Nils Frahm: ambient, synthesizers, reverb and experiment

Nils Frahm, the pianist that doesn't make classical music as we know nor EDM... So, what does he compose? Let's first talk about him as a person.

Nils comes from the German city of Hamburg. At just 37 years old, the Berlin based musician has already released 10 albums, a bunch of EPs and has already played in some of the biggest festivals throughout Europe. He has also played with artists such as Olafur Arnalds, who is similar to his sound amd techniques. 

Nils Frahm is known for combining classical music with electronic and ambient sound. His basic equipment comprises the Juno 60 (the "standard" analog synth from the 80s), a Fender Rhodes electric piano, a Mellotron, 2 pianos (one grand and the other one upright), drum machines and a Moog Taurus. Nils mixes all this equipment with other cool gear (a Memorymoog synth, for example) and creates his super awesome and magical music. Synthesizer sequences, fast-played notes on the piano, vast spacial sounding made by the reverb and space echo (Roland Space Echo, for example) and beautifully crafted melodies. There are no lyrics, but his music sure touches our hearts. Nils is a very interesting artist, because he combines a style that is far from the vast majority of us (classical) with something we are very used to (electronic), which makes him a very unique musician. 

"Says" is "heavy", daunting, charming in terms of synthesizers. It's one of the most brilliant electronic tracks out there. Everyone goes nuts trying to replicate this synth sound. And it's not that easy to do that... The track is a way of us exploring our own minds with the ambient feel and the striking elec piano notes and chords. And it's fairly emotional, especially when Nils changes from major to minor chords. It takes expertise and ability to play something that feels right, particularly the way he plays the Juno 60 chords.

Now the question is: what are his experiments? As simple as it might not seem, it's all about manipulating the sound of the studio. This is, for those who aren't used to this kind of techniques, reverb.

This is the studio where he records most of his works: the Funkhaus, in Berlin. When Nils acquired the studio he found a vintage Harmonium, which is one of his go to instruments when making music.

Overall, Nils Frahm is one of the best acts out there nowadays. You don't need to like classical music nor play Beethoven on the piano. You just need Nils. He plays for everyone, not for a selection of people. He is the "pianist of the people".

Review - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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