MAGRO - Trippin
"(...) a power player with a fine sense (...)" - DLF National Public Radio Germany
"(...) breathtaking solos of speed and power(...)" - Südkurrier
"(...) If it sounds like Washington D.C. but comes from Berlin, Magro is probably behind it. (...)" - Detektor FM
With his debut album "Trippin", Berlin-based drummer and producer MAGRO shows his artistic and creative perspective on today's world. The sound of the album is characterized by abstract Hip Hop beats that mix fluidly with analog Jazz elements.
After working with numerous artists over the years as a drummer and producer (including Kenny Wesley, J Lamotta and Stimulus), he now releases his first album under his own name.
On the album, Magro features some of his favorite musicians and singers - including Jazz legend Kurt Rosenwinkel, rising Alternative RnB singer Leona Berlin and US rapper TwizzMatic.
Magro about his music: "I want to bridge the gap between catchy produced music and the deep-rooted elements of Jazz.“
In doing so, he is influenced by the creative complexity of the international Berlin music scene, in which he has been active for years.
Tours and international festival appearances (including Tremplin Jazz Avignon, Jazz Al Popolo Rome, Women in Music Festival Zambia) have already taken him around the world. Moreover, he co-produced the debut album of Leona Berlin, released in 2018 by Warner Music.
1. Trippin (feat. TwizzMatic, Kurt Rosenwinkel)
"Trippin" is the first single and also the title track of the album. The song features US-rapper TwizzMatic and Jazz legend Kurt Rosenwinkel.
TwizzMatic raps critically about the ambiguity and naive immaturity of today's society. Kurt Rosenwinkel then plays an apocalyptic guitar solo and makes the song fade out in a wide wave. I love it when an arc of tension is stretched out over an entire song.
2. Song 4 Def
"Song 4 Def" is inspired by the song "Quiet Dog" by Mos Def. When I first heard the song I couldn't get the beat out of my head and had to write my own song in that same feel right away. It starts with a Hip Hop lo-fi beat that develops into an epic explosion in the second half of the song.
3. Black On Black (feat. XHO)
During the months of the Black Lives Matter protests, I was working with "XHO" as a drummer. I asked her if she wanted to be on my album and sent her the instrumental. Without further ado, we recorded her part in her clothing store. The theme was so present at the time that it obviously couldn't be about anything else.
4. Conscious 1
Conscious 1 is the first of three instrumental interludes. To me the soundscapes express something mystical that is hard to put into words.
5. Running (feat. Leona Berlin)
"Running" is the second single and features Alternative Soul singer Leona Berlin. With Leona I have probably worked more than with anyone else. So it was clear that she would be on the album.
The song is about our restlessness as humans. We always want to improve and change things instead of just accepting the moment and the situation to be at peace.
6. Conscious 2
7. Crisis (feat. Sean Haefeli, Martin Lüdicke)
I wrote this song during the first lockdown. At that time I was busy finishing the album. I sent the track to Martin Lüdicke and Sean Haefeli and asked them if they could record something independently. I found it exciting to get the results back without having given any directions beforehand.
8. Conscious 3
9. Magic Flow
"Magic Flow" is a musical flow that develops into different parts. The track starts with a driving drum beat, intensifying and opening up more and more until it finally breaks open, leading to a heavy Hip Hop beat. The long wave and the slowly creeping new sounds are meant to pull the listener into the track's own world.
10. Silence (feat. Ronja)
"Silence" is a tribute to silence, which is often forgotten in the hustle of our everyday lives. The song is the third single and features Berlin-based singer/songwriter Ronja. The unobtrusive and powerful development of the song has a special character. I like the very slow tempo, the minimalistic development and Ronja's calm performance.
