Photo: Karine Bravo
Composer, pianist and producer Martin Kohlstedt talks to Caro C about his approach to combining piano and electronic instruments, improvisation in the studio and on stage, plus the work he is doing to reduce the carbon footprint of touring.
Show Notes
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:42 - Combining Piano And Electronics
05:10 - Organic, Improvised Performances
09:29 - Incorporating The Voice Into Recordings
10:23 - Favoured Hardware Choices
12:56 - Touring Equipment
15:54 - Selecting A Live Team
17:10 - The Recording Process
20:14 - Launching The Edition Kohlstedt Label
23:39 - Film, TV and Other Commissions
25:11 - The Process Of Collaboration
27:14 - The Influenced Of Nature
30:15 - Supporting Ecological Projects
32:07 - Planning The Touring Schedule
35:52 - Kinship With Other Artists
Martin Kohlstedt - Biog
Martin Kohlstedt is a composer, pianist and producer known for his work in instrumental music and electronica. His albums, including Tag and Nacht, Strom, Ströme, Flur and Feld, along with their respective reworks, have earned international recognition and led to global concert tours.
Kohlstedt’s music blends electronica with acoustic and analogue elements, incorporating classical piano, ambient sounds, field recordings, and score design. His work is characterised by the seamless integration of diverse influences and soundscapes. Whether performing at festivals, in intimate piano concerts, or creating movie scores, his music is dynamic and immersive, evolving in real-time during live performances.
He describes his approach as modular composition, where his pieces are never fixed. Improvisation plays a key role in his process and he values audience interaction, the freedom to experiment and to collaborate with people, spaces and contexts. Throughout his career, Kohlstedt has worked with notable partners such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus Choir, artists like Douglas Dare and Sudan Archives and labels including Warner Classics. In addition to his own compositions, he creates music and scores for films, plays, podcasts and audiobooks. Kohlstedt also runs his own label, Edition Kohlstedt that supports a reforestation project near his hometown.
https://facebook.com/martinkohlstedt
https://instagram.com/martinkohlstedt
https://www.youtube.com/user/martinkohlstedt
Interviewer: Caro C - Biog
Described as a 'one-woman electronic avalanche' (BBC) and a 'sonic enchantress' (BBC Radio 3), Caro has been making her own brand of sensual electronica since the late '90s, reared on a diet of black music, Warp Records and Björk.
Caro currently finds herself in ample musical mischief in the Manchester creative mycelium and beyond — making music, teaching, producing podcasts as well as being the instigator and project manager of electronic music charity Delia Derbyshire Day.
http://carocsound.com/
Twitter: @carocsound
Instagram: @carocsound
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carocsound/
Delia Derbyshire Day Charity: https://deliaderbyshireday.com
About the Electronic Music podcast channel
On this SOS channel we feature some of the pioneers of the industry, interview musicians, and talk about retro and current gear.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
