(Rec. 22nd Nov 2023)
The trajectory of Bastian Voelkel’s career could have easily resembled that of another small-town music aspirant in Germany resting on the wreaths of a secure pensioned job as a teacher at the local music school as his earliest environment might have potentially suggested as the most suitable. The 18-year-old keyboardist however, decided to head synth-in-hand to audition for Europe's most elite university for pop musicians, taking the usual rejections from mainstream German jazz education gracefully in stride. And nailed the audition.
What followed over the years amidst the overwhelming and once-controversial but always innovative Pop-Akademie BW music-business vs music education conundrums and experiments in ‘Ausland-Semesters’ in the Netherlands, was the chance meeting with now long-time band-mate Alice Merton and a tireless and curious work-ethic that led to a Grammy nomination and a few 100 (and counting) shows around the world, earning him the reputation of one of the hardest-working keyboardists in Germany.
I catch up with fellow Nord-artist and fellow Pop-Akademie BW alumni to discuss the importance of understanding space in live music performance, the trials and tribulations of touring internationally as a keyboardist, and the significance of authenticity and loyalty as a musician in this day and age.
This episode is brought to you by:
www.holisticpianoacademy.com
(Now part of www.holisticmusicianacademy.com)
Listen to T.L.'s new album HERE
Music by: www.everynowheremusic.com
Produced by T.L. Mazumdar
Text: www.tlwrites.com
Recorded on a Zoom Podtrak P4 kindly sponsored by:
https://www.sound-service.eu
Connect with Bastian:
Riding Passion and Unity To Reach the 'Seventh Sky' w/ Jonathan Ihlenfeld Cuñado
Unpacking Performance, the 'Hang', Vulnerability, and Solopreneurship in Online Spaces as a Musician w/ Corey Congilio
Theoretical Physics and the Internal Integrity of Music w/ John Matthias
Merging Engineering, and Artist Mindsets as a Multi-cultural Multi-hyphenate w/ Rajesh Mehta
Self-care, Self-integration and Self-talk as Musicians w/ Hannah Murray
An American in India: Busting Myths, The Indian Music Industry & Music Education, Safe Spaces and Vocal Health w/ Zachary Ray
The Anatomy of a Global Third-Generation Indonesian Jazz & Contemporary Musician w/ Nikita Dompas.
Mauritius to London and Finding Your True Artistic Voice Between Islands w/ Rouhangeze Baichoo
Strong for Life with Conor O Shea
Navigating the Post-Pandemic Aftermath of a Dream Debut at 21 and Resilience Amidst Adversity w/ Madhura Talluri
The Past, Present and Future of German Pop Music w/ Udo Dahmen
Revisiting the Birth of ’World Music’ and Unpacking its Relevance in 2023 w/ Sheila Chandra
’Good’, Bad’ and ’Perfect’ Music with Jake Sherman
Training a Growth Mindset as an Artist and Leadership for Women in an Indian Context with Shreya Nagarajan Singh
Who Does English Belong To, The Dark Side of Code-Switching and Why We Should Keep Writing with Miles Miniaci
Creating Great Art and Taking Care of Your Fans with Emily White
Movements for Musicians, Digital Nomadism, Gracie JiuJitsu, Prayer and Astrology with Steve Maxwell
Demystifying PR for the Post-Pandemic, Hyphenated, Independent Artist with Ariel Hyatt
Making an Album with 100 Plus Female Collaborators, Chocolate that Empowers Local Congo Businesses and Effortless Mastery in Juggling Multiple Hats with Vivienne Aerts
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