Paul from 01099: “I’m not giving up on Saxony”

The zip code for Dresden-Neustadt is well known in the music world thanks to 01099. Now band member Paul is setting out to get his own name on playlists. His first solo album, “Panzerglas Pop,” is set to be released on September 4. Why is he trying his hand at a solo career now? How successful can a musician be in eastern Germany? And what’s next for 01099?

The 26-year-old says his first solo project has mainly to do with time: for the first time, he had the space to pursue it. “With 01099, we’ve actually released an album every year for the past few years, plus a big tour and so on. There was no way to even think about something like this back then.” But then the band collectively felt it was time to slow things down. “And that left a big void for me, and I thought to myself: Nah, I can’t just sit around here now.” 

Similarity to 01099 “completely normal”

The first single, “Prima,” from the new album features light, airy beats and slightly melancholic lyrics. A certain similarity to 01099 is unmistakable. “I’m part of 01099, after all,” says Paul. “I lack both the life experience and the time for a big, serious concept album. I think it’s perfectly normal to recognize a similarity there. I’d actually find it strange if there weren’t. Then I’d question the authenticity of 01099 a bit.”

Paul, like his two band co-founders Gustav and Zachi, has left Dresden’s Neustadt district. He’s been living in Leipzig for quite some time—and has no intention of leaving. “I like eastern Germany, I really like Saxony—I think it’s great here,” he says. Moving away is out of the question. “I’m not giving up on Saxony. It’s too close to my heart for that.”

“Of course, there are downsides. But there’s also a very warm side to it, a very welcoming side, a very attentive side. A side of Saxony and Eastern Germany where, after the initial grumbling, everything works out in the end. And somehow that’s also a quality I really enjoy—and one that you should actually try to embrace.”

Music from the East Is Successful

Paul and 01099 are among a whole host of artists from the East who are quite successful. From Saxony, these include Kraftklub, Trettmann, and Blond, as well as the young Yung Pepp. They know and appreciate each other—that quickly becomes clear in conversation with Paul.

“It’s definitely something I really enjoy, because I feel like I have a great foundation with all these people. There’s a different kind of joy when we see each other, and there’s a different dialect we use when we talk,” says Paul. But he doesn’t want to overemphasize the “East” angle either. “We also work with many artists who aren’t from the East, and we support each other very well.” 

Before the release of his solo album, Paul was very active on social media, especially on the live-streaming platform Twitch. “It’s a channel that allows me to put out a lot of content. At some point, I realized that I’m actually pretty good at it,” says the 26-year-old. “Just talking, kind of goofing around”—that’s what he enjoys.

It Doesn’t Work Without Social Media

The musician believes that self-promotion via social media platforms is simply part of the game these days. However, he notes that this is something many artists also struggle with. “Many artists I know really struggle with this, because, of course, just because you write beautiful songs or paint beautiful pictures doesn’t automatically mean you’re good at social media, too.”

In an Instagram video, his bandmates comment on the solo project. Zachi and Gustav sit there like two prisoners, hands in their laps, rattling off rehearsed lines: “We support Paul’s solo project 100 percent” and “Everyone, stream Paul’s album. It’s the best thing we’ve ever heard.” Then Paul’s voice comes from the background, instructing the guys: “Smile!” They’re good at messing around on social media.

Soon it’ll be full focus on 01099 again

There won’t be a tour for the solo album. “I don’t have the energy for that,” says Paul. Instead, he’s planning a concert night—maybe even two. “In September, I’ll round up a few old musician friends from my jazz days and put on an acoustic concert with a small combo.”

After that, it’s back to full focus on 01099, says Paul. “We’re definitely not done. That’s just a strong gut feeling. We have a new team. I sense that there’s a lot of potential for action here.” One highlight for next year has already been set: On July 17, 2027, 01099 will play their only concert of the year. It has been announced as a “home game” at Dresden’s Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion.