Meet Wilcken, one of the best musicians out there, who is releasing his solo project EP called ‘Stereo’. At 24, after eight years in the industry, Wilcken has gone to his own small studio to produce music that many consider personal.
He is one of the universe’s biggest advocates for remaining organic. No autotune, no comping – just a live talent at its best, and it was fun seeing it in that raw form. All the songs in *Stereo* are from specific years and the state of mind – and they were all recorded here in this studio. As promised, we got to the heart of the matter by interviewing none other than Wilcken about *Stereo*.
The EP is divided into four songs, and it is as if the band took each song and sequenced it, recording it until it became perfect, yet they still gave the recording an organic, live feel. Wilcken has to be eager about this one and he is quite explicit about who needs to take the credit.
For this, he enlisted Philipp Buck to come and put some drums on ‘Round Midnight’ to beef up the sound of the track. From its name borrowed from ‘Seasons’ all the way to the sultry ‘Past Midnight’ and the soothing ‘Inhale’, *Stereo* is set to be quite the ride.
Next up: we will be following his creative process – his motivations, dreams, and inspirations. Therefore seated, let us introduce you to the man behind the music and the story of *Stereo*.
Listen to Stereo
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**What is your stage name?**
WILCKEN!
**Is there a story behind your stage name?**
I used a long fake name for my first solo shows (Jeminem Demingway). It got stuck when I played bass in a power pop band. A friend asked me why I used a fake name. I thought about it, and WILCKEN, my last name, became my stage name.
**Where do you find inspiration?**
Everywhere. I worked contractually for a long time, so I can take inspiration from almost any topic. You just have to look close enough. For my solo work, a lot of inspiration comes from improvisation.
**What was the role of music in the early years of your life?**
Music was, and always has been, around me. I was a very musical child and tried to learn a few instruments. When I was 13, I got more serious and wanted to become a guitar player. However, I had a motorcycle accident when I was 19 and broke my hand, so that was off the table.
**Are you from a musical or artistic family?**
My parents play instruments, but there wasn’t anyone I could learn from about making a career in music. I’m the first in my family to take that path.
**Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?**
It’s difficult to say who. There are so many great artists. I would rather say what inspired me. The feeling of making music and playing live is something I have not encountered in other parts of my life. This feeling always drags me back to music.
**How did you learn to sing/write/play?**
I learned a few instruments, but mostly it was curiosity. Music and writing lyrics gave me a way to express certain feelings and draw people’s attention to topics that are important to me. Later on, I studied classical singing and composing because I wanted to dive deep into the technical and theoretical realms of music.
**What was the first concert you ever went to, and who did you see perform?**
I honestly don’t know. My parents took me to a few concerts as a child. But the first concert for which I bought a ticket was Eric Clapton in Dortmund when I was 13. That was a blast.
**How would you describe your music?**
My solo project, WILCKEN, is driven by an emotional approach. I want people to feel emotions through music. For me, it feels like writing a soundtrack for different emotional states of mind, and I bring everything I can offer to the table.
**Describe your creative process.**
I usually have a melody or words that evolve spontaneously in my head, or I improvise or practice guitar, and something catches my attention. Then I try to create an environment where this idea can unfold into a song.
**What is your main inspiration?**
Everything and everyone around me.
**What musician do you admire most and why?**
I have to pass on that question. Right now, I admire Julian Lage a lot. I love his style lately. He just plays the right amount of notes, and I never feel like he plays to impress.
**Has your style evolved since the beginning of your career?**
Yes, and I hope it always will.
**Who do you see as your main competitor?**
I don’t believe in competition; I believe in community. I feel that is the only thing that can save this planet if we stop competing and unite by agreeing on certain things.
**What are your interests outside of music?**
I have a lot: literature, fine arts, theater, sports, audio technology, cooking. I’m basically a nerd for everything that can be repaired or fixed.
**If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?**
Having a bistro or working full time with guitars and audio gear.
**What is the biggest problem you have encountered on your music journey?**
The devaluation of recorded music. It’s something you can’t really make money from, but it costs a lot of money and time. Also, if you consider yourself a live musician, you can’t avoid it.
**If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?**
Either prohibit all streaming platforms or pay everybody who has uploaded an album on one of the platforms a monthly grant of $1,500 for two years or until the next album.
**Why did you choose this as the title of this project?**
“Stereo” is the title of the second single. I like the concept of the idea that you have to listen to two channels to get the full picture.
**What are your plans for the coming months?**
At the end of August, I’m releasing a new single with my duo MONOHAZE. My other duo, OMG Schubert, also has something coming up. My new single will come out at the beginning of October, followed by my second EP. So, a lot of music.
**Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?**
Yes, with OMG Schubert and MONOHAZE, but I’m always open to new ones. So, fellow musicians, if you read this and dig my music, get in touch.
**What message would you like to give to your fans?**
Be kind and grateful.
