What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
I started making music when I was six years old and sang in my church’s children choir. After that I played several different instruments and ended up studying guitar and music production in Dresden and Nashville, TN. I earn my living by producing other artists. Since 2020 I’ve also been releasing my own music.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
Monkey in my head is a funky description of our unconsciousness that drives us. It’s produced by Grammy winning Femke Weidema. The video features awesome monkey masks built by Sarah Maruck.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
My brother introduced me early on to American artists like Ry Cooder, Randy Newman, G. Love & Special Sauce and Bob Dylan. Last year I’ve become a fan of the Brooklyn based band Lawrence.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
My time in Nashville and my listening habits demand a good story in every song I write. Musically I’ve got a killer live band “Die Gerstengarbe” with whom I recorded my whole first album live at my own Ballroom Studios.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Albums: Lawrence “The Live Album Part 1”, The Beatles “Let it be”, Ry Cooder “Ry Cooder”
Movies: “Smoke”, “Avanti Avanti”, “Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot“
Books: Jack Kerouac “On the road”, Hermann Hesse “Glasperlenspiel”, Heinrich Böll “Tagebücher”
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
I love both. I spend each work day in my studio but really enjoy entertaining a crowd.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
I often get confused with Brad Pitt.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Bob’s Wife is a real story that someone told me in a coffee shop.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
I’ll continue to release new music regularly and hopefully my audience grows so much that I don’t lose money anymore but make money with it. That would further expand my possibilities to explore my ideas like recording an album with a big band.
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
What do you think is the meaning of life?
I don’t know. But I think that if you make all your decisions with a loving heart, it creates meaning for you and others.
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
Connect with Johannes Gerstengarbe:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4v8Masb3WF7eJc9pzrQYKd?si=oafoAr9WSYa_AC0J1dqh2g
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCitSlPnqZXjZlObLOylgATg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johannesgerstengarbemusic
Instagram: https://instagram.com/johannes_gerstengarbe?utm_medium=copy_link