!).

The androgynous style, 90’s musical influences, and relentless independence all contributed to explain why Bill admired La Roux. Elly is an artist who lives by her own rules and is true to herself.

I recently gave a listen to another of La Roux’s singles, In For The Kill. After falling in love with 2 of their songs, it was time to buy the whole album, entitled La Roux.

To find out more about La Roux and Elly Jackson, go to Cherrytreerecords.com.

Strong Female Musical Artists of Cherrytree/Interscope

Tamar Kaprelian

As the Label for Tokio Hotel, Cherrytree Records is synonymous with independent artists and music. This is true for their strong female artists as well. Cherrytree supports several artists from their parent label, Interscope Geffen A&M Records. Two such artists performed at the Cherrytree All Hearts Tour launch party at El Adobe in July – Tamar Kaprelian and Kelis.

Tamar sang Raining In Paradise that day. Her voice struck me as so clear and honest. Nothing hidden, you knew exactly what she was feeling as she sang this moving ballad. My daughter, who is notoriously picky about music, loved her sound and in particular that song.

When the opportunity came to see her perform again, we both decided to make the trek in to L.A. to see her perform at French Connection at Bloomingdale’s in Santa Monica.

She began with Delicate Soul (beautiful!), and then treated us to a new song – Eye Of The Storm. The chorus was so haunting and sweet at the same time.

After this, Tamar sang New Day, a song featured on The Hills TV show. We heard this again after her break, and Eileen and I decided we both LOVE it!

Tamar has a lighter side, as well. Her next song, in which her guitarist participated, came from the Aladdin film, A Whole New World. While we were all really laughing about the song choice, she did a perfect rendition of this Disney classic. Only someone with a clear voice full of emotion can really pull this off.

And a final treat before her break was the title song from her upcoming album, Sinner Or A Saint.

Her second set included all the songs mentioned above plus Raining In Paradise and a cover of Free Falling. This set ended with a fan request to sing A Whole New World. Tamar makes a very convincing Jasmine!

When asked what influenced her music, Tamar credits the singers of the 70’s, such as Billy Joel and Sir Elton John. She sees her music as appealing to all age groups, from pre-teens on up. No barriers!

Mekela Lumbard, the West Coast Visual Coordinator for French Connection USA, was on hand for Tamar’s performance. Mekela commented that FC clothing has been around since the 70’s and knows no age barriers. We can see why Tamar and FC are a perfect fit. Tamar was sporting one of the brand’s little black skirts, and she looked exquisite!

Tamar grew up in Arizona and currently resides in California. She writes lyrics and plays the piano/keyboard. She finds inspiration for her songs in her life experiences, music she hears, and books she reads.

Her big break came when she entered a contest and won with a cover of Apologize. She first met Martin Kierszenbaum, President of Cherrytree Records, through Interscope’s A&R division which Martin also heads. Cherrytree and Interscope both support her artistry.

Her debut album, Sinner Or A Saint, arrives on August 24th. It includes 10 songs and one hidden track and can be found through iTunes, Wallmart, Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com (just to name a few).

So, contest time! Want to win a free copy of Tamar’s new album? How about an autographed picture as well, hmmm??? Comments left to this post will be entered to win a copy of Sinner Or A Saint and an autographed picture! Woot!

From Portugal With Love -- Tokio Hotel America

The NTO's have the pleasure of interviewing the top echelon of the Official Tokio Hotel America (THA) fan site and forum. Today Stern, the third administrator, shares her outlook about THA, the band, and a sneak peek into her world. We love the fact that although this fan site says America, the administrators are from Sweden, Portugual and the U.S. The fan base is also global.  Thanks to THA for taking down the walls that separate or hold us behind because of gender, class, race and other constraints.

NTO: How were you introduced to TH or an individual member of the band (video, THTV episode, concert, someone's recommendation). Can you remember that initial feeling? How was that initial reaction matured into your present feelings about the band?

