Upcoming 100: How do you stay inspired and motivated throughout your creative journey?
Seßler: We're amateur musicians, so we don't feel pressured to constantly be creative. Inspiration always comes naturally, for example, during a walk in nature, where ideas for new songs come to us, which we then put into practice. And it won't leave you alone until it's finished
Upcoming 100: Can you share some insights into your creative process when it comes to producing and arranging your music?
Seßler: Basically, I (Kurt Sessler) always start with a melody/harmony, or at least parts of it. When I play it on the guitar or piano, it usually comes together quite naturally. Then I arrange everything into a song structure that seems appropriate to me. Only when everything is finished I think about lyrics that fit the character of the song. Then I record a demo of it for my music partner Werner Zeeb, who then plays the instruments and produces the song
Upcoming 100: How do you collaborate with other artists or producers, and what do you look for in a collaborative partnership?
Seßler: So far we haven't collaborated with other musicians or producers and have done everything as a duo.
Seßler: So far we haven't collaborated with other musicians or producers and have done everything as a duo.
Upcoming 100: How do you handle the business side of the music industry, such as contracts, royalties, and marketing?
Seßler: We release our music through a music distributor so we can generate streaming revenue. We're also registered with Ascap.
Seßler: We release our music through a music distributor so we can generate streaming revenue. We're also registered with Ascap.
Upcoming 100: How do you balance your personal life with your music career, and what self-care practices do you employ to maintain your mental and emotional well-being?
Seßler: Since music is just a hobby, there are no problems with it. It is important to simply be active and keep your body and mind moving.
Seßler: Since music is just a hobby, there are no problems with it. It is important to simply be active and keep your body and mind moving.
Upcoming 100: Can you tell us about a challenging moment in your career and how you overcame it?
Seßler: Yes, we dreamed of releasing our first album for a long time. Wow, how cool is it to have your own music on the major streaming platforms? But then you realize that it's difficult to even get streams for it, or to get attention for your music in general. It's not easy to navigate the digital music business. It's a challenge to find good, affordable, and reliable service providers who can provide effective promotion.
Seßler: Yes, we dreamed of releasing our first album for a long time. Wow, how cool is it to have your own music on the major streaming platforms? But then you realize that it's difficult to even get streams for it, or to get attention for your music in general. It's not easy to navigate the digital music business. It's a challenge to find good, affordable, and reliable service providers who can provide effective promotion.
Upcoming 100: How do you incorporate your personal experiences and emotions into your music, and what themes or messages do you often explore in your lyrics?
Seßler: Personal experiences and emotions flow into our song lyrics. We enjoy engaging with philosophical texts, or to quote Shakespeare: "There are more things in heaven and earth."
Seßler: Personal experiences and emotions flow into our song lyrics. We enjoy engaging with philosophical texts, or to quote Shakespeare: "There are more things in heaven and earth."
Upcoming 100: How do you stay current with trends and developments in the music industry, and how do you adapt your work accordingly?
Seßler: We follow trends in music and music production. However, we remain committed to our approach. For example, we can't imagine having AI perform creative processes, except perhaps for mastering.
Seßler: We follow trends in music and music production. However, we remain committed to our approach. For example, we can't imagine having AI perform creative processes, except perhaps for mastering.
Upcoming 100: How do you handle criticism and negative reviews, and what role does constructive feedback play in your growth as an artist?
Seßler: We've already received many appreciative reviews for some of our songs from music blogs around the world and on SoundCloud. Very rarely, there's been a critical voice, for example, that the vocals aren't professional or the recording quality could be better. But we're above that, because I wouldn't call myself a professional singer, and we don't have professional recording equipment. But we do take constructive criticism into account, maybe with another song, to do something different.
Seßler: We've already received many appreciative reviews for some of our songs from music blogs around the world and on SoundCloud. Very rarely, there's been a critical voice, for example, that the vocals aren't professional or the recording quality could be better. But we're above that, because I wouldn't call myself a professional singer, and we don't have professional recording equipment. But we do take constructive criticism into account, maybe with another song, to do something different.
Upcoming 100: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
Seßler: Don't rely on music alone, many people can't make a living from it and be careful in the digital music business, unfortunately there are not only reputable providers.
Seßler: Don't rely on music alone, many people can't make a living from it and be careful in the digital music business, unfortunately there are not only reputable providers.
