Life as an independent artist

In the interview Lukas talked to us about his way into music and the importance of social media as an independent artist. He also gave us a little insight into his private life. He became famous through “The Voice of Germany” and still writes his own songs, even though he can’t read music! You can follow everything on his social media channels. He found his way to music through boredom in the church band. But in fact, this was not always his plan, because he is also a trained insurance salesman. Learn more about Lukas here!

• Lukas Instagram: instagram.com/lindermusic/
• Lukas TikTok: tiktok.com/@lindermusic

From church band to The Voice

FIV: Hello dear Lukas, I’m glad that it worked out with the interview today. Music is your life and you even write your own songs. In addition, you are known from “The Voice of Germany 2019”, where you joined Mark Forster’s team. So I’m very interested to know when and how you discovered your passion for music?

Lukas: As a child, I often went to church with my parents. I found the music there boring, so I took my little bongos with me when I was 6 years old. From then on I diligently drummed along and later also played in the church band as a drummer.

Almost a boring life….

FIV: Since you discovered your interest in music as a child and even played in the church band, was that then always your dream job or did you also typically want to be a fireman, pilot or maybe a policeman?

Lukas: I never had a plan of what I wanted to become. I once studied theology for 4 semesters and I’m also a trained insurance salesman. In 2019, I quit my office job and started my creative self-employment. Today I earn my bread as a content creator, presenter and musician. Let’s see what I’ll be doing in a few years.

Photo: Christopher Neef

Behind the camera: dreams & successes

FIV: You share your music, but also knowledge on social media and write your own songs. So there’s always a lot going on with you. But aside from that, what kind of person are you in private when you’re not in front of the camera?

Lukas: I like silence, nature and having time. I brood a lot, which is sometimes the reason for my melancholy. This is then often reflected in my music. I am a husband and a dad, my family is the most important thing of all.

FIV: Musicians are often known to have one big dream, be it a certain concert, winning an award or being number 1 in the current hits, what is your big dream?

Lukas: When I was 15, my musical dreams had no limit. Today, I set myself one goal after another. It’s important for me to remain realistic, so I can focus better. After all, I’m still completely independent. I don’t have the one big dream, I just want to be happy in everything I achieve.

Success depends on social media

FIV: That sounds very exciting. While we’re on the subject of dreams and goals, what has been your biggest success so far, both in the music industry and as a content creator?

Lukas: On “The Voice Of Germany 2019” I ended up on Mark Forster’s team. That was already great. As an independent artist, I’m happy about everyone who discovers my music. On TikTok, more than 630,000 people already follow me. Every now and then I manage to get my music placed there. The song “In Den Arm” has been clicked over 1 million times on TikTok and is my most successful song so far. I am very grateful for that.

FIV: Wow, that’s really great! As you say, you have a big community on TikTok and many of your followers get to know your music that way. In your experience, how important are well-maintained social media channels for musicians today?

Lukas: Unfortunately, very important. “Unfortunately” because algorithms determine a lot about whether you are heard or not. I started with social media because I didn’t know any other way to get people to pay attention to my music. What many people don’t know is that social media is a full-time job (if you’re serious about it) – it’s easy to do several jobs at once. Whether that’s so healthy when you really “only” want to make music is something we should talk about.

Reading instruments without sheet music?

FIV: Most musicians play instruments, of course. In your posts you can be seen playing guitar a lot. Do you only play the guitar or are there other instruments that you master?

Lukas: I taught myself guitar, piano and drums. Unfortunately, I can’t read music. However, I have never been interested in it. I prefer to play by ear and feeling.

FIV: That’s very interesting! Guitar, piano, and strum train are some instruments. At what age did you start learning them?

Lukas: Drums at 12, guitar at 14 and piano at 16. After school lessons, I practiced 2 to 3 hours a day back then – it was simply my greatest passion.

FIV: Especially in the artistic field, you like to draw inspiration from other artists. Do you have a role model specifically in the music world and why?

Lukas: I often can’t get out of my own music world, so I rarely listen to other artists. But the music of JORIS, Coldplay or Udo Lindenberg always goes.

Luck or discipline?