Stern: I first heard of Tokio Hotel through MTV Portugal in September 2007. I had my TV on, but wasn’t really paying any attention to it.  All of a sudden, I hear a bit of “Schrei” followed by a bit of “Scream”, looked at the TV, and caught a glimpse of the two videos. It was a TV spot announcing Tokio Hotel as September Artist of the Month, which meant there would be specials about them for the whole month. They caught my attention just with that tidbit. I was intrigued, at first. I really liked the sound of the songs I heard, but I couldn’t understand why the song was in German and English or if they were children or teenagers. I remember making a mental note to watch those specials, but I never got to do it caught with work.  It was only in the beginning of October that I suddenly remembered I had yet to check Tokio Hotel out and so I did. Starting on YouTube and going to fan blogs and later on forums, I searched everything.  My initial feelings were of wonder and curiosity to knowing more, hearing more, watching more. This initial feeling soon evolved from just wonder and curiosity to love and respect. I love Tokio Hotel’s music. I love the happiness they bring to my life. And above all, I have a great respect for their work, because I think it’s impressive how professional they are and how much they have achieved at such a young age.

NTO: How did you connect to Schnee (creator of THA)? What motivated you to become a volunteer/admin of the forum?
Stern: I found THA in November 2007, but only registered in February 2008. In late 2007 when I first found Tokio Hotel, many forums and fan blogs really lacked facts.  It was hard to find real information with correct sources. THA is excellent in that way, I love the amount of information and organization I find there.

Then it is the people. We have fans from every age and everywhere in the world and the connection and sharing are amazing. For example, to be able to follow and feel the excitement of a TH live show when it is happening all across the world as if I was there, it’s just incredible!

When I believe in something I always try to give my all to it and I believe THA is a great place to be and TH is a great band that totally deserves my dedication. So when THA opened applications to busybees, I decided to apply and to my great surprise and honor I got selected. I started as a busybee at THA staff, was later promoted to Moderator, then become a Super Moderator and am now an administrator. To be part of THA staff allows me to support Tokio Hotel in a more active way and also to give back as much as I get from THA.

I am extremely grateful for having found THA, it is now my home in TH fandom and my first home in this internet world.

NTO: Let's say you had a rough day. Nothing is going your way. You're angry or sad. From the Humanoid City Album, which song would you select to bring you out of your mood? Why? Any other songs (from any album) that you'd like to mention?

Stern: All of Humanoid City Album is full of powerful songs so it’s really hard to choose one, but I’ll say Pain of Love, Hey You and Dogs Unleashed! The energy I get from these songs always manages to bring my mood up. To me they have a feeling of hope, of carrying on no matter what’s wrong and they have such a strong sound that it’s impossible not to cheer up listening to them.

Schwarz and Hilf Mir Fliegen are also my all time favorite songs, they soothe my soul and I always relax listening to them, no matter what.

NTO: Are there any quotes or paraphrasing an idea from the band or individual members that matches your philosophy on life? Do you have a real life example of living the quote.
Stern: I can relate with the general attitude of the band of believing in their dreams and fighting for them.  That’s how I live my life. I always go for it, if I think it’s worth it! Being a teacher in Portugal you will find many obstacles in your way through your career, the first being constantly moving around, but I love teaching and so every day I fight to do what I love to do, no matter what comes my way.

Also I always had a rebellious attitude toward what's socially correct and what’s expected of you. Like the twins, I grew up in a village where most people are very close-minded and it wasn’t easy but I always remained true to myself. I act and live my life the way I find correct [for me] and not how others want me to.

NTO: I'm going to present two scenarios and you tell me which TH band members you would select for the scenarios. It can be the same person. Please tell us why?

a) Your car broke down on a long stretch of highway. Next town is at least an hour away. Which TH member would you like to drive up and whisk you away? (BTW, what's your personality before the help arrives?)
Stern: BILL!!! But just because I think he must be the best driver from the band. ;) I am a really focused and calm person even under stress, so I know I’d be calm and collected, just waiting for help to come.

b) You are the substitute teacher for a class with unruly high schoolers. You're at your wit's end (or maybe not, how are you with rude, unruly young ones LOL), which TH member would you call on. BTW, we didn't know you were a teacher, so cosmic coincidence for this example LOL.
Stern: I would call Gustav. I think he must be very collect and cool. You need to be strict but at the same time be able to understand the kids’ problems and I think he'd be able to deal with them just fine.

