Biography

„I had a clear plan“, explains the native Ghanaian. „My vision was to
create something that is reminiscent of the typical NANA sound, yet is
modern.“ To achieve this, he has teamed up with one of Germany’s best
young producers: Markus ‚Gorex‘ Gorecki, who already worked with
Kollegah, Fard or Motrip. „It was a great collaboration! With Gorex and
myself, two generations met – and he has been so passionately committed
in the production process.“

They both met through a mutual friend, rapper Manuellsen, who is also
represented on several tracks of the new album. In general, NANA has
found a lot of young blood to realize his vision. Big, hip talents like
Vessy Boneva from Bulgaria, or the new „#BetweenLuciferAndGod“ discovery
Didem Oezek point into the future, but with the ex-SNAP singer Thea
Austin he also closes the circle into the past. With this team and many
friends, NANA has worked for a year and a half on
„#BetweenLuciferAndGod“, which is back on the sweet spot between rap,
pop and dance beats.

By the way, it is no coincidence that NANA has such a good sense for
young talents. „I have been behind the scenes for a long time and used
to sign artists to EMI Music Publishing as a talent manager for three
and a half years.“ In addition, he has been travelling a lot over the
last years, privately simply to dangle his soul and refill his tank with
inspiration. Also as the world star NANA, who has sold over seven
million copies, who is one of the most successful artists from Germany,
and has a huge loyal fanbase in not only Eastern Europe and Asia.

And just as it was twenty years ago, NANA is more serious and more
reflective than you would expect from music that lives so successfully
between the dance floor and the charts. The songs bear witness to his
life, asking questions rather than giving answers. NANA addresses issues
in a direct manner and he is a stranger to timidity – at the same time
though: „I do not want to impose my point of view on anyone. I want to
provide food for thought.“ Party numbers like the track „So High“ are
rather exceptional, „This song is also meant seriously. It is about the
love for music.“ However, nobody should think that you cannot or should
not party despite the content of the new songs.

Let us take the track „Free“ for instance: „I’ve seen ’12 Years A
Slave’“ – a movie that deeply upset NANA. „This gave me the idea of a
song against racism.“ It became a valve for him, „because blacks are
still not accepted in society.“ He knows it from his own childhood. „I
used to be picked on and teased quite a lot. However, if you do not know
me and just want to reduce me to my skin colour, then I cannot take you
seriously.“ That is why he treats this song differently than the other
tracks – it has become a powerful, fun-loving rock song. „Gorex actually
comes from the rock corner and said: Bro, we will make it sound really
fat. Andy from Any Given Day took over the guitar. And it rocks like
hell! I just love this number.“ His attitude with „Free“ was like „I
don’t want to moan, but say how I see it!“

This could well be the overall motto for „#BetweenLuciferAndGod“.
NANA’s lyrics are emotional, direct and deal with universal experiences
and yearnings. They tell of the inevitable polarities of life, while his
music leads positively and enthrallingly through his world. It gives
strength. „There are day and night, and ups and downs – in between we
move. In order to become a better person, you have to give. And if you
do bad, it comes back to you. Yet we are all human beings and scarcely
able to sin. You hurt someone, although you did not want to. Mistakes
are there to learn, even those that you cannot undo. You have to
reflect, bring to an end, and then look ahead with optimism.“ Having
said that, he also brings one of his timeless classics „Remember The
Time“ to the present: „We all live in a society where real, true love is
hard to find. Just as quickly as you consume, you split up again. You
are always looking for something better.“

Talking of the NANA hits: He has revived four of his greatest hits
exclusively for the album, as remixes that will not be released as
singles. The new versions of „Lonely“, „Father“, „Let It Rain“ and
„Remember The Time“ are surprising because they are very reduced. It is
about bringing out their essence – so that the melodies can emerge even
stronger. „Because they should touch you even more,“ NANA explains. He
considers these four songs as a benefit for the fans, because „people
love these songs today – and what I said then remains valid today.“

And this is what he also wants to achieve with his new songs – it is
not about making music for the sake of music alone. He wants to reach
people and stand by them: „People often tell me that my songs had helped
them very much in certain stages of their lives. This music seems to be
medicine for a lot of people.“ The fact that „#BetweenLuciferAndGod“
has also become an irresistible pop-rap album makes it a lucky strike.

What a pleasure that NANA is sharing this with us all over again.