“Beyond w/ Bernhardt. feat. The Micronaut & Meuroer Mandolinenorchester” is a young contemporary jazz group that blends chamber music and orchestral elements with electro-acoustic sound scenarios, urban beats and historical instruments from the east German province of Dübener Heide.
On the EP “Fire & Coal”, released in May 2021, the folk song “Kein Feuer, keine Kohle” served as the starting point for musical exploration, while the production period took place in churches and old barns. Now the follow-up EP “Mushroom Group” is a small-scale urban studio production that nevertheless finds its inspiration explicitly in the previously experienced natural elements.
Friederike of Beyond w/ Bernhardt shared some facts and favorites with us.
FACTS
1. Addicted to butter.
2. Lives with four rabbits.
3. “The youth is wasted on the young” (Mark Twain).
QUESTIONS
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Animals & Love.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
At the age of 4. I was copying what my oldest sister was learning in music school and finally got lessons by myself at the age of 7.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
When (Vincent Gallo), Felt Mountain (Goldfrapp), OK Computer (Radiohead), Tomorrows I-III (Son Lux) and the String Quartets by Schostakowitsch.
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
2 closest friends and the ability to have 7 different smells at the same time in my head.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
My Bedroom & my bathtub.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I would start a bunny farm.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Tomorrows I-III by Son Lux.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Ryan Lott.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As performer the DAPHNE-Show with my band Geza Cotard at Schauspiel Leipzig in 2020. As spectator Radiohead´s concert on 9-11 in 2001.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Unfortunately it is very important, I am bored without it.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
I do have 2 siblings and as far as I can tell, they are both very proud of me.
Photo © Kat Kaufmann
