While writing those lines, the first soothing sounds and soft beats of Christian Löffler´s second studio album MARE resound in the background. And I am spellbound again.
His music is as intriguing as addictive, as thoughtful as uplifting. Sounds swirl perfectly positioned through my room, that is suddenly filled with a moving layer of self-recorded instruments and a collection of noises that Christian was surrounded by in his atelier and studio overlooking the Southern Coast of the Baltic Sea; tapping, singing, playing, footsteps as well as percussive elements created with bottles, sticks, a set of keys. An old marimba, a mandolin zither, some self-modified synthesizers, and various other sound tools accumulated from his travels flow into each other with the rest of the soundframework, like the colours of a painting and into a masterpiece.
We spoke to the exceptional artist, whose music manages to carry you away with ease, and bears the vigorousness to burn into your soul, about the experience of having his singing on the record for the first time, the core of what he wants to express with his music and about the beautiful connection between himself, the music and the people when playing live.
Hi Christian, thanks for taking the time! I just read one comment about your new album MARE that it allows people to flee from the daily life –almost like a small trip to the seaside. I can only agree. Your music has something incredibly soothing. Does this feedback make you happy and it´s important to you, even though you said that you make music mainly for yourself?
It makes me very happy. Honestly, I’m very grateful if somebody is having a good time listening to my music. That was not the first intention but I find very satisfying now.
It´s the first time you are singing on your record. How was this experience for you? Strange?
I already had many sketches with me singing before I started working on ‘Mare’. I also gave it a try for ‘A Forest’ but it didn’t really fit in the end. So it’s not something really new for me and actually it totally makes sense as it doesn’t get much more personal than with your own voice. It feels very good to have it on the record now.
“Sometimes I have an image in mind. But it’s more like a mood and not very particular. It’s never like I wake up having a complete song in my head.”
“The meaning was not intended to be essentially different to ‘A Forest’ but where the first album sometimes still felt to just be on the surface of what I can say with this project, it now feels like that I’ve come closer to the core of what I want to express.” is what you said about the new album. What is the core that you want to express with your music?
It’s like an overalls feeling I also follow for photography or painting. It´s really hard to describe as it’s more of an abstract mood and I think my music is actually a try to make it hearable.
Do you usually have a sort of story or image in mind before you create a song or you just intutionally put together different sounds to form a new story with it?
Sometimes I have an image in mind. But it’s more like a mood and not very particular. It’s never like I wake up having a complete song in my head. So it’s basically comes while making music.
Do you have a favourite track on the album- wether you think it´s the most perfect or because it´s the most personal one?
Both piano pieces are special to me since I was creating that kind of music a long time before releasing under my real name. Doing this feels very natural to me and I’m very happy to have it on the album. Also ‘Nil’ stands out for me as it’s basically just a sketch I reworked from a computer I once lost in a cab. I recorded it in 3 days while I was staying in Mexico City and the vocals are only recorded on the integrated chat microphone, which you can easily hear. So it’s very raw and personal. I forgot about it for almost two years but luckily found the recording and finished it.
“I’m definitely trying to avoid following trends in music production. It comes more naturally as I’m getting bored of things quickly, when hearing them often. I think since I’m creating the music for myself in first place, I automatically have a good strategy to avoid this from happening.”
You usually finish the songs fast, what was the song on the album that took the longest, that was the hardest to finish?
I think it was ‘Lid’ that went through many stages from being an instrumental to having much more lyrics at some point. Now it’s a Kondensat, more focused, using my voice more as an instrument.
I saw you live in the Watergate/ Berlin not so long ago and it was amazing! How much are you enjoying those live acts? Because I read somewhere that you are more of an introverted person?
Thank you! :-) That was special since it was the first test run playing together with Mohna. I was definitely more nervous than usally. I’m totally not a person that enjoys standing in the spotlight but because of the very positive reactions while and after playing the live shows I really began enjoying it. It’s a very direct feedback and also sometimes I can feel a direct connection between me, the music and the people. And that’s something very beautiful.
“I feel as if the majority of the music which is being released today lost its identity. Often it’s music that has a half-life period of 3 to 6 months. I fear that this development, in combination with the amount of tracks being released today, creates this obscure feel for music being a disposable item.“ This is a quote by you out of an interview in 2013. Is trying to create timeless music a big drive in your creative work?
I’m definitely trying to avoid following trends in music production. It comes more naturally as I’m getting bored of things quickly, when hearing them often. I think since I’m creating the music for myself in first place, I automatically have a good strategy to avoid this from happening.
“I am just a romantic guy and love melancholia. Most of the time I like to think about the beauty in nature.”
Tell us some good music you are currently listening to?
William Basinski
Still Parade
Aparde
Vlimmer
Your music would also perfect for movie soundtracks. Do you have anything like that lined up?
Not right now but maybe there is something coming in the future. It is definitely something I’m very interested in and that I would enjoy doing!
You created the album in a small one-room cabin next to the seaside, that is your atelier so you were surrounde by canvases, oil paints, cameras, tripods and brushes. Are you actually still painting nowadays or you are completely focused on music and more into photography these days?
Lately it was more photography and music of course but I still follow my favourite painters and try to see as many exhibitions as possible. So as the album is out now I really feel like I want to back to painting for some time. Just today I had a picture in mind of what my next painting could be.
“I’m totally not a person that enjoys standing in the spotlight but there I can feel a direct connection between me, the music and the people. And that’s something very beautiful.”
You said that you are someone who thinks about a lot of things and sees more the negative side of it and this transmits to your music. What are the things you like to think about the most when you are alone? The big questions about life?
Actually I’m not that negative at all. ;) I am just a romantic guy and love melancholia. Most of the time I like to think about the beauty in nature.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Workwise and with your life?
Still creating art but focusing more and more about art as a whole. Including music, photography and painting maybe filming as well. As work is my life I cannot really divide it from my personal life.
www.christian-loeffler.net
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images press courtesy
“MARE” RELEASE DATE: 07 OCTOBER 2016
LABEL: Ki Records . FORMAT: CD/DL/LP
