2003
The ability to combine great songs with an extraordinary performance puts the band Die Happy into the top category of the rock genre. The lead singer . Marta Jandova . enchants and empowers the audience with her uniquely forceful and touchingly emotional vocals.

Their new album "The Weight of the Circumstances" clearly demonstrates the band.s progress. "We.ve become more international" Thorsten reflects, looking back at the composition of the new tracks. Starting off in Sweden to be inspired by Stockholm.s Rock .n. Roll atmosphere, the band began to put new pieces to paper. "People are very professional in Sweden" Thorsten remembers, "they write songs from nine to five". After meeting Anders Eliasson (Lambretta.s guitarist) at a festival, the band found themselves in the midst of their first German-Swedish production. "It was a great experience which we would gladly repeat" Thorsten proclaims. Seven songs were produced in Stockholm which are all audibly different from the tracks on their former albums, however still containing the Die Happy song writing blueprint.

Moving on to Los Angeles with a total of 30 ideas for new songs, Die Happy began to work with the infamous producer trio: The Matrix. After producing several smash hits with artists such as Avril Lavigne, The Matrix is considered to be the most-wanted producer team in America. Inspired by the warmth of the January sun and the producers. genius, Die Happy recorded a further seven tracks for the upcoming album. In February the band left L.A. to record the final tracks with Ralph Quick in Denmark. "We.ve already worked with Ralph, and could trust him to produce the hard sound we love most", explains bassist Ralph Rieker.

Marta Jandova.s immaculate vocals are the centre of attention in Die Happy.s versatile music. Her phenomenal voice alternates between fierce, earth shaking roars and heart felt melodies emulating the warmth of a sunny day. She records the vocals after the instrumental parts are complete, as the music inspires and enables her to portray the emotional extremes. "I sing about relationships, sex, intimacy and revenge," Marta explains. "I defend myself and get back at a lot of people who have tried to change me as a person".

The result: an extraordinary combination of gripping songs. While "Big Boy" deals with the psycho terror of a confining relationship, "Take Me On A Ride" is about the desire to escape one.s problems. The dreamy "Slow Day" is a melancholic ballad and the heartbreaking "Wrong" sends shivers down the listeners spines. In essence, the new album reflects the band.s growth in maturity and confidence. Marta hooks her audience as her voice portrays a remarkable range of emotions. "I can be the happiest girl on earth and suddenly break into tears. I.m very impulsive!"

It.s been ten years since the Czech-born lead singer left Prague for Germany, to found Die Happy with Thorsten Mewes (guitarist), Ralph Rieker (bassist) and Juergen Stiehle (drums). The group was baptised by surfers, who used the term "Die Happy" to wish friends good luck before mounting their boards. Long before signing a record deal, Die Happy had worked themselves through hundreds of live shows, establishing a reputation as being amongst Germany.s greatest performers. BMG Ariola was the first company to get their hands on the band and helped lift them into the top 50 with their debut "Supersonic Speed". After bagging an award for the "Best Newcomer" they set off to tour every possible German venue. "We played 200 gigs" Thorsten remembers, accumulating more fans at each performance.

The long hours travelling between venues were spent writing new songs for the second album "Beautiful Morning" which landed the band a top 15 hit. The clip for "Goodbye" led to the final break-through and transformed the "Newcomers" into "Shooting Stars", and simultaneously became the centre of the rock press. attention. Soon the band confidently toured larger venues, the majority of which were sold out. Fans began to write disappointed mails as they realised that it was becoming harder to obtain tickets to the shows, following the rise in demand. This is not surprising to anyone who has seen the band perform. Marta controls the audience as no other lead singer can, persuading audiences of 10,000 fans to sit down, circle their arms and jump about.

The band.s stunning live shows also evoked considerable enthusiasm amongst concert promoters in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After all, Die Happy is the only band to have performed at every single festival in these countries such as Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, Southside, Highfield, With Full Force, Taubertal, Rock am see and Hurricane with P!nk in 2002. The "Beautiful Morning" era finally reached it.s highlight in 2002 as Die Happy was nominated for the ECHO award "Best Alternative Band".

The band chose to name their third album "The Weight of the Circumstances". "We want people to take some time to realise that they are actually much better off than they tend to think" Juergen explains. "It.s great to laugh at problems as you look back. You begin to question why you stressed yourself to much" Marta adds, "but at the same time you begin to realise that some others are having a very difficult time." These are the thoughts which arose during her daily views over LA. "So many people yearn to take part in LA.s glitz and glamour. They move here to become rich and successful but often have to face the fact that it.s not easy. Happiness, sadness, success and failure lie so close to each other here."

With "The Weight of the Circumstances" Die Happy finally plan to conquer the international charts and stages. When looking back at the band.s history and listening to the new album, it almost becomes impossible not to expect the international breakthrough in 2003.

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