But I would also love to see Bill and Tom as teachers. They always complain about them and so I would like to see them on this side. Not disregarding any of their facts of feelings toward school and teachers, but in general students always complain about us and they hardly ever stop to think how it is to be on the other side of the table.

 * * *

Stern, thank you very much.  Hey, if TH ever comes to substitute at your school, send a quick email. We'll be on the next flight LOL.  You have our respect and appreciation for your hard work.  For those who missed the other administrators' interviews, click on Coolbreezegirl or Schnee to learn more about this dream team.

Outside The Comfort Zone

As we get older, it becomes more difficult to try new things, go new places, and leave that which we know for the great ‘unknown’. In this world we live in the now, where people change careers every 5 years, the idea of a Comfort Zone is being replaced as fast as we replace our computers and cell phones.

With all this new technology comes life at the speed of light – information appears faster. Communication via multi-media pushes us to reach farther, think broader, and stretch our boundaries.

My first baby steps into multi-media brought me stumbling into YouTube and a band called Tokio Hotel. From there, I hopped to pictures, blogs, TokioHotelAmerica.com, and CherrytreeRecords.com.

Websites these days must be very ‘busy’ to get the attention of the fickle music fan. On the Cherrytree site, there is chat, radio, interviews, videos, forums, fan art, etc. Everything you need to hear new music or find out more about your favorite Cherrytree artist (including Tokio Hotel!).

On July 23, Cherrytree Records held a launch party for the All Hearts Tour starring Robyn and Far East Movement, with Kelis and Dan Black. The headliners were all at the El Adobe in Los Angeles for the party, and performed for an intimate crowd of very happy fans! My daughter (Eileen) and I RSVP.’d and were on the list. We were so excited neither of us slept very well the day before!

We live about 2 hours from L.A., and it was a Friday. Californians know to leave PLENTY of time to get places. We ended up arriving early, and were one of the first 30 people or so into the event. Free margaritas (Cherry!) and food, with a yummy cherry topped cake as well.

And the best part of arriving early? They had swag bags, 2 to choose from, and one of the choices was a Tokio Hotel bag! I was already on cloud 9 before walking in the door!

When we walked inside there was a cute-as-a-button young lady waiting by a table with loads of free stickers and posters (Yes! More Tokio Hotel!). I received one of each, including these cool Lady Gaga chibi stickers. O.K., before I even meet one artist, I am floored. I snagged an I Heart Robyn sticker, hoping to get it to Michelle with a Robyn signature.

Eileen and I grab a couple of chairs that were left in the back (she has a couple of health issues and couldn’t stand for very long that day). Eileen gets something to eat, but I was way too happy to eat. Hey, maybe there’s a new diet program in this?!

And then? The parade of stars and fun begins! Collette Carr is there just being her usual bubbly self. And Far East Movement is already there and looking very….um….young and hip?

Eileen posed for a picture with the guys from Far East Movement.

Martin, Andrea, Dean, Natalia Kills, all mingling with the fans! I’m not even sure who performed first, but of course they were playing all music from Cherrytree artists. This included my favorite guys from Germany, Tokio Hotel.

<--Eileen and I with Martin  

I recall a moving song from Kelis. And then Far East Movement was up, with Collette as well! I was surprised by how much I liked them! I had never heard them before, but that was why I came, to really experience different music. These young people are so fearless and so passionate about their music. It was truly inspiring.

From there we hear some more from the DJ, with more Tokio Hotel! I remember constantly tweeting about how great it was to hear Tokio Hotel being played. At a party. In L.A.!

We heard from a few more artists that I had never heard before, and I was pleasantly surprised that I LOVED all the music. But the best was yet to come.

Robyn. What can I say to describe this woman live? She was incredible, she had people reaching for tissues. She’s a little blonde dynamo brimming with soul and a clear, honest voice. I can completely understand Michelle’s love of this artist now. Sooooo……what do you think, my friend? Are we planning another road trip to see Robyn together?

