ROBERT KRETZSCHMAR & SOPHE

In the organizer's words:

ROBERT KRETZSCHMAR

Robert is originally from Thuringia. The Mehlhose regular usually accompanies Kat Frankie or Anna Erhard on the drums. His incomparable composure and infectious cheerfulness can also be found in his solo project.

The first thing that strikes you when listening to Robert Kretzschmar's second album "Make A Wish" is how well he has staked out his territory with his debut record "Homecoming". Subtly arranged mid-tempo songwriter pop gems with charming, pointed lyrics and precisely rhythmic, narrative vocals. That's why the world you enter here seems so beautifully familiar. But it's also all the easier to recognize what's new. The opener "Long Ago", for example, achieves the feat of making a "Didelitditditditditdide" sung in two voices seem compelling rather than silly. The playful, serious anarchism of an Aldous Harding could well have been the inspiration here. "Chestnut Tree", an ode to nature, crushes and transience, comes across like a post-minimalist Jose Gonzalez track and the hypnotic groove of the break-up anthem "You me" is reminiscent of the Kraut pioneers Can.

And there are two tracks sung in Japanese, which combine naturally with the songs sung in English. Japan also plays a role in terms of content: the touching "It Wasn't Easy" tells the story of a friend from Osaka who has lost his way. Abandoned in a half-emptied apartment, with too much alcohol and without the strength to face up to his situation. Robert Kretzschmar still manages to make this sad song sound comforting and hopeful. And he continues to build on his restrained, intense pop universe on "Make A Wish". This time, he allows himself to linger on details even more and to enlarge them, and he knows how to use his own means not only naturally, but also consciously, to use them even more confidently for his artistic expression. An album that shines serenely.

Live: Anna Erhard on guitar and Rosa Mercedes on bass.

SOPHE

SOPHE's music is an emancipation from familiar listening patterns - she takes her listeners on emotional journeys through diverse worlds of sound. With her characteristic sound, she convinces as an accomplished musician and touches deeply.

Her latest EP "Hey, calm down", celebrated by music critics, is a prime example of SOPHE's cross-genre style. Characteristic: the warm lead voice floats above multi-layered background vocals that lend the songs breadth and depth - sometimes wrapped up in melancholy ballads, sometimes embedded in groovy jams. It gives the impression that "Hey, calm down" is a search for calm in the chaos. SOPHE combines indie with subtle influences from jazz and R&B - an insider tip for musical connoisseurs.