Pilgerreise

Yesterday I was in Kangaroo Studio working with Florian on my new album. I was really pleased to find that Johannes Falk was there putting the finishing touches on his new album, "Pilgerreise". Of course I asked to sit in and listen for a while. What a treat that was!
I heard bits and pieces of several songs from the album. All of them composed and texted by Joe. The sound is very dense but Joe's super interesting voice is well in the foreground of the mix. The texts are not complicated, but they are rich. The pictures are strong. And the melodies are such that just when you think you know where it's going to go, it takes a turn that grabs your curiosity again.
The story line of the songs is based on John Bunyon's classic christian tale, "The Pilgrim's Progress", first published in 1678! I used the same book as the basis for my album, "Welt von 1000 Wegen". I am so pleased that this young, cool singer has digested this beautiful metaphorical story for a new generation of readers.
Sitting in there for this short listening session was kind of like smelling somebody cooking a wonderful meal. It makes your mouth water and you can't wait to sink your teeth into it!

Sometimes it seems like there are so many thoughts and ideas whirring around in my befuddled brain, that I can't sort through them to find out what is important and what isn't. Do you know what I mean? Maybe a weekend at a Kloster where no one is allowed to talk would clear my head.
Or writing stuff down. That always helps!!!!
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First and foremost, I'm busy working on a new solo album. At the suggestion of Markus Bonnert, the A&R from Gerth Medien (record company) it will include new recordings of old favorites. After polling the public for some time, we now have the tracklist set. The album will also include 3 new songs that Florian and I are writing /have written together.
I've decided on a title and a photographer and the musicians who will play on the album. Each of those is a big hurdle in the decision-making process. But, oh how I love this whole creative phase of album-making!
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You may have been aware of the RTL "Das Supertalent 2010" casting show which ended last December with Freddy Sahin-Scholl winning by a landslide voting margin. What you may not know is that the songs that Freddy sang for the TV show, and on his new album, almost all have lyrics written by me! The album has moved from #4 to #3 in the German album charts and is #4 in Austria and #12 in Switzerland.
I'm amazed by Freddy's courage and belief in this album. And I'm so proud to have a part in it. He called me last week, between TV appearances, to ask me to work with him on his second album. It will be released this year by Sony Music.
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After completely selling out of Lifelines (my line of necklaces) during the Christmas tour in December, I'm super busy making new ones - A) to sell at our/my concerts and -B) to finally put some new Lifelines on my web shop. The shop has been empty for a month now, but it seems like as soon as I get a few Lifelines made, we have a concert and they're sold out again! This is such a nice predicament to be in!
Someone suggested that I "farm out" the making of the Lifelines but I just can't do that. I make each one by myself, by hand, and pray for the person who will eventually buy and wear this particular Lifeline. I can't ask somebody else to do that !!
I just want you to know that I'm making new Lifelines as fast as I can. BUT I have another concert on Saturday. Whatever is not sold there, I will photograph and put on the webshop. OK?
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So, that's the big stuff. There's lots of little stuff that I could write about, but I'll save that for later!