International Artist Spotlight: 7fields

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Joseph Timmons in Artist / Musician, featured // 0 Comments

International Artist Spotlight

7fields, German Electronic-Folk Artist

7fields is a Berlin-based electronic-folk artist. Behind his sound is a man possessing the unique ´nerd´ gene and who is driven by his urge of musical discovery. Rather than someone who is new to the business, Wolfgang Schrödl is a seasoned musician and composer who looks back on a successful past. He was head of the indie-pop band Liquido, known for the world-wide and platinum single “Narcotic”. After the end of Liquido, Schrödl embarked on a different path that leads him back home to himself. The name ´7fields´ represents this jour-ney, indirectly translated from “Sieben Morgen”, the district of his childhood.

7fields is 100% Schrödl. When asked about the timing and direction of this new project, he explains: “After years of working in bands, it was about time to focus on my own ideas that reflect where I’m standing now in my life.”

Accompanying Schrödl’s vocals, one might suspect that an entire band is supporting him. In reality, he plays virtually all the instruments himself – a musical group consisting of alter egos. “I compose and pre-produce at home, trying a lot out at my own pace, mostly in the dead of night” says Schrödl. After he initially creates his compositions, he then collaborates with the producer Giovanni Nicoletta (whose work includes that of Apparat, Dieter Meier and Miss Kenichi) at the Chez Chérie Studio Berlin. This creative space has been utilized by many respected contemporaries such as José Gonzáles, The Beatsteaks, T.Raumschmiere and Hans Unstern. It is here that the studio’s local resident and producer “Nackt” (Apparat, Warren Suicide, Dieter Meier) has also brought his own creative touches and expertise to 7fields’ recordings.

7fields’ first release is a reduced and very personalized version of The Strokes’ number “Heart in a Cage” which Schrödl has intentionally chosen. “Even as a songwriter, I find it sometimes tempting to newly interpret existing compositions…but only if I can highlight a facet of the song in which I recognize myself, allowing me to only hint at the original. Such was the case for `Heart in a Cage´“.

Following the cover will be two original singles, along with their corresponding videos.

The first will be “Good to See You”: a song that opposes standard composition, developing atmosphere rather than representing familiar pop structure.

The black and white video for the single was shot by the young, emerging Berlin artist named ´I am Johannes´, who created a close-distance collage featuring local ballet dancer Lia Kemendi and Schrödl himself.

The second single, “The First Day”, opens to a gloomy and melancholic atmosphere. It draws the listener into this alternative world which seems to be driven more by questions than an-swers. The video follows through with bringing this imagery to life. “It was created via a col-laboration with the director Adrian Künzel, whom I know from our joint study days. I have appreciated Adrian’s eye and talent ever since” explains Schrödl.

The video was shot on location at the “Waldhaus Buch”, an old abandoned tuberculosis sana-torium in the north of Berlin. It is a mystical place that coincides with the mood of the song. An entire team of Berlin artists, dancers, and set designers was gathered to make the video a reality, with great attention to detail. The demanding visual result fits to 7fields’ musical approach.