Benjamin Ortleb

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music has always been an inspirational source for being creative in the fine arts. Becoming a musican later on I realized that both painting and making music go hand in hand and feed each other. I would not know what to do if these sources would suddenly disappear and diminish.

What is your music dream?

Music that sets free visions of tomorrow and give timeless pleasure.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Get rid of fossil energies, spent more effort on improving your environment by getting a hybrid/eletric vehicle, getting rid of plastics, support WWF, use soil heating and all kinds of sustainable energies, invest into bioorganic plantation, use more local products and food , sail a boat and try to avoid long distance flights. Further more support more freelance artists and musicians.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

I remember listening closely to Alice Cooper's album "Welcome to my nightmare".

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Most of the artists from the ECM roster, Brian Eno's productions, Miles Davis and Ravel.

What inspires you to make music?

Inner visions, travels, looking at artworks and at nature.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Turning people inward, contemplating on things to come or visiting place in the past. Entertaining the body and mind with unfamilar rhythms, sounds and textures.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I feel good.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

Music in sub venues are still underrated and needs more attention and finacial support. Being a freelancer is not a very easy job, it is strenious and vague. The industry should look upon their shoulders more often and get rid of too much focus on the mainstream.

What do you think of Drooble?

It's a cool place where versatile musicians meet and share their output.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

I am lucky I don't have to live on that, but I do understand the frustration, as I was being a freelnce artist for a very long time. I thing that what frustrates the most is the unknown future everybody in this business is confronting. If you do it you like it out of passion and if you stay true to yourself you will get appreciation sooner or later, but it's a hard way to keep track on that path. Concerning gigs it is really frustrating when there is only a small crowd in front of you.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Sometimes, by attending various concerts and spending on merchs if possible.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Truly speaking, compassion, virtuosity and openess are the main strings that pull together a high level musician.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

For example long forgotten La Monte Young, Christian Marclay, Rei Harakami, Harry Bertoia, Paul Schütze and Nik Bärtsch.