A fixture of the German indie underground since the late ’80s, Berend Intelmann has played a quiet but steady role in shaping its sound, through bands like Hallelujah Ding Dong Happy Happy, Guther, and Paula, and more recently as a producer for artists including Jens Friebe, MissinCat, and Fotos. Now, the Berlin-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and producer is stepping out from behind the scenes with Mother Nature, his first album under his own name. The upcoming album gathers eight tracks that thread together his background in pop songwriting and a growing interest in classical structure. There’s no dramatic shift – synths, drums, and vocals still form the core – but the arrangements stretch and fold in unexpected ways. “The synthesizer melodies are arranged like string quartets,” Intelmann says, “while the songs are presented as musical themes strung together so that they form a coherent story.” He refers to the sound as “slow-kraut—1980s synth sound with 1970s George Duke-style beats”, though the album mostly avoids leaning into any one genre.
Mother Nature features guest contributions from close collaborators, including Marla Hansen who joins him for a vocal duet on one of the tracks, Der Assistent on theremin, and Mieke Miami on flute and saxophone. The album, which Intelmann describes as being “co-produced by friends and family,” also showcases his collaborative spirit.
Ahead of the album’s release on May 30th through Karaoke Kalk, Intelmann has shared the first single ‘Life Of Another One’, an absorbing, gorgeous and tender track inspired by life and death. The track reflects “on memories that have become so distant that they feel like belonging to another person altogether with sombre, intertwined melodies”, as the press release explains. The darker tones gradually give way to “laid- back grooves, Intelmann’s smooth vocalisations and whirling synthesizer sequences”, creating a shifting and immersive atmosphere. ‘Life Of Another One’ is offered along with a video directed by David Jascha Zuschlag and you can watch it below.
