#103 - 23rd July 2024 - German sound vs int‘l sound

When Alex and I were at a demo listening session in Munich last year, one guy in the jury said our track would sound very international.

At the time, I did not really understand what he was talking about.

9 months later, with substantially more listening time with German acts and artists in the make, I think I got an idea.

I‘ve spent the past two weeks with musician finder apps like mukken (which is utter crap) and vampr which seems to be a notch better.

One feature that they have is music upload and linking spotify.

And for some reason, the predominant music that I see people make is

• singer songwriter acoustic guitar stuff with a depressed attitude,
• folk music and „mundart“
• hyper emotional consternation pop
• colorless uninspired auto tune rap that aims as distinction towards those who did not make „it“ and want the interprets fame now
• People who mistake themselves with Adele and (mostly female) artist that think real singing must have high pitch belting of legato notes.

A brave soul tries out Spotify‘s Germany charts playlist. Good riddance!

Now this sounds more negative than it actually is. There are good and bad examples. But maybe that‘s the German sound?

What’s non-German sound then?

Reggaeton for sure. Country. Reggae. Most beat and dance centric genres apart from those supporting the teutonic stomp. 😆

But it‘s also a production style. I can‘t pin it down but if you take UK music (where we find the highest value of great music per capita according to my own very scientific measures) it just sounds more mature, more sophisticated, more surprising, simply…better? For lack of a better word.

Reference tracks in my repertoire are almost never from German artists. There is one from Schmyt but I think he had a producer duo from London do it so… see my point?

Of course it all comes down to taste - eventually. But fuck giving in: German music is crap. There you have it!

…apart from Deichkind, Muff Potter, Schmyt, Nils Frahm, Bilderbuch (Austria‘s in another league!!), Die Nerven, Moderat, Midas104, Casper and…

Good night!