FIV: Success is basically related to luck and discipline. Also in the world of music both have a high importance, so I would like to hear from you what you think is more important: luck or discipline and why?

Luke: Happiness is a state that you can’t control. It comes and goes. Devoted to discipline, it stays if you want it to. I believe that consistent work will pay off one day!

FIV: We thank you for the great interview and wish you all the best on your way!

More interviews with content creators

Did you like the interview with Dennis? Then read more interviews with content creators here.

Marie Luise in interview: Turf power sports, pressure and dreams

Marie provides her 360,000 followers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube with workouts, recipes, coaching and motivation every day. On Youtube, she takes you through her everyday life in vlogs, shows you how she prepares for her vacation and much more. She is a real sports fan and loves challenges. In this interview, Marie takes us into her everyday sports life. She talked to us about her big dreams, her sporty life and how she deals with pressure. She also shares with us tips for motivation and lack of drive to give your best in sports with full energy. Marie has been a sporty person since a young age. From sports acrobatics to hip-hop, working out at the gym to lawn sports, she’s played almost every sport. But she also occasionally watches from the sidelines and cheers on her boyfriend at soccer games. How she manages to keep it all under one hat, she reveals to us here in this interview.

• Marie Luise in interview

Photo: Marvin Schönfelder

Dennis Koenig in an interview: His life as a content creator, fascination with horror and his private side

Already active on TikTok and having gained a good reach, Dennis, the content creator in the Corona pandemic, also started his YouTube career with his horror content. Not shy about getting in touch with his community, it also became one of his sources of inspiration. All horror fans, whether in the form of movies or video games, are in great hands with him. In the interview with our magazine, he talks about his childhood “crimes,” how he came to this particular fascination with horror, his inspiration and motivation with the great aspect of community, as well as his interests that extend beyond horror and his social media presence. Behind the creepy lover is a world explorer.

• Dennis Koenig in interview

Photo: instagram.com/denniskoenigg/

German Rap – How it all began

When the culture of hip-hop began in New York, people in Germany were listening to ABBA, Status Quo, Smokey and Schlager. At that time, hardly anyone in Germany noticed the culture of hip-hop, which was mostly lived on the street, with rap, DJing, B-boying (breakdancing) and graffiti. There is still disagreement about the beginnings in Germany. The single released in April 1980, titled “Rapper’s Deutsch”, is considered the first German-language rap song, but without really becoming famous. G.L.S.-United were the performers, which include Thomas Gottschalk. It was a parody of the American rap song Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.

Nina Hagen and Die Toten Hosen also recorded a single with rap in the early 1980s. The first nationally known hip-hop bands in West Germany were Rock Da Most, Advanced Chemisty, We Wear The Crown Posse, TCA the Microphone Mafia and Too Strong. As in West Germany, musicians in East Germany were also influenced by the film Wild Style, with the English-language crew Electric Beat Crew emerging in East Germany shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the mid-1980s, this first wave subsided again. It was probably the Fresh Familee, which published in 1989, the first German rap song originating from the culture, under the title “Ahmet Gündüz”.

The beginnings briefly summarized:

• Beginnings in America, New York
• Hip-hop culture first lived out only on street
• Not agree on real emergence
• Rap appears again and again with different artists

New and old school – popularity increased

The first renowned German hip-hop artists initially rapped almost exclusively in English, until Torch from Advanced Chemistry freestyled in German for the first time at a jam and received approval from the audience, which was probably due to better understanding. But it wasn’t until 1992 that Advanced Chemistry released “Fremd im eigenen Land,” the first record in German.

Rap then established itself more and more in pop culture and more artists emerged. The so-called fun rap became popular and with it the performers such as Die Fantastischen Vier or Fettes Brot as well as the Rödelheim Hartreim project by Moses Pelham in which, among others, the then completely unknown artists Sabrina Setlur and Xavier Naidoo participated. Through this new type of rap, the scene split into Neue Schule and Alte Schule, while the Neue Schule preferred the fun lyrics, the Alte Schule saw themselves more as the critical performers, with lyrics against racism or police violence like the Absolute Beginner with their song K.E.I.N.E., which was considered police criticism.

