Thomas Lemmer Interview on Nagamag.com

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Thomas Lemmer:
Electronic, Ambient, Downtempo, Chillout, Trip Hop, Deep House

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Thomas Lemmer:
Thomas Lemmer is known as an Electronic/Ambient music producer. With 9 albums, 7 EPs and 17 singles and multiple appearances on top-class Chillout/Electronic compilations, Thomas Lemmer is considered one of the most active and established artists of his genre. His two albums STILL and ZERO GRAVITY reached the iTunes Electronic Top 10 in Germany. His album PURE reached the Top 10 of the iTunes Electronic Charts in Switzerland and #2 of the Album Top 10 in the official German Chill Out Charts (Deutsche Chill Out Charts). His album AMBITRONIC was a considerable success and held a position in the official German Chill Out Charts – Album Top 10 for 36 weeks. His music is played worldwide on established radio stations focusing on Chillout, Ambient and Electronic music. Thomas Lemmer loves collaborations. Together with Christoph Sebastian Pabst, he produced the album MEERBLICK (sea view). A concept album with a focus on the sea. The album was a great success for both of them and they are already working on a follow-up. With Andreas Bach, he produced the album NIGHT TRAVELLERS. A very organic instrumental album that is highly regarded in the scene. Currently, Thomas Lemmer has focused on the piano. He fulfilled a long heart wish with the EP “In Silence”. Ambient piano music at the highest level.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Thomas Lemmer:
I grew up in a very musical family. My parents bought me a piano when I was 5 years old. I remember smaller audition afternoons as a child and I was always allowed to attend the rehearsals of my father's band. That really affected me. Then, fast forward, I think I started composing at the age of 16. At that time, I had a pop duo and we started writing our own songs. So my first writing experience was together with a singer. As we now had our own songs, I played them for my piano teacher at that time. He then asked me when I would like to record these songs in a studio as he was a producer as well. So that was my first experience with producing music. After that, I started with two cassette players to record my own demos at home. Musically I was influenced mainly by pop music at that time. I loved and still love for instance Phil Collins, Genesis, The Beatles or Michael Jackson. That was the music I listened to. I still remember listening with the headphones to all the musical details a Michael Jackson production has or how Phil Collins's "In the air tonight" fascinated me. But I was also influenced by playing a lot of classical music on the piano which helps me a lot today when writing music. I think what really drew me to music production was that I was simply fascinated by music production. I bought so many records at that time and listened to every little detail of each production and dreamt of doing that myself.

Nagamag:
You seem to love collaborations. Tell us about it.

Thomas Lemmer:
Absolutely! I love collaborations and enjoy working, writing and producing with other artists. I have worked with various singers on my albums and recently released two full-length instrumental albums. With Andreas Bach, I worked on Night Travellers. With Christoph Sebastian Pabst, I worked on Meerblick which is German and means "sea view".

Nagamag:
What are you working on at the moment (Jan. 2020)?

Thomas Lemmer:
Since I have just released a Neo Classical / Ambient EP called "In Silence", I wanted to focus a little more on the piano. So I decided to work on my own interpretation of Erik Satie's Gymnopédies.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Thomas Lemmer:
Phil Collins "In the air tonight"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Thomas Lemmer:
Boards of Canada "Reach for the dead"