KCRW Berlin: Amplified

In this episode of Leitmotifs, host Fredrika Brillembourg talks with pianist and conductor Benjamin Hochman. He has performed in major cities and festivals around the world, both as a soloist and chamber musician. Currently, Hochman is a research associate with Bard College Berlin and concert curator for the American Academy. Fredrika spoke with him about Mozart and Hochman's approach to music.

Jazzfest Berlin has a long tradition in the city. It's been a platform for musicians from around the world since 1964. This year, the four-day festival is scheduled to kick off on Nov. 5 with a focus on the jazz scenes in Berlin and New York. We spoke with Nadin Deventer, the artistic director of the festival about what to expect from this special pandemic edition of Jazzfest Berlin.

We feature indie-rock musician Ian Tilling. The 35-year-old Brit moved to Berlin in 2016. After joining and leaving a number of bands, he started his solo project Grief Scene a year ago. Next month, Tilling will release his debut album titled "Bad Times."Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll 

We spoke with Michael Culme-Seymour — aka Marlais — about his love of folk music and his life in Berlin. The 33-year-old musician often blends old folk songs with modern elements. "Meeting Is A Pleasure," is his latest single released in mid-September, a preview of the album to come.  Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll 

Angelica Ranåsen and Jacob Fagerstål are the Swedish pop duo Juno Francis. They teamed up in Berlin a couple of years ago to work on their vision of psychedelic 60s and 80s pop. We caught up with the singer, Angelica, who is 26, to talk about the duo's upcoming first EP "Oyster Love," and her fascination with all things retro.Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

Tricky just released his 14th studio album, “Fall To Pieces.”On most of the new tracks, the Berlin-based artist is joined by Marta Złakowska, a vocalist whom he discovered on a European tour. We caught up with the 52-year-old about his new release and to find out what keeps him going after three decades of making music.Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

hear now berlin is a chamber group that plays works by contemporary composers. Inspired by the music she loves playing and hearing, the sextet’s founder and flutist, Kelly Watson Woelffer, searched for five musicians who shared her vision: a violist from Australia, a cellist from New Zealand, and a trumpeter, violinist and clarinetist from Germany.Though they are all classically trained musicians with orchestral foundations, the six are also skilled in a wide range of other genres, including singer-songwriter, big band, pop and jazz.About 18 months after the group’s debut performance, we caught up with Watson Woelffer and violist Xina Hawkins about the challenges of holding auditions for a new group member during the pandemic and their upcoming concert on Sept. 7 at Kulturhaus Insel Berlin.Produced by Sylvia Cunningham

Candice Gordon is the new cultural officer at the Irish Embassy in Berlin. The musician is known well beyond Berlin’s music scene for her haunting voice and prolific lyrics.We caught up with Gordon about her new role in cultural diplomacy and her latest EP, “The Sacramental Traffic Lights.”Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

Szabolcs Bognar, better known as Àbáse, is a Berlin-based producer and multi-instrumentalist who is playing at this year’s XJAZZ open air festival.A classically trained jazz pianist, Àbáse combines jazzy elements with West African, Brazilian and other influences to create a fresh, new sound.Ahead of his performance this weekend, we caught up with the 29-year-old over Zoom about his appreciation for Yoruba culture and growing up in post-socialist Budapest. Produced by Benjamin Restle

Martha Rose, a U.K.-born, Berlin-based musician, just released her second full-length album titled “Undress & Dive After.” The 33-year-old multi-instrumentalist talks with us about her songwriting process, what her grandparents have to do with it, and what’s behind her intriguing album title.Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

Back in March when all the music clubs closed in Berlin, big band leader Andrej Hermlin made a promise: to keep on performing as long as the coronavirus pandemic restricts our lives.His band, the Swingin’ Hermlins, started a non-stop series of nightly concerts streamed live via Facebook. KCRW Berlin’s Erik Kirschbaum met Andrej Hermlin to talk about his love for American music from the 1930s and why he made this crazy promise.Produced by Erik Kirschbaum

Berlin-based composer Sam Auinger describes himself as a “sonic thinker.”The 64-year-old Austrian has spent decades exploring sound and perception in public places. Auinger’s current project is a sound installation with his long-time collaborator Hannes Strobl. The duo’s work, “Eleven Songs,” runs until August 2 at the Halle am Berghain .Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

Brisbane-born Michael Brinkworth draws inspiration from Bob Dylan, Neil Young and from the city he now calls home, Berlin, “this weird halfway house that I ended up in.” The 33-year-old traveled the globe before settling down here six years ago.In the past couple of months, Brinkworth has been releasing tracks from his upcoming album, “Wasted Wonder.” We talk to him about his new music and life in Berlin. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

In this week’s edition of Amplified, we catch up with New Zealand-born soul singer and producer Noah Slee. The musician just released the single, “Here For It All.” It comes after his EP, “TWICE,” and his breakthrough debut album “Otherland.”Slee is usually based in Berlin, but he got stuck on tour when the pandemic struck. We reached him via Zoom in New Zealand. Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll

Berlin-based musician Derya Yildirim is a multi-instrumentalist, but her favorite is the Turkish lute called the “Bağlama.” Usually, the 26-year-old performs with her band, Grup Şimşek, but more recently, she’s played on her own. We caught up with the 26-year-old in France, where she is reuniting with her band to write new material.Produced by Monika Müller-Kroll