By the time Robyn came on (she was last – the best for last!) Eileen was not feeling so great, so I went up on my own (yikes!) to ask for Robyn’s autograph. A couple of people behind me in line were talking about how great it was to meet her, and then I heard them say, ‘I think we are the oldest people here!’. O_o Well, I turned around and smiled at them, and they got a great laugh out of it.

I got up to Robyn, and asked her to sign the sticker for Michelle. She asked for my name and I asked if she wouldn’t mind making it out to my very dear friend who was a very devoted fan. She asked me how to spell Michelle’s name, signed the sticker and took a picture with me! What a sweet woman!

By the time Robyn left, everyone had to leave for the concert, and we were leaving to go see a viewing of Tokio Hotel’s live DVD of their Humanoid City Tour.

I was able to meet Dean from Cherrytree and talk with him for a bit, and I met another wonderful friend from TokioHotelAmerica.

Eileen with Dean. --->

After one final pic with Space Cowboy and his wild shoes (neon pink!), we collect our car and head out. An event to remember! An experience outsize the ‘Comfort Zone’!

Happy Birthday To Me -- Humanoid CD/DVD Giveaway

Hello folks,

My birthday is coming up on Tuesday, July 27.  I'm not one of those people who is afraid to celebrate my birthday or who feels depressed at celebrating another year.

Here are a few quotes from the indomitable, talented Maya Angelou:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style"


Send me a birthday wish and automatically be entered in a random drawing for Tokio Hotel's LIVE Humanoid CD/DVD.

Happy Birthday to me!

Open Your Hearts and Minds--It's All Good

In her last blog post, Schnee gave us a glimpse of the Official Tokio Hotel America.  We continue on a serious note about the fan forum and finish this wonderful interview with some words of wisdom from Schnee.

NTO: Including the porn fan art, are there any other automatic No's for the fan forum?

Schnee: Stalker stuff or people who want to bring their personal issues with anyone here and have it play out publicly. They want to confront someone here? Do it privately. They don't get to come into OUR house and cause shit. If they are not mature enough to just talk to someone one on one, or they have some reason to require an audience, they will have to find somewhere else to do it.

NTO: What are some goals for the fan site?
Schnee: Goals are always the same--to promote Tokio Hotel and share with the world just how fantastic they are and to have a fun community. We always have new ideas percolating. There are just not enough hours in a week to get it all done.
NTO: With everything that this forum offers, you and your staff have accomplished  alot and are extremely organized. We love hanging out at THA.

NTO: Switching back to the band. What are your top two songs that you listen to the most from Humanoid?
Schnee: I am not sure I can pick two because I think it is a magic album and a great gift to us. I love how they basically wrote TWO albums for us this time.

I probably listen most to Dogs Unleashed. I love both versions of it. Dogs Unleashed is more fun. Hunde [the German version] makes me a little sad because I believe the twins were writing about their experience with stalkers. And thanks to the Humanoid City tour, we have some great videos and memories of that song. (hi, motorcycle spanking Bill!)

I don't think I can pick a favorite second... it would be a tie between Screamin', Down on You and Darkside of the Sun/Sonnensystem. Or In Your Shadow I can Shine. Or Zoom. Or... see? I told you. Can't pick.

NTO: You're standing on stage looking at an audience who has never been to a Tokio Hotel concert or listened to their album - What would be your message to get them ready for a phenomenal experience?

Schnee: Um, wait. I am on stage and Tokio Hotel is there? I would be fainting. Or maybe... Relax, open your hearts and minds, and prepare to be blown away. And then I would go backstage and talk to the band. Heh.

Schnee, thank you for being forthcoming, open and fun. For those who missed another THA administrator, please check out Coolbreezegirl's refreshing interview.

Official Tokio Hotel America--Most Loving and Incredible Fandom

Step into the house that Schnee built -- the Official Tokio Hotel America -- is a wonderful home to hang out with other fans.  As an added bonus, you may gain a friend or two.  You're invited in, have a seat, and enjoy! Here's Part 2 of Schnee's interview.

