Violinist, producer and songwriter Alex Stolze has generated a well-deserved reputation, both as composer and collaborator, for his unique blending of different musical worlds. Shifting seamlessly between stark modern classical works, fiercely intelligent electronica and off-kilter indie pop, he manages to craft his own consistent sound throughout. Middle-Eastern scales create a beguiling tonal landscape, complex polyrhythms and unusual time signatures are turned into addictive, danceable beats, while analogue synthesisers, minimal piano and his bespoke 5-string violin combine to create a uniquely textured sound- world.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Alex about the music, the tech, the challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I was born in East-Berlin and i am creating a kind of pop music based on a five string violin, that is open to many genres , and mainly touches electronic music mostly.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I was deep into experimental and techno music but one day realised, that I actually grew up playing the violin and I decided to focus on that instrument again to write a new way of popular music. To discover new ways of music, that not exists yet keeps me going for all my life.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Babylon is a cooperation with my best friends and touring musicians Ben and Anne and symbolises our community of the Nonostar Records family.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Streaming helps to create hypes. But we all do not discover new music at a concert or through a record shop or friends anymore , but have everything we want available whenever and wherever we want. That makes music an everyday item and it gets harder to see or feel a specific music as a long term partner. As streaming services belong to big companies and the algorithm does not work with the unknown element, I have heart beautiful music, that was not even picked up by the algorithm, although everyone should know it…
since I experienced that, I am very doubtful about Spotify& co and our future of free creation.
What was the last song you listened to?
The Streets – It’ too late
Stormzy – Crown
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Bandcamp is the best for us musicians, if you prefer vinyl or cd as it simply connects the listener directly to us.
I personally listen to on Spotify or on vinyl, but only f I am in the studio and have extra time to listen. It gets harder to keep that culture in the everyday terms.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I guess it is Bandcamp and / or Spotify , Youtube , my label Nonostar records has more great music in the pipeline…
Anything else before we sign off?
Is there still indie?
