Would you like to introduce yourselves briefly?

Timon: I'm Timon and as a part of Sinner on the Dancefloor (SOTD) I take care of the production and songwriting, and I do most of the mixing and mastering.

Leon: I'm Leon and I write and produce the songs together with Timon in SOTD, write lyrics and sing, and play bass and guitar.

How long have you guys been around, and where are you from?

We met in the summer of 2018 on Instagram. At that time, we both still lived near Bremen. We started producing songs together, trying out a few styles until we’d found our signature sound. At the beginning of the first lockdown in 2020 we decided to start the SOTD project.

How would you describe your music?

Our music is a mixture of pop, synth-pop and the 80s. We combine funky guitars and drums with expansive synthesizers to create a sound with a distinct groove that has some depth to it at the same time. Besides the English lyrics, the arrangements of the instruments are the main focus for us.

What inspires you to write your songs?

Inspirations for our music are other musicians like Roosevelt, Charlie Puth or Jamiroquai, but also older pop songs from the 80s or from the funk genre like 'Get Down Saturday Night' by Oliver Cheatham. In addition, we draw our ideas and creativity from working together and the experiences that we share with one another.

How do you record and mix the tracks?

We mainly record in our home studios. We've both set up quite good recording facilities at home. Leon has just moved into a studio in Hamburg, so there are new opportunities for us now. In almost all of our tracks we use the Yamaha TX81z synthesizer from 1987. It's like a DX7 for the rack, sounds the same way and also has the legendary tones of the Lately Bass or the warm electric piano, mainly known from pop songs of the 90s. We record vocals with a Shure SM7B via an SPL Goldmike preamp and a Klark-Teknik KT76 compressor. This is an analogue of 1176 that handles voices just the way we like it. The signal then goes into the preamp of the Scarlett 18i20 with the Air function enabled. The latter has been used in almost all of our recordings, regardless of whether it's a bass, percussion instruments, or Leon's '62 Fender Stratocaster’. We build the drums from sample packs nearly always and then spice them up with real hi-hats and/or shakers. We create most of the synthesizer sounds with the Arturia emulations of analogue classics from the 70s and 80s, such as the Juno 60, Oberheim OB-X, Minimoog or the Prophet 5. Mixing is then done directly on the computer with Logic Pro X, our DAW of choice. We mainly rely on plug-ins from Fabfilter, Waves and Soundtoys. We also use Valhalla reverbs and delays in our productions and mixes.

Where can people learn more about you?

You can find out about us on Instagram. We post news about new singles and insights into our productions and projects.

We also have a YouTube channel where you can watch our music videos and 'Behind The Scenes' footage from the studio.

Which Focusrite audio interface do you use and why?

We currently both use the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20. It gives us the most flexibility in recording and mixing. We can keep connected all microphones and instruments that are being used. In addition, it offers numerous outputs, which allows us to easily incorporate analogue outboard gear during the mixing process.

Do you have experience with other products from Focusrite, Novation or ADAM Audio?

Unfortunately, we haven't used any products from Novation or ADAM Audio yet. Another reason for us to enjoy the prizes.

How did you find out about the Focusrite contest?

Timon: I found out about the contest on the Focusrite's Instagram page and signed up using the posted link, which was really quick and easy. In fact, I even forgot to tell Leon about it. Of course, win was a huge surprise. And not just for him!

What will you do with the prizes you’ve won?

We’re really looking forward to using the new equipment in our productions. With ADAM Audio's headphones we now have another great option to monitor our mixes. Also, producing with 8" speakers is much more fun than on smaller monitors. We’re very excited about the Novation Bass Station, because the analogue operation invites you to get hands-on, which is fun.

What are your future plans regarding your band project?

Next up is the spring release of our new single 'Sinner On The Dancefloor', the song title our band name is coming from. We’ve held back the song until now to wait for the perfect time for this kind of release. We have a few songs coming out this year. We’re constantly in the studio working on our first album. In addition, we hope to be able to play live soon, if the current circumstances allow it. And beyond that, we’re very interested in collaborating with other artists.

Would you like to introduce yourselves briefly?

Rainer: Die Gruppe König consists of Alfa Stark, responsible for the vocals, guitar playing,
songwriting and production, Ronny Gelato, who knows how to deal with the bass, and me,
Rainer Zorn. I’m the drummer.
 

How long have you been around, and where are you from?

Alfa: The band has been around since 2017. Ronny and Rainer have joined the band in 2020 for the latest EP 'MOTORE'. We live and work in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

How would you describe your music?

Alfa: We describe our music as rugged and energetic, as a handmade and uncomfortable act of catharsis. Post-punk between Bodden-coastlines and bitterness, between forests and anger.

What inspires you to write your songs?

Rainer: We draw inspiration in particular from the rural, almost hopeless-looking places, which Mecklenburg-West Pomerania has quite a few to offer. Difficult to grasp situations and emotions shape the lyrics, our rock biographies shape the playing style on the instruments.  

How do you record and mix the tracks?

