Tokio Hotel recorded Humanoid in glossy, flossy destinations like Miami and Los Angeles, but also worked on the album in a tiny studio outside of Hamburg, Germany.
“We recorded a lot of stuff in a small village near Hamburg, so it’s a real quiet place,” frontman Bill Kaulitz said. “I think the third record is the hardest one. We are really thankful that the fans like it. We went into the studio and ignored all the pressure. We had time and no deadlines.”
Timing was key. Tokio Hotel admitted getting a bit sick of the screaming fans and the globe-trotting tours. The band needed to be away from it all. Humanoid reflects the resulting redevelopment, focusing on futurism and electronics.
“We were on tour for such a long time and we were really tired of everything Tokio Hotel,” Kaulitz said. “I recorded “Monsoon” when I was 13 years old, so it was time for new stuff.”
Tokio Hotel’s evolution didn’t come easy. There was a fair share of brawling during the recording process.
“You need fights. And we fought a lot,” guitarist Tom Kaulitz said. “Sometimes I just punch Bill in the face, and I love that. And he loves that. We all love that.”