Cinematic techno duo Schrotthagen brings together 28-year-old producer Giovanni Berg and 62-year-old Grimme-Preis-winning composer Dieter Schleip.
Photo credit: Schrotthagen – Official
The two first connected while working on a film project, bonding over a shared interest in electronic sound design when Berg caught Schleip producing a techno cue for a club scene. Their backgrounds span classical, jazz, punk, and film scoring, culminating in a sound rooted in emotional storytelling and textural depth.
Their latest single, ‘Schattenkinder’, features actress Katharina Stark and blends cinematic techno with pop elements. The track explores themes of lost innocence and nostalgia, continuing a narrative introduced by earlier singles ‘Blütezeit’ and ‘Alle Werden Alt’.
The single is part of their upcoming debut album ‘Nostalgie und Traurigkeit’, set for release on August 15th via Schrott.
To celebrate the release of ‘Schattenkinder’, Schrotthagen shares 5 essential studio tips for electronic music creators.
1. Embrace broken instruments and imperfections
Clean-sounding plugins are great, but real character often comes from unconventional sounds. Old, broken instruments or raw, gritty samples can bring something truly unique to your music. Experiment—shape weird sounds until they speak to you.
2. Finish a track the same day you start it
When you’re in the flow, capture the moment and make your decisions. The next day, your mood might shift, and that energy can be hard to recapture. This often leads to unfinished tracks or losing the original vibe.
3. Put your phone away
Don’t do a lot of business before starting to make music. It fills up your head with thoughts that distract you from your creativity. A single five-minute phone call can ruin your whole day in the studio.
4. It’s okay to lock in, but…
As a producer or musician, you’ll spend a lot of time alone in the studio. Not everyone will understand your dedication, and that’s okay. If you love what you do, dive into it and do it with passion. But it is also very important to take breaks and be with the people you love. This is still and will ever be our struggle, to find the “perfect” balance. We are extremely thankful for our families and friends.
5. Music theory is helpful—but let it go sometimes
Knowing theory is great, but it can limit you. Some of the most beautiful melodies and progressions come from messing around. If something sounds good to you it might touch someone’s soul and you will build an audience who loves your “true” music you.
Schrotthagen’s ‘Schattenkinder’ is out now on Schrott. Stream and download here.
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