Brisbane-born Michael Brinkworth draws inspiration from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and from the city he now calls home, Berlin, “this weird halfway house that I ended up in.” The 33-year-old traveled the globe before settling down here six years ago. In the past couple of months, Brinkworth has been releasing tracks from his upcoming album, “Wasted Wonder.” We talk to him about his new music and life in Berlin. (Originally aired July 11, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll...
Dec 12, 2020•4 min•Ep. 99
We feature indie-rock musician Ian Tilling. The 35-year-old Brit moved to Berlin in 2016. After joining and leaving a number of bands, he started his solo project Grief Scene a year ago. Next month, Tilling will release his debut album titled "Bad Times." (Originally aired Oct. 17, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Nov 28, 2020•4 min•Ep. 98
Martha Rose, a U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician, just released her second full-length album titled “Undress & Dive After.” The 33-year-old multi-instrumentalist talks with us about her songwriting process, what her grandparents have to do with it and what’s behind her intriguing album title. (Originally aired Aug. 8, 2020) Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Nov 21, 2020•5 min•Ep. 97
We spoke with Michael Culme-Seymour — aka Marlais — about his love of folk music and his life in Berlin. The 33-year-old musician often blends old folk songs with modern elements. “Meeting Is A Pleasure,” is his latest single released in mid-September, a preview of the album to come. (Originally aired Sept. 28, 2020)
Nov 14, 2020•5 min•Ep. 96
Musician and producer James Chatburn moved to Berlin in 2015. The 29-year-old toured with well-known alternative R&B artists like Jordan Rakei and the L.A. band The Internet. One of his big idols is American soul legend Donny Hathaway. We caught up with the Australian to talk about his debut release "Faible Teil 1."
Nov 07, 2020•5 min•Ep. 95
In this episode of Leitmotifs, host Fredrika Brillembourg talks with pianist and conductor Benjamin Hochman. He has performed in major cities and festivals around the world, both as a soloist and chamber musician. Currently, Hochman is a research associate with Bard College Berlin and concert curator for the American Academy. Fredrika spoke with him about Mozart and Hochman's approach to music.
Oct 31, 2020•5 min•Ep. 94
Jazzfest Berlin has a long tradition in the city. It's been a platform for musicians from around the world since 1964. This year, the four-day festival is scheduled to kick off on Nov. 5 with a focus on the jazz scenes in Berlin and New York. We spoke with Nadin Deventer, the artistic director of the festival about what to expect from this special pandemic edition of Jazzfest Berlin.
Oct 24, 2020•5 min•Ep. 93
We feature indie-rock musician Ian Tilling. The 35-year-old Brit moved to Berlin in 2016. After joining and leaving a number of bands, he started his solo project Grief Scene a year ago. Next month, Tilling will release his debut album titled "Bad Times." Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Oct 17, 2020•4 min•Ep. 92
We spoke with Michael Culme-Seymour — aka Marlais — about his love of folk music and his life in Berlin. The 33-year-old musician often blends old folk songs with modern elements. "Meeting Is A Pleasure," is his latest single released in mid-September, a preview of the album to come. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Sep 26, 2020•5 min•Ep. 91
Angelica Ranåsen and Jacob Fagerstål are the Swedish pop duo Juno Francis. They teamed up in Berlin a couple of years ago to work on their vision of psychedelic 60s and 80s pop. We caught up with the singer, Angelica, who is 26, to talk about the duo's upcoming first EP "Oyster Love," and her fascination with all things retro. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Sep 19, 2020•5 min•Ep. 90
Tricky just released his 14th studio album, “Fall To Pieces.” On most of the new tracks, the Berlin-based artist is joined by Marta Złakowska, a vocalist whom he discovered on a European tour. We caught up with the 52-year-old about his new release and to find out what keeps him going after three decades of making music. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Sep 05, 2020•5 min•Ep. 89
hear now berlin is a chamber group that plays works by contemporary composers. Inspired by the music she loves playing and hearing, the sextet’s founder and flutist, Kelly Watson Woelffer, searched for five musicians who shared her vision: a violist from Australia, a cellist from New Zealand, and a trumpeter, violinist and clarinetist from Germany. Though they are all classically trained musicians with orchestral foundations, the six are also skilled in a wide range of other genres, including si...
Aug 29, 2020•5 min•Ep. 88
Candice Gordon is the new cultural officer at the Irish Embassy in Berlin. The musician is known well beyond Berlin’s music scene for her haunting voice and prolific lyrics. We caught up with Gordon about her new role in cultural diplomacy and her latest EP, “The Sacramental Traffic Lights.” Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Aug 22, 2020•5 min•Ep. 87
Szabolcs Bognar, better known as Àbáse, is a Berlin-based producer and multi-instrumentalist who is playing at this year’s XJAZZ open air festival. A classically trained jazz pianist, Àbáse combines jazzy elements with West African, Brazilian and other influences to create a fresh, new sound.Ahead of his performance this weekend, we caught up with the 29-year-old over Zoom about his appreciation for Yoruba culture and growing up in post-socialist Budapest. Produced by Benjamin Restle...
Aug 15, 2020•5 min•Ep. 86
Martha Rose, a U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician, just released her second full-length album titled “Undress & Dive After.” The 33-year-old multi-instrumentalist talks with us about her songwriting process, what her grandparents have to do with it, and what’s behind her intriguing album title. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Aug 08, 2020•5 min•Ep. 85
Back in March when all the music clubs closed in Berlin, big band leader Andrej Hermlin made a promise: to keep on performing as long as the coronavirus pandemic restricts our lives. His band, the Swingin’ Hermlins, started a non-stop series of nightly concerts streamed live via Facebook. KCRW Berlin’s Erik Kirschbaum met Andrej Hermlin to talk about his love for American music from the 1930s and why he made this crazy promise. Produced by Erik Kirschbaum...
