How did you learn to play your instrument? (Tell us an anecdote.)
I used to accompany my brother to his drum lessons, which were held next to a music store. I would often cry in the guitar section because I wanted one so badly. For my 7th birthday, my father finally gave me a guitar and signed me up for guitar courses.
How do you go about writing a song or composing a piece yourself?
I've been composing for a long time and use different approaches depending on the style. Most of the time I would say that the most organic solutions work best. Sometimes I start by jamming on the guitar, other times on the piano, or with notation software. For electronic music, it may vary, I like to use a sequencer like the Digitakt and play synths over it or record some field recordings or instruments and mess with the samples afterwards. There's no single formula, which helps hopefully to keep the outcome fresh. I also have a lot of exercises from the time I was studying composition with the maestro Guillermo Klein.
What equipment do you play on today and why?
I mainly use three guitars:
- Teisco del Rey EP 7t (1960s): cheap, small, light, and great pickups — perfect for traveling.
- Gibson ES-120t (1960s): warm, single coil, short sustain, nice for Jazz.
- Gibson ES-345 (1970s): Long sustain, humbuckers, good for more modern sounds.
- I also use pedals with all of them (freeze, overdrive, reverb, delay, etc.), as can be heard in my video.
What personal characteristic has helped you the most when practicing and why?
My passion for learning and the joy I feel after learning something and seeing it come through my playing — especially while transcribing.
What does your instrument have that others don't?
It can be melodic or/and harmonic which opens a lot of possibilities and also belongs naturally to many different genres being one of the most versatile instruments.
What do you pay particular attention to when teaching? (Why? Do you have teaching principles, etc.?)
I encourage students to start with music they enjoy, as the learning process is much more engaging when the melodies and rhythms are already familiar to them. Later, I introduce pieces that support their development, and I always emphasize learning complete songs rather than just fragments.
How do you structure your music lessons?
It depends on age and level, but I usually divide lessons into three parts:
- Playing
- Technique or rhythm
- A flexible module such as ear training, rhythm games, reading, or singing with the guitar. (all depending on the student)
How do you approach teaching children?
Through games, singing, and listening together. For younger ones, I use “repeat after me” activities, music coloring books, or games like Ich packe meinen Koffer.
What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far and why? (Tell us an anecdote.)
Touring in Georgia and Armenia this year with my band. It was a big achievement for me, and I learned a lot about organisation and booking. The audiences were incredibly warm and we had such a nice time.
What was the biggest stage you have ever played on?
Probably the main stage at Bscene 2024 in the Kaserne Basel, with Mantocliff.
Which musician would you like to play with and why?
I greatly admire my current bandmates and feel lucky to play with them. In a hypothetical situation, I'd love to play with Ambrose Akinmusire or Bill Frisell.
Which record would you take with you to a desert island and why?
“Ballads” by the John Coltrane Quartet. It's a record I deeply love, and it was the first that came to mind.
Which stage would you most like to play on or do you most enjoy playing on?
I enjoy intimate stages where the barrier between musician and audience is minimal. I once saw a concert where the artist faced the same window as the audience, explaining later that we were all “traveling together”, he was driving a motorbike and we were the wagon next to it, I loved that concept.
Apart from music, what else is important in your life?
I love cooking, gardening (my apartment is full of plants) and enjoy coffee a lot, I love discussing and I'm very happy to have great friends, a beautiful supportive family and a great partner.
