Markus Zosel
Markus Zosel's new hit 'I Turned Around' has a virtuoso compositional genius that constantly conveys a deep talent for the folk genre. It's a brisk adventure written in a buoyant style giving ample evidence of this artist's emergence as a Renaissance talent in the folk music domain.
LILY: What can you tell us about your creative process?
MARKUS ZOSEL: It is always there and it happens any time of day whenever there is a space left to do so. I enjoy being creative so much that I really love to be in this state of mind. It’s a very unique mood and frame of mind when lines come pouring out of your mind; when a melody - along with a handful of chords - take flight; or when you simply grab your guitar and a song is right in front of your eyes. It simply happens. That is magical and an experience that keeps me so excited. I’ve done my writing and music for 28 years now and I’ve become more grateful with every year that passed along. I still am that way today.
LILY: Is there a hidden meaning to your latest single 'I Turned Around'?
MARKUS ZOSEL: No, it’s not a hidden meaning. It’s a really simple situation. You’ve been alone for quiet a while and you really do expect no-one to be close to you. But suddenly you turn around and somebody is standing right behind you. A wonderful coincidence in life that is about to happen any day - in case you’re open to see and to realise it.
LILY: Did you collaborate with others to create this single? If so, who was involved?
MARKUS ZOSEL: No, I do not collaborate with others, because I got disappointed too many times in years before. I do all of the production by myself. It begins with the production in my own studio: the playing of all musical parts and instruments and it ends with the mixing of the finished material for publication. I follow my very own trace. This way I am sure not to lose it.
LILY: What is your favorite part about being a musician? Your least favorite? Why?
MARKUS ZOSEL: Being able »to communicate« in my very personal way. That’s what it is which makes it all so precious to me. Being in public is not always easy, but I wouldn’t call that the least favourite aspect. It’s an essential part of what I do. I like it this way.
LILY: Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?
MARKUS ZOSEL: Not really anxiety. You want to offer the audience the best you can give: which is the best performance possible. But we’re all human and every day is different. So the quality of your performance may differ a bit. I would say I am excited about having a show, having the chance to play and to sing for the people. I am looking forward to each and every performance which is about to come in the future.
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LILY: Have you ever had an unusual interactions with fans? What happened?
MARKUS ZOSEL: Some fans want you to stay just as you are right now. As an artist and musician you’re about to step forward. You want and you got to change and you are keen to make it possible for fans to follow you. That’s why you describe your work in a lot of ways and formats (I personally do so with a new podcast which I started at the beginning of this year and which is called »A Singwriter’s Cabin«.
LILY: What’s an average day like for you?
MARKUS ZOSEL: I am going to work every day and I get up at 5.30 in the morning. That keeps your feet on the ground. I am a teacher and I like to work with the kids in school. I am teaching music and English and I do all my musical or literary stuff in the evening or at the weekend. That's a wonderful way to spend an average day.
LILY: As you were growing up, who were your musical inspirations?
MARKUS ZOSEL: Definitely John Denver, Jose Feliciano, Gordon Lightfoot and Cat Stevens. Then there were all the good bands with their West-Coast-Sound, such as The Eagles or America and some other more.
LILY: If you didn't become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
MARKUS ZOSEL: I was alway interested in the field of biology. Especially the sea and all marine spaces on this earth. It keeps fascinating me until this very day. Jaques Yves Cousteau was one of my great heroes when I was young. Even today we need to know more about the sea and all that lives and is in there. And we got to take care of the seas worldwide.
LILY: If you could only give one message to your fans, what would it be?
MARKUS ZOSEL: I am grateful, simply grateful for having the chance to communicate and to sing to people in order to do so. It’s more or less about communication. And I have got a great respect when looking at people coming a long way to listen to a concert of mine. That’s really amazing and wonderful to me. And I tell them whenever I got the chance to do so.
LILY: Is your family musical?
MARKUS ZOSEL: A bit. They do a lot of singing, but in family ways not in public. My Mom has got a great voice and my brother woke my interest for playing guitar when I was a little kid. He’s playing the Blues, but not to a very high degree. But all of the family members do like to listen to good music in common: good songs or instrumental pieces of any kind (classical or popular music).
LILY: Are you working on new material now? If so, what can you tell us about it?
MARKUS ZOSEL: I’ve just finished my 4th musical production for this year which is called »Hillside Road«. It’s an EP containing 6 brand new songs. It is about to be released in November this year on online stores and as a physical CD. I also finished a new book in English language with the title: »Little House Beside The Stream« which is under revision now and will also be out on stores by the end of this year. Quite an exciting time for me and a wonderful experience to look at. And, by the end of 2018, as I already said, I started my own podcast which is called »A Songwriter’s Cabin«. It already has 12 episodes by now and is in German language. With that podcast I take the people in an imaginary cabin out in a splendid coloured wood. There I tell about my writing, the way I look at things in life and about my songs and books.A lot of English speaking visitors are listening frequently and they enjoy the music that is in every episode. You can find the podcast on Apple-Podcasts, Spotify or Deezer. 2019 has been a wonderful year so far and after receiving the »Singer Songwriter of the Year 2018-Award« and the »Executive Award 2019« of the Akademia in spring this year I shall be even more grateful. I thank God for all he has given to me up to now. And I am looking forward fo all the things to come.
LILY: That sounds exciting! Best of luck with your new musical creations and I look forward to hearing what comes next.
https://www.theakademia.com/artistkit/MarkusZosel-ITurnedAround.html
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https://twitter.com/MarkusZosel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsCArlSCKzoIOy69RAyJkzg?view_as=subscriber