Niels Frevert from Hamburg

Music: Pop german

Address

20357 Hamburg



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"Songwriting in the narrative style of famous American loners" SPEX

"Nine substantial, truthful songs" MUSIKEXPRESS

"Sensitive music with great appeal!" GALORE

"Niels Frevert has delivered a masterpiece" WELT KOMPAKT

"One wishes for him to be a constant companion once again" SPIEGEL ONLINE

"Rarely has pop sounded so clever, everyday life so unusual, and nostalgia so pleasant" ARD.de

Press release for the current album "Du kannst mich an der Ecke rauslassen":
At some point we stopped asking him. "Niels, how are your new songs? How is it going?" – we stopped asking, although we desperately wanted to know. But one should not disturb the artist at work, even if one is worried about him. And so the months passed, in the end it was four years. Four years after Niels Frevert's last album "Seltsam öffne mich", the new one is finally finished and is called: "Du kannst mich an der Ecke rauslassen." Nine songs, about which we actually don't want to write anything, because there is a risk that what is written will be a single sigh. But there is nothing else to do.

Recently someone said that of all Frevert songs, he has always liked the quiet ones the most. Everyone else agreed with him. Well then, congratulations! The electric guitar, with which Mr. Frevert had always performed alone lately and used to make noise in the past, is heard only once on the new album, undistorted and quietly ("Genug ist genug, Gnu"). Otherwise: all acoustic, strings, piano, bass, drums, acoustic guitar – chamber music-like. And all this is played with a lightness, as if dabbed, that it almost seems casual, because every note is in the right place and no sound is too much. The same goes for the words that Mr. Frevert always struggles with. Amber-colored poetry without any fat. And between the sentences, spaces to breathe. So clear and relaxed, effortless and elegant, hardly anyone can sing about the inner workings and nuances of life in German language. Without falling into the trap of kitsch. Frevert can do that. Because he wrestles with every word until he has it where he wants it: as close as possible to reality, to true feeling. And that simply takes time. He is also a master at throwing away. What he writes and composes, only to throw it in the trash afterwards! Or as he sings himself: "a great artist, to suppress in it / to bring the words to the paper container." How exhausting that must be. And how worth it in the end!

It is about seeking meaning, finding oneself, dropping out, separation and moving on. As cliché as it may read now. One doesn't want to hear about all these things, unless Frevert sings about them. In the nine new songs, one can immerse oneself, and one feels completely comfortable because one always feels the same way, but cannot describe it. The music does the rest, it lifts you up and carries you gently. This is due to the relaxed, focused, and minimalist play of the band, with whom Niels Frevert, a Hamburger by birth, has been making music for ten years: Stephan Gade (bass and co-producer of the record with Frevert), Tim Lorenz (drums), Stefan Will (piano), Dinesh Ketelsen (recording), and Peter Schmidt (mixing). And it is due to the string arrangements, played by a quartet and composed by an old master: the man's name is Werner Becker. The 65-year-old was successful worldwide as an easy listening composer in the 1970s under the name Antony Ventura. Today he produces mainstream musicians like Howard Carpendale and Matthias Reim and - arranges for Niels Frevert. Niels played the new songs for him, knowing he could never pay the old pro. Becker still went along, because of the songs and the words.

P.S.: The song "Ich möchte mich gern von mir trennen" is originally by Hildegard Knef. To find out what Niels Frevert has been up to in recent years, and what's actually going on with the boy, listen to: "Der Typ der nie übt (worum es eigentlich geht.)" And just now, Kettcar have invited Mr. Frevert to the studio to sing a piece with them. And soon he will go on tour, with his band.
Author: Tino Hanekamp


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