Aug 01, 2020•5 min•Ep. 84
Berlin-based composer Sam Auinger describes himself as a “sonic thinker.” The 64-year-old Austrian has spent decades exploring sound and perception in public places. Auinger’s current project is a sound installation with his long-time collaborator Hannes Strobl. The duo’s work, “Eleven Songs,” runs until August 2 at the Halle am Berghain . Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Jul 25, 2020•4 min•Ep. 83
Brisbane-born Michael Brinkworth draws inspiration from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and from the city he now calls home, Berlin, “this weird halfway house that I ended up in.” The 33-year-old traveled the globe before settling down here six years ago. In the past couple of months, Brinkworth has been releasing tracks from his upcoming album, “Wasted Wonder.” We talk to him about his new music and life in Berlin. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll...
Jul 11, 2020•4 min•Ep. 82
In this week’s edition of Amplified, we catch up with New Zealand-born soul singer and producer Noah Slee. The musician just released the single, “Here For It All.” It comes after his EP, “TWICE,” and his breakthrough debut album “Otherland.” Slee is usually based in Berlin, but he got stuck on tour when the pandemic struck. We reached him via Zoom in New Zealand. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Jun 27, 2020•5 min•Ep. 81
Berlin-based musician Derya Yildirim is a multi-instrumentalist, but her favorite is the Turkish lute called the “Bağlama.” Usually, the 26-year-old performs with her band, Grup Şimşek, but more recently, she’s played on her own. We caught up with the 26-year-old in France, where she is reuniting with her band to write new material. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Jun 20, 2020•5 min•Ep. 80
Berlin-based musician Finn Ronsdorf is releasing his first EP, “Odes,” on June 12. We talk with the 21-year-old singer-songwriter about his early musical influences and what it takes to write a love song. He says the key is “really just being very much in the moment.” Produced by Sylvia Cunningham
Jun 06, 2020•5 min•Ep. 79
Brodie White loves to teach guitar and audio production to kids. So when the schools were closed, the 35-year-old had a lot of time on his hands, so he came up with a special lesson for his students: a hygiene rules rap for kids. Covid Who!? is a production of Berlin Cosmopolitan School & Musical Friends (Brodie White and Trevor Woods). Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
May 30, 2020•5 min•Ep. 78
German-born Robot Koch is dropping his new record “The Next Billion Years” on May 29. Ahead of the release, we spoke to the L.A.-based artist, producer and composer about why late French conservationist Jacques-Yves Cousteau inspired him to make the album. Robot Koch, who spent several years living and working in Berlin before relocating to L.A., has a visual approach to his music. He says for him creating songs is “like scoring imaginary movies in my head,” and that being in nature is an import...
May 23, 2020•4 min•Ep. 77
With concerts and festivals canceled, artists are struggling to make ends meet. London-based label Ransom Note came up with a novel idea to generate some much needed cash for music makers. They invited a number of artists — among them, KCRW Berlin’s Moderna — to contribute to a compilation album by collaborating remotely on original tracks in just 10 days. The completed album, “Pen Pals,” went on sale on April 24 and features 15 tracks by 32 artists. The proceeds go to supporting the artists and...
May 09, 2020•3 min•Ep. 76
We’ve all seen footage of people taking to their balconies to sing and play instruments together amid the coronavirus lockdown. But why is that? Gunter Kreutz, who teaches at the University of Oldenburg, has published a book on the mental health benefits of singing, among other things. The musicologist says “in crises, music has a very strong function to balance people, and show them there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Produced by Benjamin Restle...
Apr 25, 2020•5 min•Ep. 75
Berlin’s clubs were forced to shut this month to help contain the coronavirus outbreak. With Berliners deprived of their beloved music venues, and clubs missing out on vital revenue, Clubcommission and Reclaim Club Culture launched the United We Stream platform. Here, venues can stream DJ sets, concerts and much more for Berliners to enjoy in the safety of their homes. In return, they’re asking for donations to get them through these tough times. We caught up with Clubcommission spokesman Lutz L...
Mar 28, 2020•5 min•Ep. 74
This year marks 250 years since the birth of one of the most renowned composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven. Germany has poured 27 million euros into marking the occasion, and there are a number of events happening here in Berlin, including Labor Beethoven 2020, which is a contemporary reading of the work of Beethoven. We spoke with Julia Gerlach, the head of music at the Akademie der Künste Berlin and the director of Labor Beethoven 2020, to find out more about some of the musical experim...
Mar 21, 2020•6 min•Ep. 73
We sat down with Johnny “Jacho” Bottrop and Bene Diktator from Berlin punk band Acht Eimer Hühnerherzen, which translates to “eight buckets of chicken hearts.” They explained the meaning of their unusual band name and why coming up with song lyrics should take 30 minutes tops. Produced by Ben Restle
Feb 22, 2020•5 min•Ep. 72
On Feb. 27, 1920, Berlin saw the premiere of the psychological thriller, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” Today, it’s considered a quintessential film of German Expressionism. But a century ago, a mismatched score nearly cost the film its audience. We spoke to Hans Brandner from the Babylon Orchester Berlin who shares the story about the original screenings of the film and how they prompted the director to work with composer Giuseppe Becce on a whole new score. Components of that very same score h...
Feb 15, 2020•5 min•Ep. 71
Opera Lab Berlin’s upcoming premiere of “ODYSSEY: Dead Men Die” promises a “an apocalyptic journey” encompassing Homer, James Joyce and Hollywood. We caught up with artistic director Evan Gardner to find out more about the free-form ensemble, which has produced or collaborated on over 20 productions in the past six years, as well as what to expect from their new show. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll
Jan 25, 2020•4 min•Ep. 70