Ronny: We’ve recorded and mixed all of our releases ourselves. Our sound suggests an analogue way of working - but in fact everything happens 'in the box'. For the sake of time, space and cost, we program the drums. All guitar and bass sounds come from modellers. We only outsource the mastering process.

Where can people find out more about you?

Ronny: You can look us up on the Internet – on YouTube, Spotify, Bandcamp and Instagram:

Which audio interface do you use and why?

Alfa: We currently use the Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 for our productions. We get along well with the four combo inputs in the home studio. The illuminated input level indicators are very useful, and the Focusrite Control software offers great additional functions.

Do you have experience with other Focusrite, Novation or ADAM Audio products?

Alfa: We’ve recorded our first album with the first generation Focusrite 18i20. Without much knowledge of mic and drum recording, we were surprised how well the preamps reproduced our drums.

How did you find out about the Focusrite contest?

Ronny: We became aware of it on the Instagram channel of justmusic.de, which shared the competition. We didn't realise that we were up against numerous competitors until we won. Maybe next time we should read the small print - although - maybe not! ;)

What will you do with the prizes you’ve won?

Rainer: Our main studio, at home with Alfa, has now received an upgrade in terms of studio monitors. Ronny's home studio will be upgraded with the new Focusrite Scarlett audio interface and the Novation Launchkey as the new main MIDI keyboard. For the time being, the Circuit Tracks and the Launchpad X serve as potential for new creative ideas, especially to complement the drums and for adding more background sounds. By the way, we’ve played live the classic way with real drums, but we can imagine expanding the dynamics in the future with the help of new technological possibilities.

What are your plans regarding your band project?

Rainer: We want keep on what we started last year. The EP following 'MOTORE' is currently in its final production phase, and there are some music videos to come. And finally, we want to satisfy our need for live performances and hope for the first festivals in summer and many dark stages in clubs.

How did you get into music?

Even as a little boy, I used to drum on things. So I started out with drums and then got into rap and beat-making through hip-hop. Later on, friends introduced me to Magix Music Maker and HipHop Ejay. But my first good beats came about when I sampled my father's old records back in 2010. At the same time, we had a rap crew I made the beats for. Later, I felt the need to play the instruments myself, such as piano, guitar and bass.

How would you describe your music?

I have two main projects at the moment. Freddy Filser (Freddy is my middle name and Filser is my mother's family name) is a mixture of everything I listen to in my private life that influences me in some way. Many people say that my music has the 80s vibe, which I can't deny. I’ve been listening to a lot of music from that decade and I use plug-ins and classic synthesizers that are typical of that era. But there are also days when I make trap beats or compose a bridge for a computer game. And then there's Filser & Friends, my chill beats project. Cosy hip-hop instrumentals with soul and jazz influences. The graphics are made by my colleague Aky P.

What inspires you to write your songs?

I like being in nature or doing sports. And of course, the music I listen to has an influence on my current recordings, as well as interpersonal relationships. Often enough, an idea, a beat or a melody just pops into my head. I then try to capture it via voice memo on my smartphone.

How do you record and mix the tracks?

Everything takes place at home in my garage, which is my studio - recording, mixing and mastering. I work with an iMac and Ableton Live. I use a mixture of plug-ins, samples, one shots and loops from Splice, as well as my pool of real instruments. I use these to bring some 'human feeling' and liveliness into my tracks. These include drums, percussion, guitar, bass, synthesizers and keyboards like the Roland JV-2080, Korg T3 and some old Casios. Mixing, mastering and studio technology have always interested me and I’ve always wanted to be able to do it myself. Thanks to YouTube, I’ve been able to teach myself a lot. I use plug-ins from Ableton (EQ Eight and Compressor), Oeksound, Arturia, Soundtoys and iZotope, especially Ozone 9 for mastering.

Where can people find out more about you?

I'm on all the popular social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter.

What Focusrite audio interface do you use and why?

My first audio interface was from Focusrite. Later on, I used various other products as well as a Presonus mixer. I have since come back to the Scarlett 18i8. I wanted a compact, reliable device with a good price/performance ratio. I currently have it expanded with a Behringer ADA8200 via the ADAT interface to record additional mics when recording drums. I was pleasantly surprised by all the plug-ins that came with the purchase of the Scarlett. I use them regularly.

Do you have experience with other Focusrite, Novation or ADAM Audio products?

Apart from the Scarlett 18i8, unfortunately not. However, there’s still a Novation Summit on my wish list and obviously I’m looking forward to the prizes.

How did you find out about the Focusrite contest?

I'm not quite sure, but it could have been an Instagram ad. I didn't think twice and applied without further ado. I had just uploaded a new video to YouTube, which I also sent along.

What will you do with the prizes you’ve won?

I wanted to replace my old monitors anyway. I’m very happy with the Adam Audio T5V. I’m also so happy with the Launchkey. Weight, size, and feel are great. It plays very well and replaces my old and slightly defective controller keyboard. The new Scarlett 8i6 and the Launchpad will serve me in my separate songwriting space upstairs, they sit next to my Korg T3 and my laptop. But I might also use them for live shows. I'm always on the road or out for a creative weekend in an alpine hut. Now I don't have to tear my studio apart any more.