NTO: At what point was just being a fan not enough? When did you decide to be more proactive in their promotion to other fans?
Schnee: Tricky question. I am still a fan, first and foremost no matter what other roles I have. And it was pretty much immediately that I’d shared them with anyone who would listen because I felt and still feel that they are an important part of music history. I like to carry the message that they are not a boy band, not a manufactured band... I think that is what sets them apart from other young bands. Later in 2007, we were all stunned when they were invited by France to sing at a Bastille Day celebration and then invited by Israel to perform there. A German band in Israel? That was history.

I am debating adding this because I do not want to rip a Band-Aid off a healed wound, but to not say it feels like a lie. And anyone who knows me knows I am pretty militant about this issue... What drove me the most was back in 2007, it was really hard to find an English language place to enjoy the band without seeing pornographic fanart. I'm not a prude, but some of that stuff was HORRIFYING. And I felt it was a disservice to the band that any new fans wanting to check them out had nowhere to go that did not have it. So, that was the core impetus.

NTO: Tokio Hotel America has just passed their 2nd anniversary of official status as a fanclub. How did THA start?

Schnee: Well, I became a fan in January 2007 and started the blog in February 2007. I am a longtime blogger, over a decade and had previously run a fairly successful blog for an American Idol contestant (oh the horror). The idea of having a forum began to grow when we realized that there were a lot of people out there who wanted a place like we have. I have known Coolbreezegirl since the very beginning of this endeavor and she has also always been committed to the same vision. She's my rock. I love her.

If I may digress just a little, I have to give a shout-out to the entire staff and past staff at THA. It has always been magic how the team has come together. THA is and always has been a team effort. Sure, if it comes to someone having to make a final decision or being the ultimate bitch that often falls to me, but we really are a team. It would not work without every single person who participates, from the admins to the members of the forum to the people who hang out and engage in lively debate on the blog side.

And the members who work tirelessly bringing news from all over the world? I believe this is the most loving and incredible fandom in the world.

NTO: Did anyone think that your dream was too fantastic to happen? How do you protect yourself from the negative vibes -- at the beginning and even now?
Schnee: This dream of having this Tokio Hotel community? No, no one involved felt that it was too fantastic. Of course, we were willing for it to be tiny, just so long as we did not have to have crap shoved in our face all the time and could have the primary purpose of being about the band.

At the beginning, I was not as protective. I would put myself out there and yes, it was pretty horrible. The things people would say were beyond the pale of vicious.

Now, I just try to stay out of the drama as much as possible. Yes, there are times when I will stand up for things and principles and I know some of the things we do not allow here at THA cause people to talk shit. But really? That's just MORE drama. Don't like it here? Go somewhere else. It is not like there are not other places in the fandom to hang out. There is something for EVERYONE out there.

It does still bother me when I see people who are not even members here talk crap about THA, but there is a quote I love for all situations and it applies here.

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation." -HERBERT SPENCER

Stop by tomorrow for the final posting.

Embrace The Moment--Words To Live By

The NTOs were able to nab Schnee, the chief admin for the official Tokio Hotel America (THA) fan site and forum, for a fun interview. Join us as we turn the spotlight on Schnee--warrior queen or superhero crusader, you decide.

NTO: How did you first become a fan of TH?
Schnee: It was January 2007. I was reading Oh No They Didn't, the LiveJournal of celebrity gossip. I saw this post and was extremely intrigued. I watched a couple of their videos and that was that. It was pretty much immediately love. Cannot lie, it was Bill that captured my attention most. I don't think that is a unique experience though.

NTO: What about Bill do you think draws in people immediately?

Schnee: Durch Den Monsun video... there were moments in that video when I literally stopped breathing while watching it. It was like WHO are these guys???? Rette Mich? They ate my heart. I was a goner. I got their logo tattooed on me about one month after I first saw them. The words Spring Nicht followed shortly thereafter.

NTO: Willing to tell us where the tats are? Any plans to add more?
Schnee: They are both on my left forearm, just below where the elbow bends, kinda of on the top of the arm. Yes, I have plans to add more as soon as I can afford it. I would like to do something with the word "Heilig".

NTO: Let's say that you've got one minute to talk to Bill uninterrupted. What information about you would you share and why?

