Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Tonwerck
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
The first time I consciously noticed music must have been on my sixth birthday. Back then, I was given a small portable radio with a tape deck as a present. I was allowed to take it to bed with me every evening. From then on, music was playing constantly.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I took piano and drum lessons in elementary school. Later, as a teenager, i jammed with friends my age in a youth club band room. But i only really discovered songwriting for myself when I got a computer and discovered my first DAW: the wonderworld of Fruity Loops. This must have been in 1999 or so.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I have just finished producing a new 6-track EP. It will be available in stores on November 30 this year. But I have been working with an indi game designer for quite some time now, composing and producing the soundtrack for his fantasy adventure game.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I wish I had a good answer to that question myself. I get asked that a lot, but it always makes me ponder. I’ll just say that my music is always very context-driven, less tied to genre. It’s always about an idea that’s in the foreground. The concept album “Das Elektronische Herz” (the electronic heart) tells the story of a little mechanical man who sets out in search of an electronic heart for his likeness, accompanied by soundtrack-backed radio play passages. Plus a bunch of synthpop songs. The latest EP, “Old Boy,” has longing as its theme, but when I try to use AI to determine what genres these should be, I get the wildest results. So I think I make crossover music, often with a very cinematic feel.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I think many indie musicians would answer this question at a certain point in thier life the same way I do, but I’m doing it anyway to emphasize its importance: I have learned that also other musicians are cooking just with water, like me. So I don’t need to be ashamed that I don’t know enough about music theory, for example, or that I’m not a trained mixing engineer. There are so many pairs of ears in the world, and everyone hears differently. So there will also be a few ears and hearts that my music touches. Knowing this gives you a lot of self-confidence and dispels the silly idea that you have to know or be able to do everything, or that music can only be good if it has been professionally produced. The result is that I make my music the way I can and the way I like it. That’s my freedom as a small independent artist who doesn’t have to earn a living in the business.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I primarily work in Ableton. For this, I typically only require my MIDI controllers and a few sample-based instruments and synthesizers.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
The first thing that comes to mind is “Above Ground” by Stacks.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I worked mainly in the film industry. Just being close to the medium of film probably makes my music develop and sound differently, in a cinematic way.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope that my music touches people, reminds them of something, or that they create their own mental movie to accompany my songs based on their own life experiences.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Music is everywhere, and making music is one of the most enjoyable hobbies you can pursue. Unfortunately, it’s also a bit expensive 😉 But I guess you can also spend a lot of money and time on a model railway in your basement.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I’ve never thought about that. It sounds strange, but when I do go out, it’s mainly to very small concerts in bars or tiny clubs.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would love to collaborate with Thom Yorke or the guys from Air. I’ve admired their understanding of music for a long time, and they’ve done such pioneering work. I’d be interested to see what would come out of us working together.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Website: https://www.tiefenschaerfe.net/tonwerck/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/1l2WLqM42y6NaJy6pQWvtQ?si=3twVhuEJQ4umEI10UQWP0g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobi_tiefenschaerfe/
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Quite clearly: I want to be famous, showered with appreciation, and become filthy rich. No, seriously, I’m still very new to this, I’ve only been releasing my music for two years and still have a lot to learn. Promotion is a world unto itself, but it’s incredibly important if you want to reach listeners. Unfortunately, I’m not very good at it, which is why I’m grateful for every single listener. I have no doubt that I won’t be able to earn a living with music in the foreseeable future. But I hope I can build up a small fan base that will be excited about new releases (:
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I’m bursting with ideas and you never know exactly what to expect next from Tonwerck.