What are your future plans as a musician?

I will keep on the same way. Currently at a reduced pace because I’ve started a second qualification as a hearing aid acoustician. Still, I try to release at least one song every month, no matter what the project. I've also been thinking about converting a bus into a mobile studio to jam and record songs with musicians from all over the place.

Would you like to introduce yourselves briefly?

Johannes: I’m Johannes Gey, 31 years old, responsible for the lyrics, rapping and singing.

Stefan: And I’m the other part of Yago: Stefan Zepp, 27 years old. I take care of the music and the production. My main instruments are the guitar and drums.

How long have you been around, and where are you from?

Johannes: Yago has been around since 2015. Stefan and I have met at a student party in Wuppertal, where I was studying film and graphic design at the moment. The party slowly picked up speed and I heard the guitar from the living room, the obligatory Wonderwall melody. I absolutely love live music and then Stefan started to jam freestyle. It was like love at first chord. I then said to him: 'It's sick what you're playing. I've been rapping for a few years - I'll show you something!'

Stefan: I then played a few chords and Johannes got started. There was a good vibe right away and I found Johannes' voice and lyrics so strong that we’ve exchanged numbers and agreed to write songs. Up until then, Johannes had only rapped to free beats. I was studying music production in Enschede at the time and knew a little bit about arranging music.

Johannes: And then it started straight away. A week later we locked ourselves in my room in a flat share for five days and produced five songs, which we’ve released in 2016 as 'Nordwind EP', at that time still under the name Vincent Green. Our friendship and making music together have welded us together to this day. We both live in Cologne and the surrounding area now. We can always get together quickly to make music, but also just to have a beer and talk about whatever under the sun.

How would you describe your music?

Johannes: I quote MDR Radio Sputnik, because we could never really put it more aptly: "Now let's walk through film music, then through the smoky basement club, and then we'll meet up in the forest to jam - preferably with hippies."

Stefan: Johannes comes from the film business and I grew up with a passion for electric guitars and symphonies - my parents both played in the orchestra. Johannes and I love those fat drum sounds that you know from Hans Zimmer. But we also like calm, dreamy guitar riffs that you might know from the c-parts in Metal, where you can just lose yourself and let yourself drift away.

Johannes: It’s also important to us that our lyrics revolve around diverse topics. And because I grew up with rappers like Aggro Berlin and Prinz Pi, it has always been important to me to write the way I would speak, as honestly and directly as possible. As if Stefan and I were meeting for a beer as I mentioned.

What inspires you to write your songs?

Johannes: Our emotions inspire us at most. In everyday life you think a lot and make numerous plans. With Yago, we just let go of everything and follow our feelings. We make the music we want to hear at that moment. In the process, everything we’ve experienced, everything that preoccupies and impresses us, flows into the music and the lyrics. Also, because everything that goes into us has to come out again somehow.

How do you record and mix the tracks?

Stefan: I usually produce an instrumental and Johannes sits next to me, nodding, giving the thumbs up. Or he sits next to me quietly and puts his thumb down. (laughs)

Johannes: Then we write a hook line together or send voice mails back and forth via WhatsApp. We then make proper recordings in Stefan's recording studio in Cologne. This is also where the final production and mixing takes place.

Stefan: We recorded our first songs in a room in a shared flat with the Focusrite 2i4 and a Rode NT1. In the meantime, we’ve expanded the signal chain with a Great River ME1 preamp and the MC 251 mic from Dieter Schöpf. A year ago, the Neumann KH120A have replaced the KRK Rokit5 as monitors. We produce all songs on a MacBook Pro with Logic Pro X.

Where can people find out more about you?

Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify.

Which Focusrite audio interface do you use and why?

Johannes: Stefan is responsible for the technical things. I use the Focusrite Solo for demo recordings at home. For my purposes, it's completely sufficient and I get along well with it - one input, one output, that’s enough. (laughs)

Stefan: I use the Focusrite 2i4. It's a solid device that does its job perfectly. We’ve often used the four outputs live, because we could separate click and backing tracks.

Do you have experience with other products from Focusrite, Novation or ADAM Audio?

Stefan: I've often worked with Adam Audio monitors in other studios. We occasionally used the Novation Launchpad live.

What will you do with the prize you’ve won?

Stefan: We'll probably lend the Scarlett 2i2 to our live bass player, who can use it to rehearse for upcoming concerts and album recordings or to create sketches.

What are your plans regarding your band project?

Johannes: We want to fill our everyday life with music. There’s nothing better than being creative and getting lost in that feeling. We’re currently working on our first album. At the same time, we’re planning a small tour. On stage, we absolutely devoted to connection with other people in the moment of creation. Ultimately, that's what it’s all about - connecting people. Knowing that you're not alone with your thoughts and feelings, no matter unpleasant or damn good ones.