Schnee: Well, based on my experience meeting them once and meeting their management, I would probably let him know that he should be proud because their lyrics and music have such a wide reach to all ages of fans. And I’d thank him for never making his fans feel like they had to fit into a certain mold, i.e., be really young and hot. I had that experience with another band and it was a deal breaker when they treated fans who were not potential hook-ups like they did not matter.

NTO: How has Tokio Hotel influenced your life?
Schnee: I am so inspired by their attitudes and life values of being 100% true to yourself. Bill in particular has been a beacon for me because he is so brave. Wearing a kilt to go audition for a television show? Chutzpah! The lyrics they wrote when they were Devilish touched my heart too.

In particular, I love the story of how Bill got his Tokio Hotel logo tattoo and when questioned something like "Well, what if Tokio Hotel fails, you will regret getting that" and he responded that no, for him it was always going to be an important part of his life... THAT was inspiring to me. Embrace the moment, don't be afraid and for god's sake, don't NOT do something today because your future self might regret it.

That's the source of our tagline - "because life is too short to not be their fan."

NTO: So, using Bill's philosophy of embracing the moment, was there such a moment in your personal/career aspirations?
Schnee: Oh golly. I tend to live this way. I am definitely a person who runs with scissors and colors outside the lines. Career wise? I quit my job and moved to a ski resort in another state for the winter. That other job became unbearable due to a guy who made decisions wanting to hook up with another girl. I asked him to bring me a box. I packed it and walked out. He kept saying "You can't do this." Really? Watch me.

I would have to say getting my Tokio Hotel tattoo within one month of discovering the band was also a "seize the moment" time and I have never once regretted it.

They continue to inspire me because they are growing as artists and as men and they still embody the same attitudes. I am so glad to be on this ride.

Join us on Wednesday for Part 2.

Catering Services cont'd - Tokio Hotel Tour

Dear Tokio Hotel Management,
Last but not least, we have Los Angeles, California known for fresh and healthy choices that fit the California lifestyle!  I hope you enjoyed our diverse range of foods for the four cities. Please keep our catering services in mind for that upcoming Humanoid City tour in the U.S. We're ready and waiting with our cooking utensils.


Skittle-tini*

Sun Tea with Lemon

Iced Coffee

Blue corn chips with fresh guacamole and salsa

Crispy Flatbread 4-Cheese Pizza

Fruit Skewers (including yellow watermelon!)

Grilled Shrimp over Polenta Cakes

Seared Ahi Tuna

Stuffed Artichokes

Spinach/walnut/cranberry salad with raspberry/balsamic vinaigrette

Death by Chocolate cake

Strawberries and cream

Green Tea Gelato

Skittle-tini*

1 1/2 oz McCormick's Grape vodka
1/2 oz Island Blue Pucker
1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Sour Mix
2 1/2 oz Sprite
Mix over ice, enjoy. Tastes just like a purple skittle!

Catering Services cont'd - Tokio Hotel Tour

Dear Tokio Hotel Management,

We left Houston and now are heading to the city that doesn't sleep--Las Vegas, Nevada. In this vibrant city, you need lots of energy.  There's gambling, shows, dancing, and sight seeing.  Food is the fuel. We decided to go with a down-home, American cuisine -- buffet style, all you can eat.

Imagine a long table filled with an array of the heart and soul of the American diet from various regions.

Green Garden Salad
New England Clam Chowder
Chicago Deep Dish Cheese Pizza
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Broiled Tomato and Cheese Sandwich
Sweet Potato Steak Fries*
Shrimp Jambalaya
Oven-Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings
Peach and Mustard Glazed Pork Chops
Blueberry Crisp a la Mode
Red Velvet Cupcake

Sweet Potato Steak Fries
Ingredients
6 sweet potatoes, cut into strips
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). In a plastic bag, combine the sweet potatoes, canola oil, taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Close and shake the bag until the fries are evenly coated. Spread the fries out in a single layer on two large baking sheets. Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy and brown on one side. Turn the fries over using a spatula, and cook for another 30 minutes, or until they are all crispy on the outside and tender inside. Thinner fries may not take as long.

Remember - what happens in Vegas...