Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Manuel K
MANUEL K and his family band – Like a Flower (studio session)
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My first classical piano lesson when I was still in kindergarten.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
In addition to playing by notes, I always liked to play by my own. These improvisations on the piano and later also on the guitar have often resulted in songs later.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
“Like a Flower (Studio Session)” is a re-recording of a song by my former rock band “Nextmile”. We have now recorded this new version of the song live with my still young family band in the Soundfarm Studios in Switzerland (no overdubs). At the same time, a music video was shot by Ruppen Productions.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
My music is mainly indie rock with elements of hard rock, blues, folk and country. I try not to follow fast trends and do my own thing.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
With my former band “Nextmile” we didn’t have home recording studios at that time. Today – with my current project “Manuel K” – I can record large parts of my songs in the home recording studio without time or cost pressure. For the remaining parts I work with professional studio musicians or now also with my family band (live band).
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Electric and acoustic guitars, bass, piano, keyboards, several mics, drums, drum loops, percussion etc., Logic Pro for music recording and production, Final Cut Pro for video editing etc.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I listen to an incredible amount of music. The spectrum ranges from Melodic Hard Rock, to Indie Rock, Folk, Country to Blues. Therefore, I would have to list a lot of artists here.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
When I was younger, positive praise logically made me very happy. But negative criticism has upset and disappointed me. Now I’m older, calmer and I hope I’ve become wiser, so I just always continue with my music, just the way I like and feel it. And it should be fun too.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
It’s about real, deep or lost love (Like a Flower, Tonight, Live Without You). Or about the path and meaning of life (The Way of Life, Follow You). Or that you should not follow false prophets, preachers and politicians etc. (The Wave). Therefore, my songs can be very different, from calm and gentle, to rocking and angry.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Be yourself.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I love smaller to medium concerts because they are even more personal.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Spontaneously my current guitar teacher comes to my mind. He is a professional and extremely good guitar player.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
https://www.instagram.com/manuel_k_official
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/manuel-k/597707176
https://www.facebook.com/ManuelKofficial
https://www.instagram.com/manuel_k_official
https://www.youtube.com/user/ManuelKofficial
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
To record and release more cool songs and also to play more live gigs – hopefully together with my family band (live band).
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope that even more people discover my music, share it and also feel how much joy and fun my music gives me and hopefully the listeners too. If I can make them happy with my music, then I have reached my goal.
