Press Play: OK Kid

Photo by Nirén Mahajan.

KALTBLUT caught up with OK Kid’s singer Jonas, who shared insights into his impulsive working style, the redesign of their upcoming album, and overcoming stage anxiety. OK Kid share inspiring stories about their musical journey and diverse roles in the music industry. Discover why live performances hold such significance for them and the profound thoughts they share on topics like expectations, doubt, and appreciation.

KALTBLUT: What inspires your impulsive working style, and how does it influence your decision-making process in music?

Jonas: I have an impulsive way of quickly making decisions and having many things in my mind at once, which I can express rapidly. In music, this can sometimes be a weakness because I can be quite erratic at the same time.

KALTBLUT: What do you think about when you think of your upcoming album?

Jonas: Our album is a mix of old and new songs. We take our favourite songs from the past and give them a new shine with strings and remixes. Our new songs are less political, and the irony that used to be a significant stylistic element for us is completely gone. We are now very emotional, which is often viewed negatively in Germany, but I see it differently. It’s emotional pop.

Songs like “Endlich wieder da, wo es beginnt” couldn’t have written before, because it would have been too hurtful to talk about and expose outwardly. Writing this song was very liberating and emotional. After so many years in music and songwriting, it’s also important not to bore yourself and to explore new paths that tell new stories.

KALTBLUT: How many roles does your job involve?

Jonas: One has many roles, and often there’s too little time for the art one wants to create because there’s so much to do. Sometimes it’s hard to say what it all actually is. In music, it’s sometimes only about the assets one releases, and the song is old on the day it’s released. That was different before. Songs used to have the opportunity to grow. One is no longer just a musician but also an influencer.

I also organise the Stadt ohne Meer-festival; I’m in the management. New roles teach you a lot, and if you have no desire for something, you find people who are very eager about it. You don’t have to be able to do everything. You need the right people! We now have a management again, so an important job is eliminated, which I am very happy about.

KALTBLUT: Why do you organise the festival?

Jonas: I have always enjoyed organising parties. Since I was 14, I love inviting people and ensuring they have a good time. As I got older, I enjoyed going to festivals myself, and eventually, I had the chance to play at the festivals I used to attend.

Through the different perspectives from backstage and in front of the stage, I got a clearer idea of how I would want to design my own festival. I wanted to combine the best of both worlds, in front and behind the stage, and it’s still a lot of fun.

KALTBLUT: How important is it to play live?

Jonas: I had a period of really intense stage fright, and that made playing live very difficult for me. I knew how important playing live is, and I knew that we are a good live band, but I was stuck in a vicious circle.

During the pandemic, I realised how much I missed playing live and how much I missed it. Now I can say that I have never felt as comfortable on stage as I do today, and we as a band are better than ever.

Photo by Nirén Mahajan.

KALTBLUT: How did you address your stage fright?

Jonas: Initially, with a lot of alcohol. At that time, I wasn’t ready to seek help, and I thought I had to go through it alone. Although, I had already talked to the guys about it, I would still say that it was more self-healing than consciously seeking help. I would do it differently today.

KALTBLUT: Do you want to play an association game? I’ll give you a few terms, and you tell me what comes to your mind. Expectations.

Jonas: Overrated. On the one hand, it’s important to have a direction or expectations to know where you eventually want to end up. But I find it much more important to allow things that are not predictable. If I have specific expectations, I measure everything against that goal, and if it doesn’t work out as I imagine, I am disappointed. Maybe it’s better to adjust expectations to reality repeatedly.

KALTBLUT: Doubt.

Jonas: Doubt is one of the most important virtues and at the same time very destructive. Doubt is crucial to constantly question the status quo. On the other hand, one should not despair and constantly doubt things that don’t need doubt.

KALTBLUT: Appreciation:

Jonas: It is very important to be able to tell people that you love them and to be grateful for having them.

KALTBLUT: Masculinity:

Jonas: The term is strongly connected to expectations, which I am glad are increasingly being broken.


In April 2024 – one year after their acclaimed 10th-anniversary tour – OK KID will go on tour again under the title “Endlich wieder da wo es beginnt”. Their album is released today, on 16 February.

Follow @okkid_official on Instagram to keep up with their upcoming tour and releases.

Photos by @nirenmahajan.