Increase in popularity in a short time:

• First German rappers rap in English
• Torch from Advanced Chemistry raps German freestyle first time
• Fun rap becomes popular: Fantastischen Vier/ Fettes Brot

Integration into the mainstream

From the mid-1990s, hip-hop became an integral part of German pop culture. Independent hip-hop centers emerged in the Ruhr region, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Berlin, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Munich and, above all, Hamburg. Massive Töne, Blumentopf and Freundeskreis established themselves during this period.

Later, so-called gangsta rap emerged, represented by artists such as Kool Savas, Sido, Bushido or Sammy Deluxe. In the meantime, hip-hop has become indispensable.

Deutschrap Videos: Beginnings & Interviews

Experience Deutschrap up close! Are you interested in the topic? Here you can find some videos that describe the beginnings of hip-hop in Germany. In addition to real documentaries, you will find interviews and insights into the lives of rappers and artists.

The Beginnings: How Hip Hop Came to Germany

The beginnings of hip hop in a video. How did rap come from the Bronx in America to European Germany? All these questions are answered here in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3nuWI5r9Y

Shadow Worlds Berlin

Many people associate German rap with a high crime rate, especially in Berlin. Find out why in this video. Berlin has two sides – the glamorous and rich on one side, and violence and rap on the other. See for yourself what this side has to do with German hip-hop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF8WGp7HqIk

German rap documentary with rapper Massiv

The German rapper Massiv in the interview – experience the scene of German hip-hop with Massiv here! From the hairdresser to the gym, here you experience the whole everyday life of a rapper up close!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auzp1ORbvg4

Artist, entrepreneur, singer: Fynn Kliemann

Known to us as web designer, talented do-it-yourselfer, author and now also musician? Fynn publishes his first music album – never – and shows a thoughtful Fynn who gives us an insight into his unknown world with these lyrics. His lyrics are about family and love. He gives free rein to his creativity, just like in his work. The special feature of this album, everyone who pre-ordered until 28.09 will get a digital edition. After that date this album is no longer available in physical form. In the end there were over 800.000 orders. With this music, Fynn Kliemann is at the top of the Top 10 albums 2018, and you can find the latest on Fynn Kliemann on Instagram – or on one of his 2 Youtube channels : Fynn Kliemann Music, Fynn Kliemann. We are looking forward to more DIY videos and music that goes to the heart!

Multi talent of the instruments: Tash Sultana

Not a rapper, not a soulful singer or an RnB singer – but incredibly noteworthy! Tash is a multi-instrumentalist, a wonder girl who takes the stage apart as a soloist at concerts. Her genre is unknown or cannot be subsumed under one direction. A variety of musical styles or a new, unknown genre. Her management says: neither woman nor man, is her name, rather non-bionic. Tash, born in Melbourne, started with street music years ago and started publishing her songs on Youtube. Since she plays music on her own and still does a job that could be a band – she is the new creature in the business! With over 10 different instruments and the inspiration of various musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, alt-J and Phil Collins – we believe she will be very soon, very famous.

German rap for women: Loredana

Loredana, who was born in Albania, grew up in Switzerland. The girlfriend of the successful Albanian rapper Mozzik becomes a star with just one song in 2018. Her self-confident and cool manner is not well received by everyone at first. In spring she starts teasing her first single on Instagram. With the release of the song – Sunglasses – Loredana gets 2 million clicks within the first 24 hours and some of the scene like Nura, Schwesta Ewa and Visa Vie support her via Instagram. The style of music is well received by many and so she ends up in the Top 15 of the charts. With her coolness – her look and her music, she deserves this recognition!

