Suzie Kerstgens (born 1971) is a German singer and lyricist. She is the lead vocalist and co-founder of German pop band Klee.
Early life and education Suzie Kerstgens was born in Germany, 1971,Zimmer, Andreas. "Klee's new songs take on the simplest but trickiest topic: love". Deutsche Welle. 2 September 2011. in the north-western town of Geldern"Zur Person: Suzie Kerstgens" (in German). Die Welt. 3 August 2008. and grew up in neighbouring Sonsbeck.Koll, Verena. "Mit Suzie Kerstgens durchs Veedel" (in German). Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. 25 March 2013. During her youth, she received her secondary education at the gymnasium in Xanten and also completed classical ballet and dance training.Krechting, Wiljo. "Glücksfall für die Popmusik" (in German). RP ONLINE. 12 August 2009. She then studied philosophy and German studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Music career
In the mid-nineties, Kerstgens began working with musicians Sten Servaes and Tom Deininger in Cologne. With Kerstgens as lead vocalist, they formed the band Ralley, which was later renamed Klee.Bluhm, David. "KLEE - Von A bis Z" (in German). Gaesteliste.de. Retrieved 12 April 2015. Klee is known for its songs about love, life and sorrow and the band members have been described as the great romantics of German pop by music magazine laut.de."laut.de-Biographie - Klee" (in German). laut.de. Retrieved 12 April 2015. Most of the lyrics for Klee's songs are written by Kerstgens"„Erst mit z ernst genommen”" (in German). Kölnische Rundschau. 2 January 2009. and are based on her personal experiences.Sielski, Karoline. "Suzie Kerstgens - Musikerin bei Klee" (in German). stadtmagazin.com. 6 June 2012. As a member of Ralley/Klee, Kerstgens has recorded seven albums, (in German). musicline.de. PHONONET GmbH. Retrieved 12 April 2015. three of which have entered the top 20 of the German albums chart."Klee | Longplay-Chartverfolgung" (in German). musicline.de. PHONONET GmbH. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Kerstgens has made two appearances at the Bundesvision Song Contest, an annual competition shown on German television. The first was in 2005, when she performed the song "Gold" with Klee.Gantzkow, Sven. "Experten in Sachen Widerspruch" (in German). Westdeutsche Zeitung. 31 July 2008. The second was in 2007, when she sang a duet with German pop band Anajo on the band's song "Wenn du nur wüsstest"."Anajo-Pop in Reinform live im Hôtel Concorde Berlin" (in German). tip Berlin. 11 October 2011.
Under the name "Kölsche Kylie", Kerstgens is active as a DJ at various venues in Cologne, including Gebäude 9."SUZIE KERSTGENS | Barbarella Entertainment" (in German). Barbarella Entertainment website. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Collaborations Kerstgens has collaborated with English rock band The Wedding Present, contributing vocals on the 7" vinyl release of the band's single "I'm from Further North Than You" (2005).Holland, Roger. "The Wedding Present: Search For Paradise". PopMatters. 16 May 2006. Another collaboration was with German rock band BAP on a re-recording of the band's song "Frau, ich freu mich" (2005).Hentschel, Joachim. "BAP - Dreimal zehn Jahre" (in German). Rolling Stone. 3 December 2005.
Social engagement Kerstgens lends her support to various organizations in Germany, including Pro Asyl, Aktion Mensch, Fairtrade (Fair trade), Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (German AIDS aid) and the National Paralympic Committee Germany. She is also a sponsor of the project "Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage" (School without racism – school with courage) at her former gymnasium in Xanten.Naser, Elena. "Interview mit Sängerin und KLEE-Frontfrau Suzie Kerstgens" (in German). Stargebot. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
Personal life Kerstgens lived in a flat share in the Sülz area of Cologne for 16 years. She then moved with her boyfriend to the Agnesviertel, another area of Cologne.
Kerstgens has been a fan of English rock bands The Cure and The Smiths since her childhood.
Discography
Studio albums (Ralley) Ralley (1997) 1, 2, 3, 4 (1999) Studio albums (Klee) Unverwundbar (2003) Jelängerjelieber (2004) Zwischen Himmel und Erde (2006) Berge versetzen (2008) Aus lauter Liebe (2011)
References
External links
at Universal Music Group website