After reading through my last few blog posts, I came to realize that the tone of my writings had become somewhat negative when describing my experiences of the past few months. Based on the feedback that I received, many people seem to have gotten the wrong impression from my post “Game Over”; some assumed that I was going to completely give up making music. Let me assure you: nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I’m about to become more active than I’ve ever been.

One of the most important realizations I’ve had in a long time occurred at the time that I wrote “Game Over”; in order to sculpt a better future, you have to break the mold of the past. I was so fixated on trying to “make it” in the German music industry (the reason I left my home in America over 20 years ago), I had forgotten why I became a musician in the first place: to make music! My obsession with trying to find a “true believer” – someone in the the music industry machine who not only recognized my talent, but believed they could make money off of it – had kept me from my true calling.

I had discussions with some people who gave me a sobering assessment of my chances achieving a breakthrough in this business in Germany; no chance. Ironically, that alone was not the problem; I had always been aware of the disadvantages I had in trying to establish myself here as a pop star (my age, my personality, my versatility, etc.) The real kicker came when it was suggested to me by a potential manager that not only were my looks, talent, charm and personality “not enough to get the breakthrough” that I was looking for over here, but in order to get that breakthrough, I would have to return to making a style of music that I stopped making back it the 90s, in order to sound more “modern” and fit in the current music industry trends.

It was that assessment, as well as a series of disappointing setbacks at the hands of so-called “friends” already established in the industry that led me to the decision to abandon my goal of breaking into the German music business as a solo artist. I was always taught never to compromise myself as an artist just to fit in with what everyone thinks is cool and how people think I should sound, and I’ve spent my entire career up to this point following the advice of people who tried to make me into something I’m not, so deciding to let it go of my dream of making it, while difficult emotionally, was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, because suddenly my mind and my heart was free for music again.

Breaking with the past helped me look into the future with a new pair of glasses. My optimism has been restored, and I’m creative again. I’m collaborating with more people, just enjoying the experience of making music, not as a job, but as an extension of me. Best of all; I’m rediscovering my instrument, exploring new ways to work with my voice. Of course I’m writing new material, and at the same time working hard to get my current material in the hands of as many people as possible. It only took a few verbal slaps in the face to achieve that. Thank you, universe!

Life is a 12-round boxing match; it’s only round four for me. Fight!



I look forward to your feedback, so please leave a comment below!

It’s been six weeks now since I last appeared on television. I was only on ‘The Voice Of Germany’ for a total of three shows, had little presence in the media (compared to Nina Kutschera, Michael Schulte or Percival) and an above average social media presence. Yet the few times I was on TV seemed to have made an impression on quite a few people. That was the reason I wanted to do the show all along; to attach a face to the voice that Germany has heard for so many years, but never knew who it was.

With this recognition comes a new set of challenges. It’s no secret that in Germany, being on a casting show is a cardinal sin for many pro musicians, given the horrible reputation that reality TV in Germany has, specifically music-related shows like ‘Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar’ (for my English-speaking readers: the German version of ‘American Idol’). For years, German TV audiences have been conditioned to think that only young, inexperienced, not very bright amateurs are allowed to participate in such competitions, and though ‘The Voice Of Germany’ did a lot to raise the reputation of the music casting show format, it did little to change the stigma that such a show places on its contestants. In other countries, being in such a show is considered a privilege; if you are talented, you go on TV. It’s a given. In Germany, the opposite is the case; ‘no one with true talent goes on such a show’ is the common wisdom. Until TVOG, people with “real talent” were turned away in droves. The show definitely changed many attitudes about how German audiences perceive what a television talent show could be like, but the perception problem is still there.

Hence my dilemma. Although the wider public has now seen what I and many of my friends and colleagues can do, it seems that the German media in general will not allow some of us to capitalize on our new found recognition, at least without certain strings attached. The praise that I have received from many viewers has not (yet) translated into interest from the German media machine in the form of radio airplay, offers for further TV appearances or interest from the press, leaving me to wonder if the whole experience – despite having reached people who would have otherwise never heard of me – was really worth it.

There are some signs that this experience will benefit me in ways other than growing my fan base, but that’s the subject for another day. I believe there are other, more cynical reasons why certain types of reality TV shows do more to hurt artists than help them, and that is topic of my next blog.

I enjoy your feedback, so please post a comment below!

The short version of the story: I was convinced by a very good friend of mine who is also in the competition. She was asked if she knew anyone who might be interested in trying out for the show, and the first person she thought about was me. We talked about it for a while , and it was when she said to me, “I can’t do this by myself!” that I decided to give it a shot. I was invited to come to the casting and the rest, as they say, is history.

One thing I must say: as someone who doesn’t really follow casting shows or TV talent competitions -although I worked as a vocal coach on two such shows: the first season of the German versions of “X-Factor” and “My Name Is…”- being a candidate on one is definitely a different experience than working behind the scenes. More on that later. In the meantime, be sure to check out the trailer for “The Voice Of Germany”: I’m featured on it.

This is by far the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me besides getting married and becoming a father. I’ll update you on everything happening with the show as it happens. Wish me luck!

[UPDATE: unfortunately, the trailer can currently only be viewed in Europe. As soon as there is a version on YouTube, I'll let you know.]

(Logo used by permission of ProSieben Television, Schwarzkopff TV and Talpa Distribution B.V.)

My road trip started on Thursday, when I spent two days in Mannheim, Germany teaching at the Popakademie. It’s getting close to semester exams, so I spent the time preparing my students for their big day; a 45 minute live looping performance. After my time there I travelled to Aschaffenburg for rehearsals and a gig in the evening. The gig itself was fine; I performed with a talented up-and-coming singer named Jennifer Washington. After three hours of sleep in my hotel it was off to the airport and my highlight gig of the week in Athens. The flight was full, the food was, well, airplane food (need I say more?), and the drive into Athens was interesting, to say the least. 

The venue was an open air club on the beach, and the guests were all employees of a very large telecommunications company. All of the musicians were colleagues and friends of mine, so although I went into the situation blind, the show went off without a hitch. 

It was this latest trip to Athens (I’ve performed here three times before) that made me realize that through my job, many of my childhood dreams have indeed come true, if not totally in the way I had thought they would. I’ve visited almost all of the European cities I dreamed of visiting as a child: Athens (I loved Greek mythology as a kid), London (my favorite European city), Paris (art and culture), Stockholm (I’ve always been fascinated with it) and many others, and on top of all that, I get paid to go to these places. 

Sometimes musicians who work a lot tend to take for granted the good fortune they have, being able to travel to exotic places to work. We often complain that many in the traditional work force don’t see musicians as having “real” jobs, but given that through my job I have been places that most people with real jobs can only dream of going to, that’s a characterization that I can happily live with.

In addition to the album version of the track (played by my extremely AWESOME backing band WATERPROOF), there are 3 club remixes, from Niels van Gogh & Daniel Strauss, Noll & Kliwer, and D-Cade (aka Charles Simmons )

You can listen to the single (and purchase) and all the remixes right here:
Album Version

Remix Radio Version

Remix Extended Version

Niels v. Gogh + Daniel Strauss Remix

Noll & Kliwer Remix

Let me know how you like the single: Leave a comment, and most of all, TELL YOUR FRIENDS. I really would love your support!

C