Youtuber & musician: Marvin Game

It is known since its Hotbox format on Youtube. The Berlin boy invites musicians like Materia, Bausa and SXTN to join him while he smokes, tells stories or just raps. Marvin releases his first solo album 2017 – 20:14 – . He refrains from harsh announcements and concentrates instead on a down-to-earth presentation. His fascination for rap, he found as a boy in the US Hip-Hop culture and wants to do his own thing until today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw7jemGZDpw

Extremely celebrated – women in the rap scene

SXTN – a German hip hop duo from Berlin, two rappers Juju and Nura. In 2015, the girls achieve a breakthrough. Sold out tour tickets and on the lists of the top 20 charts take the two to the top. Their announcements are unmistakable: SXTN demonstrate self-confidence and cannot be talked into. The trapbeats come hard and demanding, the lyrics are vulgar and coarse. The provocation is undoubtedly successful.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbS843ij4wE/?taken-by=sxtnmusik

Eunique – known as the Hustler. She simply raps down the themes of social injustice, sexism and racism. The Hamburg girl put in her freestyle rap video at that time and thus began her career as a rapper – who dares. Eunique also known as Kobra, founds a fan club Kobra Military – to expand their community.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bob3-SSlaqG/?taken-by=euniqueoffiziell

Rap Genius – Which man can keep up?

Besides long-term musicians, more and more newcomers are making a quick start into the rapper charts.  More and more male musicians rap about topics like drugs, sex, violence, love, music, friends or other soft areas.

With Sido, Miss Platum and RAF Camora & Bonez MC Bausa can be heard since a long time. His music is played up and down on the radio and with a few titles he is in the top three of the charts.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgi8sWEFO8v/

Ronny Trettmann , a reggae and dancehall artist, conquers the country’s single charts for four weeks. With his Saxon dialect and a sexy autotune voice, he arouses attention. Besides big appearances at different festivals, he records songs with other German rappers like Gringo, GZUZ, Materia and Megaloh, which everybody should know by now.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmd7rMVFURo/

Gross lyrics, big feelings and questionable poses – his songs have been at the top of the trend charts at Spotify and Apple Music for weeks now. His tour in all cities almost sold out. In 2017 he won the award for Best Newcomer National at the Hip Hop.de Awards.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmvev89AVxN/

Tyga – Top Songs

• key
• Dip
• SWISH
• Ayo

Tyga – Top Albums

• Kyoto
• Bitch I’m the Shit 2
• Rawwest Alive
• Fuk Wat They Talkin Bout
• The Gold Album: 18th Dynast
• Fan of A Fan The Album (Deluxe Version)
• Rack City
• Well Done 4

Tyga’s most successful song in Germany was “Ayo”. The song stayed in the charts for 29 weeks and made it to number 23. “Taste” was Tyga’s biggest charter success in Austria and reached number 21 (20 weeks). Taste was also the most successful song in Switzerland, the UK and the USA. In Switzerland he reached 18th place (24 weeks), in the UK 5th place (23 weeks) and in the USA 8th place (23 weeks).

Tyga – Taste (Official Video) ft. Offset

Tyga – Dip (Official Video) ft. Nicki Minaj

Tyga – SWISH (Official Video)

• Jannik Brunke / Youtube
• Jannikbrunke / Instagram

“At the end of the day, I’m the guy from the North Sea who makes handmade music.”

Jannik…Or should I rather say Justin Bieber 2.0? As a young up-and-coming musician you are called like that quite often. Does that bother you or do you think that this nickname is rather a compliment?

Moin first of all, of course I’ve heard that one or the other time. People love comparisons and I’d be lying if I haven’t done that too, but in the end I’m Jannik, the guy from the North Sea who makes handmade music.

Not all of my readers will know you. What person is behind the soulful voice, sweet smile and tousled hair? How would your friends and family describe you?

I myself would describe myself as an open and cheerful person. I think that’s how my people see me too. I laugh a lot and am very determined and disciplined about music and put all my passion into it…sometimes I’m late for dinner or other appointments because of that.

I can imagine that you couldn’t live without music anymore. Apart from music, what could you never do without in your everyday life?

Netflix and sports. Combo I know, but I think that makes it. Chill and do nothing and once power out! Of course, my friends are also important, but with most I also make music or work creatively.

Jannik’s personal drug and relationship status

What is it like before you go on stage and then when you stand on top and look at your audience?

It’It’s the perfect high, the perfect drug. I love it and I can’can’t get enough of it. Every time you have to adjust to the people anew. So every concert is different and unique.

I’I’m sure your female fans will be very interested: Do you have a girlfriend?

Well, that remains secret… no ok, not at the moment. I’m on the road a lot and long in the studio so there is not the time to really get to know someone.

