Biography
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Years Active
1991 – present (34 years)
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Founded In
Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
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Members
- Hovi Miskovics
- Roman Rütten
Endraum is a German musical project founded in 1989 by Roman Rütten and Hovi Miskovics following the dissolution of their previous band, Crux Ansata. Originating from Frankfurt, Crux Ansata was formed in 1986 with Hovi Miskovics on bass and lyric duties. The band released a cassette titled "My Inflamed Eyes". During this period, Roman Rütten was active with other experimental projects such as "Schaum der Tage" and "Opfer der Hingabe", distributed through his own label, ng-medien. Notably, this label also released early work by Front Line Assembly and Lassigue Bendthaus. A festival held in Frankfurt in 1987/88, where both musicians performed with their respective bands, marked the beginning of their collaboration, eventually leading to Rütten joining Crux Ansata as a keyboardist.
After several performances and recordings, Crux Ansata evolved musically, ultimately dissolving due to a stylistic shift from darker sounds to more pop-oriented structures. In 1989, a self-released mini-LP with a limited production of 500 copies marked an early solo effort. That same year, Rütten and Miskovics began a new project, initially conceived as a multimedia opera named Endraum. Inspired by the melancholic aesthetics of Joy Division, the classical influence of Gustav Mahler, and the poetic sensibilities of Arthur Rimbaud, Endraum sought to explore a fusion of music, visuals, and lyrics. Their first piece, "Der Neid" ("The Envy"), reflected on commercialism in music and aimed to reconnect with genuine emotional expression.
The first tape released under the name Endraum was "Phantastisch Zwecklos" in 1991, an introspective work influenced by themes of depression and self-acceptance. This was followed in 1992 by the concept tape "Sehnsucht", which further established Endraum's identity. From this point, Endraum became a cohesive artistic unit where music, lyrics, and visuals were treated equally, with an emphasis on collaborative creation.
Later in 1992, the group signed with the record label Danse Macabre. Their debut CD, "Zeitenlicht", was produced under this label, continuing the conceptual trajectory established in "Sehnsucht". Their second CD, "In Flimmernder Nacht", released a year later, focused on themes that blended dream and reality, a recurring motif in their work.
In 1993, the group parted ways with Danse Macabre, feeling that the label’s direction did not align with their artistic goals. This led to the establishment of their own label, which allowed them to pursue their creative vision independently alongside like-minded artists.
Endraum does not position itself as a vehicle for specific messages, but rather as an artistic expression of emotions, visions, and transient experiences. The group integrates image, word, and sound into immersive, atmospheric works that aim to evoke deeply personal reactions. The band identifies with a form of melancholic creativity, viewing their output as a constantly evolving exploration of feeling and perception.
The colour blue holds symbolic significance for Endraum, representing development, introspection, and the threshold of revelation. To the group, blue captures light without distortion and embodies a timeless quality, signifying a space where hope and despair are in balance.
Musically, Endraum resists simple categorisation. Their work is often described in terms of ambient landscapes and emotional atmospheres, blending elements of romanticism, darkness, and introspection. Their lyrics aim to encapsulate fleeting emotional moments, while accompanying visuals seek to visualise thoughts and sensations. The group approaches each piece as a unified artistic experience, where no element stands apart from the others.
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