Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music?
At the age of 10, after 4 years of practising classical etudes on the piano, I started to improvise and write down little tunes for the first time. It was so fascinating for me to build these little musical worlds – I knew instantly that this is what I want to do in my life.
Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?
Besides my studies, I used to play in bands and ensembles and toured worldwide – the combination of meeting different people in so many different places while making music was the most important influence.
What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?
To accept that the first blank sheet of paper for a composition could be the biggest chance.
What are the pleasures and challenges of working with other musicians?
I love to share my thoughts about writing and performing with other musicians. I’m very i-terested in their creative processes. Playing together and sounding as one musical body is quite challenging, but it’s always worth it.
How would you describe your compositional/musical style?
It’s a hybrid between the language of classical music and elements of improvisation – open for all acoustic colours from orchestra instruments to synthesizers.
As a composer, how do you work?
I compose every day, write down little ideas and sketches or record them on my mobile.
There’s so much to discover everywhere… Later I work on these ideas in my studio and decide to which sound world they belong.
Tell us more about your album ‚Remember Tomorrow’….
„Remember Tomorrow“ is about memories – how they influence our lives – or not.
Everyone is familiar with flashbacks or déjà-vu – and everyone has them in different moments, based on different memories; that’s fascinating for me.
I recorded an album with 13 Tracks – like a house with 13 rooms, and every room stands for a moment and memory. I used the piano, 2 double basses, electronics and a lot of reverb to create these rooms.
As a musician, what is your definition of success?
After months of writing the music in my head or on paper, when it comes to the moment when I hear my music for the first time played by wonderful musicians and I think “That works!!” – that’s my personal moment of success and I enjoy it very much.
What do you consider to be the most important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?
Compose, play, learn as much as you can from other artists, friends or fellow band-members.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
There is this wonderful place on the Polish Baltic coast where I go every winter. To sit in this specific restaurant on the beach – looking at the sea for ages, having a glass of Glühwein; that’s perfect happiness for me.
What is your most treasured possession?
My grandfather’s old piano – sometimes it composes music by itself, I just have to place my hands on the keyboard.
What is your present state of mind?
During the last year, I composed and produced a lot. This year I will play a lot of concerts and people will hear my new music for the first time. I can’t wait.
Christian Clemens Poetzsch’s new album „Remember Tomorrow“ is available now
Clemens Christian Poetzsch is a working composer and pianist in the field of contemporary music.
His repeatedly awarded work covers many aspects of music, such as stage music and compositions for dance choreographies.
Clemens Christian Poetzsch studied Piano and Composition at the Conservatory of Music in Dresden, Germany.
While working with both classical and pop musicians, his composing and arranging work received multiple awards like “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik”(3/2017).
He lives in Leipzig, Germany.
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