From the studio

“Birds in Paradise”: BON!’s music video

Björn Holler, also known as BON!, released the video for this rock song.

“Nobody Knows”: blues rock with Al Franzman

Albert Franzen and I worked together on “Nobody Knows”, which also has a music video.

Thomas Deed: debut single “New Star Rising”

Thomas Deed from Rosenheim released his first single, a blues rock track with a sense of humour.

Kodiag: the album “Marathon”

I arranged, recorded and produced the album for Leipzig rock band Kodiag.

“Reason to Live”: song nine for Al Young

The ninth track for Karsten, also known as Al Young, took a rock direction.

“5 Jahre”: a German pop ballad with Claudia Castillon

I developed Claudia’s lyrics and vocal line into a ballad. The original post includes her video.

Unfinished projects: five sketches from the studio

Five unfinished song ideas, from synth rock to a club anthem.

News from the studio

German rock for Hardy Pietz: “Meine besten Songs”

Hardy Pietz released an album looking back on 30 years of songs, including two tracks I produced.

“Cowboy Law”: country rock across three countries

A lyricist in the US, a composer in Germany and a singer in Australia worked on the song.

Unfinished productions: five audio examples

Five instrumental sketches from projects that didn’t reach full production, from rock ’n’ roll to pop.

“Nothin’ but Love”: revisiting an old rehearsal recording

For my second track with Al Young, I produced a new version from a rehearsal recording about 25 years old at the time.

“C’est la vie”: an excursion into dance schlager

Working outside my usual genres gave me a chance to learn a different way of arranging and producing.

Turning English lyrics into pop rock

A short example of setting an existing English lyric to music.

A protest song for Hardy Pietz

A protest song that still gave me goosebumps when I watched the video again.

Guitar banjo: a different sound for familiar chords

My experience with a six-string banjo in guitar tuning, plus an AC/DC cover in a country style.

Songwriting tip: hum the idea first

Hum your song idea in one take before spending time looking for sounds.

From MacBook to Mac mini and Logic X

A studio diary about moving from Logic 8 to Logic X and setting up a new computer in 2014.

Building a punk rock chorus around power chords

A layer-by-layer look at the chorus arrangement, with an audio example.

From a vocal line to a finished song

Hear how a vocal sketch became a rock ballad with a musical theatre influence.

From pop schlager to a 1960s arrangement

Compare the demo and my 1960s-style arrangement in the same audio example.