Bernd Kistenmacher, born in Berlin in 1960, seen as the pivotal figure in the so-called second Berlin School of electronic music, emulating the first which featured Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and co. Kistenmacher released his first cassette in 1984 and has been making music ever since. Kistenmacher did not like the way electronic music was developing in the Eighties, so he simply bought himself the analogue synthesizers he needed to pursue his passion: “classic” Berlin School par excellence. “Head-Visions” is Kistenmacher’s debut album from the year 1986, “Wake Up In The Sun” followed one year later.
Facts
1: Never waste your time with meaningless things.
2: Die Welt ist Klang (The world is sound) (Joachim Ernst Berendt)
3: “I love those moments… I like to wave at them as they pass by” (Jack Sparrow)
Questions
What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Images in technicolor widescreen. Music must be like the acoustic complement to it. Like a wall of sounds. It must be wide, wider, widest.
How and when did you get into making music?
My father taught me to play piano at the age of 8 years. My cousin socialized me with psychedelic rock at the age of 11. Klaus Schulze and Vangelis (at least the music of them) trained me to listen really to music at the age of 16. At the age of 21 i was ready and willing to start with my own music. The story is long…
What are your 5 favorite albums of all time?
Klaus Schulze – Moondawn
Klaus Schulze – Mirage
Vangelis Blade – Runner
Vangelis – El Greco
Hans Zimmer – Inception
What do you associate with Berlin?
A place that is surrounded by a wall that has forced me to raise my head and look at the stars. Nothing has changed in this regard. Only that this wall is today in the hearts of men.
What’s your favorite place in your town?
It is my studio. I call it “Ivory Tower” and this has a meaning to me.
If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I think I would die. Like water, music helps me to survive.
What was the last record you bought?
Ulrich Schnauss “A Long Way To Fall” and Dominik Scherrer “Ripper Street” (Soundtrack) (Very good!!!)
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Filmorchester Babelsberg or another good orchestra…..and Annie Lennox.
What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As spectator: Klaus Schulze, Berlin in fall 1977 in the „Philharmonie“. (One man and his machines. Heavenly)
As performer: Dresden 1989, Junge Garde. 7000 people close to freak out.
How important is technology to your creative process?
Technology is part of the process. I make music with machines (mainly). Technology delivers the canvas on which I can “paint”. But the ability to create must be in you. If it isn’t so, the technology is good for nothing.
Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career?
No, I am sorry. Or better my parents should… ;-)
Our favourite: Head-Visions | Wake Up In The Sun | Paradise
Link: Website | Band camp | Facebook
