Andreas Gabalier & Band
05.05.2012 20:00
The concert event of 2012
- Andreas Gabalier on solo tour in Austria for the first time -
The young law student from Graz appeared strongly in the Austrian music scene for the first time in 2009. Before that, he worked on his songs in his basement studio, copied them onto CDs and sold them on the internet. Then he was heard on radio, but it was word of mouth propaganda that led to his discovery. Somebody knows somebody who knows somebody who produces music - that is how Andreas Gabalier ended up with Klaus Bartelmus, the owner of Stall-Records and sponsor of Nik P., amongst others. Bartelmus is a fellow Styrian, which meant that there were no obstacles as regards differences in mentality. Then, the first album was produced and suddenly everything developed quickly. TV-première on 'Musikantenstadel [Musicians' Barn]. Prime time TV. The newcomer stood there with knees trembling until he reached the second verse, then he relaxed.
This was followed by 'The Grand Prix of Folk Music' and then the promotion machinery really started revving up. In the summer, his début CD achieved gold, a feat that normally only pop productions achieve in such a short time. But it seems that for Andreas Gabalier, whose music is alternatively classified under folk music, Schlager or Austropop, the music industry uses a different yardstick. Everything was against him: statistics show that a career needs a build-up of several years; media formats are usually at a loss with things that do not fit a mould; a name that sounds French and rather indicates chansons. This young man simply went against all the 'laws' of the industry. He titled his début CD 'Da komm ich her [That's where I come from]' and with it laid the cornerstone of his career and clearly indicated: If I am authentic then people will believe in me, consequently I do not need a stage name and they will like me, just as I am. They will like my songs because they are my songs and not somebody else's which were simply put in my mouth. Either - or. It was either!
Andreas Gabalier's career developed with lightning speed. He did not have time for 'learning by doing' and commercial pressure can very often destroy more sensitive characters. "It is like being in a centrifuge, it whirls you through the weeks and months and when you take time off, your are stuck at the edge of events and suddenly you notice how fast time has passed", he explains; and these words resonate "everything has changed but I have remained the same". The next CD had to be produced, but suddenly there were many more people who wanted a say in it. Back then, in the basement, everything was different. Who to listen to? Whose advice is good? Who produces only hot air? "You feel exposed to different influences and it took me some time to sort things out for myself", he says. This led to several attempts at producing his new CD, until, after careful deliberation, trials and reviewing, he again decided to be himself. "The new CD should also be just as I am", he said to himself and pushed all those whispering advisers to the side. When everything was finished, the last sound recorded and mixed, he decided, after careful thinking, on the title 'Herzwerk [Heartworks]'. "It contains everything. The heart as it beats for us and the music. It has its own beat, rejects all interference and even where love is concerned, it does with us what it wants. When it is broken, it hurts, when we have lost it, we try to find it again, very often in vain. We give it away, cut it into trees and when we are nervous, it misses a beat ... without the heart, we would be bloodless. This is exactly why I have chosen this title", explains Andreas.
He sings about love just the way we all want it: tender, eternal and full of trust, and all of this without any kitsch. This is very likely the reason why Andreas Gabalier has broken all the laws of the industry and catapulted into the scene: He speaks directly to (mainly young) people, he speaks their language, he tells small stories and does not offer them false dreams. He does not sing about sundown on a Corsican beach wearing a glittering Jacket, he is free of all clichés. With him, illusion and reality are one and the same. He has exactly what music should have: independence and authenticity, from which all feelings that we carry inside ourselves grow and flourish. It is right that he does not allow himself to be monopolised, it is right that he is how he is and that he makes his own music. He is from here, he is one of us or, using the old Greeks' tongue twister: an autochtonous person. His NEW album 'VolksRock’n’Roller' comes on the market on 14 October 2011!
Performance: 05/05/2012
Location: stadthalle|graz