“Rather, you should just pay attention to the charisma and maybe support that with the right look”

Your look is rather cool and casual. To me it looks like you wear whatever you feel like wearing and don’t worry about the outfit choice the day before. Is fashion important to you?

You described it quite well! If I find something I think is cool, I wear it. Fashion itself is important to me. I would like to be much more in the theme or even wear really stylish outfits but somehow I always end up with my black jeans, skate shoes and a sweater. Maybe that’s just my look then.

Looking at you and your style I would say by first impression that you are a very chilled and laid back personality. Do you find that you can express your personality through a certain style?

I think in a way, unfortunately, yes. The exterior should not really matter. You should rather only pay attention to the charisma and maybe support it with the right look.

Everyone has certain parts that should not be missing in the wardrobe. Tell me, what are your fashion must-haves and why?

A stretch skinny jeans, ‘n hoodie with hood under which you can hide sometimes and that’s it. If possible black and white, because it reduces to the essential and does not distract from the personality.

Jannik’s no-go to the girls: “No belly in winter”.

Now it’s slowly approaching the cold season, the winter. What do you think the perfect winter look looks like? Which look do you like most for girls in winter?

I have to buy it from the person. I think it’s wrong when you dress up, that you can of course like to do times but actually I like it authentic. If the girl feels comfortable, she can wear anything. Nevertheless I like it rather modest, also with the girls. And woe betide them if they dress too cold and then always freeze. No tummy in winter.

As a musician, you probably try out different styles from time to time, or have you already found your particular style?

I would actually like to try out a lot more and dare more. Nevertheless, I think I have already found a kind of style. The style stands somehow for my music and my music expresses my personality. As a musician there are always stage outfits. I think here you can also experiment and dare something.

Half a year ago you uploaded your debut single “Nicht Ich” on Youtube. In the meantime you can already listen to the song on Spotify. Did you write it yourself and if so, what does it mean to you?

Yes, that was the first song I wrote when I moved to Berlin. You just have to listen to the song and then I think you know exactly what it’s about and what kind of situation I was in at the time. I was just better off alone. Today I might think about it differently again…

Official Video “Not Me”

School or passion? Music comes first!

You make music and study. Isn’t it hard to balance these two important things in your life? What was it like during school, were you able to produce a lot of music during that time?

When I moved to Berlin and did both at the same time, there was definitely little sleep during that time. But it was fun! But since I don’t do things by halves and I’m on the road so much now, I put my studies on hold for the time being. When I was at school I missed my homework from time to time, so I was labelled as “lazy”. However, I was building beats and making music videos all the time. I simply set other priorities.

“I was just about to start singing and all of a sudden people are singing MY song”.

You must get a lot of messages from your fans on Instagram. Of course it’s hard to reply to everyone, but do you also have direct contact with your fans from time to time?

It’s not that hard yet, at least I always try to answer. I’m definitely looking for contact with my fans and I’m also interested in the things that are going on at the moment and like to be inspired. It’s always great to meet new people. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to fulfill my dreams without you.

Already as a small child you started with the music inspired by your father. Over this time you have certainly experienced some small successes. What was your first big musical success and how did you feel about it? How has your life changed since then?

The biggest success for me so far was the moment when I stood on stage and the audience could completely sing along with my song “Nicht ich”. I just wanted to start singing and suddenly people sing MY song. This also includes the own tour with meet & greets etc.

With success come not only positive changes, but also negative ones. Have you already had bad experiences in your business?

Of course, there are always phonies or false friends. But now I have the perfect team around me and the right friends at the start. I think that’s also the biggest change. After school a lot has changed and even more when I moved to Berlin. That doesn’t have to do with “wrong friends”, but simply with the fact that everyone goes their own way and you lose sight of each other. I think that’s normal…

You are still very young and I am sure that you still have a very promising career ahead of you. Tell me, where do you see yourself in 5 years and what are your plans for your professional and private future?

In 5 years, I would be only 26. I would still like to be as happy with myself as I am now. I want to make music and be able to live from it without worrying.

• Jannik Brunke / Youtube
• Jannikbrunke / Instagram