Schlindwein is a Berlin-based pianist, composer, and producer. Being taught classical piano from early childhood on and making his mark in electronic music as a producer and Live-Act for a few years now, he lives in two musical worlds which clash in his tracks to form a new symbiosis. Classically inspired compositions and electronic sounds merge into his own world of dreamy and lush atmospheres. His music has been described as ’emotionally resonant and cinematic at scope’.
With his second album, ‘Piano Tales’, Schlindwein has created another musical journey where he is exploring the sonic possibilities of his main instrument in the electronic realm. Again, he has worked with NHOAH and his label R.O.T Records in top class studios in Berlin and Vienna to deliver a production of the highest level.
Today, we sit down with Schlindwein to talk about ‘Piano Tales’, his relationship with classical music and its points of connection with electronica, his sound, inspiration, and more.
Electronic Groove: Hi Schlindwein! It’s a pleasure to have you down with us for a chat. How are you doing? How are things in Berlin at the moment?
Schlindwein: Hi everyone, I am doing good! We are finally getting some sun here in Berlin after what seemed to be the longest winter ever. Restaurants and bars are open again and I feel very optimistic about this summer.
Electronic Groove: You’ve got quite a rich musical background. At what age did you get started with piano lessons? Was it something you enjoyed from early on, or did it feel somewhat ‘imposed’ in the beginning?
Schlindwein: I started playing when I was 5 years old, but I wanted to play since I can remember. I was going crazy every time I saw a piano as a kid. I don’t know why, but I really wanted to learn it and was super motivated. I also had a good teacher when I started out, which is very important to keep you interested and not get frustrated with lessons.
Electronic Groove: And how did that tie into electronic music? What were your first impressions when you realized you could edit and tweak sounds over and over again with just recording one take?
Schlindwein: Electronic music came way later into my life when I started going to clubs. First I thought you had to be a DJ to participate in it and didn’t know anything about producing. It came bit by bit and since then I am totally obsessed with it. The key discovery for me was that I could do whole songs alone without needing a drummer and singer etc. The possibilities are just endless. I really like to sit and lose myself in the process without being dependent on anyone.
Electronic Groove: How would you define your sound? What kind of ‘magic’ do you try to encapsulate in each track?
Schlindwein: I am a very melodic person and the magic for me is always about the harmonic and melodic parts, rather than about the perfect kick drum. I need rich musical ideas to get excited about a track. Just a drum groove and some ambiance just don’t do it for me. The magic happens when you have ideas that still sound good years later because the song works well. The opening track of my new album, ‘Rhapsodie’, was written more than 12 years ago and people love it every time I play it live.
“The key discovery for me was that I could do whole songs alone without needing a drummer and singer, etc.
The possibilities are just endless”
Electronic Groove: Now you’re behind your second studio album with ‘Piano Tales’. What’s the inspiration behind this one? What was the creative process like with all that’s going on in the world right now?
Schlindwein: A lot of tracks on this album were actually done because I wanted more stuff for my live set, which is a bit ironic of course, because as soon as I finished them, the lockdowns came along. I also went back to some very old songs that never got published but I always thought had something special. I finally found the time to get the most out of them and am very happy I can finally show them to the audience.
Electronic Groove: How is ‘Piano Tales’ different from your first album ‘Piano and Electronic Ensemble Op.1’? In what ways do you feel you’ve grown, musically speaking?
Schlindwein: My first album was actually recorded live in one take. It is a true live set with lots of spontaneous little things in it. With ‘Piano Tales’ I worked closely again with NHOAH and we tried to take things to the next level in terms of studio production. We recorded and mixed everything in really good studios in Berlin and Vienna and worked for about a year and a half on the tracks. A lot of thought and effort was put into it to make it sound as good as possible.
Electronic Groove: How do you usually begin writing your tracks? Is it the piano/classical part? Do you go for a bassline and a beat and just let the keys soar until you hit something that resonates with you?
Schlindwein: Both approaches work for me. Some tracks, like ‘Textures’ and ‘Lost In Time’, that are on the clubbier side were done with less focus on the piano. With ‘Reverie’ it was all about the piano melody and the rest came later. ‘Rhapsodie’ is a pure piano track with just little other elements to support the arrangement.
Electronic Groove: Where do you get your inspiration from, outside of the musical realm?
Schlindwein: Sometimes paintings inspire me, sometimes I want to catch a certain emotion that I have and turn it into music. With ‘New Life’, for example, I wanted a nostalgic feeling and with ‘Arabesque’ a driving but melancholic mood. Also, I am inspired by technical stuff quite often and try new things because of a new tool that I got. I am enjoying also the exchange of ideas with people from the artist collective R.O.T – respectortolerate (also my label). We have been working together for almost 6 years now!
“We recorded and mixed everything in really good studios in Berlin and Vienna and worked for about a year and a half
on the tracks. A lot of thought and effort was put
into it to make it sound as good as possible”
Electronic Groove: What’s in store for Schlindwein for the rest of 2021? What can we look forward to? Will you be presenting ‘Piano Tales’ in a live setting?
Schlindwein: I really hope so! I will play the songs live now in June for the first time at a very small outdoor event and hopefully, there will be more. I will also release another collaboration with a vocalist outside of the new album this summer and I am working on a big choir project for some time that will see the light of day soon.
Electronic Groove: Thank you for sitting down with us Schlindwein! We wish you all the best!
Schlindwein: Thank you for inviting me to this interview – all the best!
Schlindwein’s ‘Piano Tales’ is available via R.O.T., and you can purchase your copy here.
Follow Schlindwein: Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
