Julian Knoth

In the organizer's words:

JULIAN KNOTH (Die Nerven, Peter Muffin Trio, Die Benjamins, Yum Yum Club and Njelk) releases his first solo album. It's called UNSICHTBARES MEER. In 2020, a year plagued by the pandemic, Knoth wrote a few songs that didn't really fit in with any of his bands. Just his voice and an acoustic guitar. Lyrics so raw and personal that it quickly became clear: this is a solo album. "I understood a lot of things during this time," says Knoth.

Self-disillusionment, depression, consumption, abstinence, therapy, hope. The recordings are dirty, JULIAN KNOTH works with overdrive, delay and imperfection. His voice is close, fragile and honest. An album for walks in the rain and live performances in record stores, somewhere between folk and lo-fi. No noise that Knoth could hide behind. The theme of water as a lyrical motif, UNSICHTBARES MEER flows sometimes murky, sometimes clear, often endless and unfathomable. The album is influenced by Timber Timbre, Johnny Cash, Cat Power, Feist and Adrienne Lenker.

UNSICHTBARES MEER begins in a cave of depression. "Kein Lied" and "Der Regen" are gloomy and search for support. Just voice and guitar. Then strings on "Invisible Sea". A search for hope. This search expands on "Hinterhof der Welt" with drums, saxophone and bass. "Nimmt die Blätter mit" wavers in space, playing with distortion and reverb. There's something in the air, something unknown that Knoth himself can't quite put his finger on yet.

"I started writing this album alone in a state of great depression and melancholy. In the end, it became a project of solidarity with many friends," says JULIAN KNOTH. "Ohne Namen" dreams of utopias and of starting a new life. In "Gestern hatte ich noch einen Traum", string instruments are added, played by the trio Abstrich. "Morgen fängt der Ernst des Lebens an" is a mantra, it goes on. Melancholy towards the end, instrumental on "Endless Ocean". A plan. Light on the horizon. The search comes to an end on "Never Alone Again". Many voices, a choir, a message. It becomes light again.