This is my conversation with Michael Rother. It took place on 7/7/2021 from his home in Germany.
German musician Michael Rother is among the most influential artists in rock, experimental, and electronic music. He formed Neu! with drummer Klaus Dinger in 1971, after both musicians were briefly members of an embryonic Kraftwerk, and the group's hypnotic, locked-groove rhythms (commonly described as "motorik") and free-form song structures helped define the Krautrock genre.
Eschewing chord changes and focusing on harmonic droning, while also experimenting with innovative recording techniques, Neu! gradually became a much-namechecked influence over the years, greatly affecting the work of David Bowie, Sonic Youth, Stereolab, Radiohead, and countless others. Concurrently with Neu!, Rother formed Harmonia with Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, melding electronic rhythms with the cosmic explorations of the duo's similarly groundbreaking group Cluster.
After both Neu! and Harmonia ceased activity, Rother launched his solo career with 1977's Flammende Herzen, one of four albums to feature drumming by Can's Jaki Liebezeit. His solo work evolved from Neu!-like art rock to electronic productions such as the upbeat Lust (1983), the more meditative Traumreisen (1987), and the abstract ambient pop of Remember (The Great Adventure) (2004). Rother has remained active during the 21st century, performing works from throughout his career in addition to composing film scores and releasing albums such as As Long as the Light, his 2022 collaboration with Italian musician Vittoria Maccabruni.