According to Groove (DE) Frieder Nagel “combines Jazz, neo-classical, synthetics and broken beats with supreme ease”. French magazine Tsugi writes: “Dark and intriguing are his productions filled with synthesizers, simple rhythms yet astonishing intensity.” And Xlr8r from California describes his music as an “otherworldly treat tak[ing] the listener down a constantly morphing auditory wormhole”. The German newcomer was signed by InFiné in 2019. He has released three eps on the parisian label so far and all were praised by fans and press worldwide.
His dj-sets are still rare yet irresistible, massive and with a clear “Berlin” touch as he learned his skills in underground partys at the city’s infamous northern district Wedding. In 2021 he could flex his muscles on the big main stage of Centquatre Paris, where he played after French star producer Rone and left the dancing crowd desperate for more. In the same year he produced an audiovisual liveshow together with acclaimed digital artist Maotik for the Multiplica Festival in Luxembourg. The different audiofrequencies of his music were transformed into a psychedelic, colourful trip and the duo got booked to perform also at the Scopitone Festival in Nantes later that year.
Catching the attention of the legendary house producers Santé and Re.you, Frieder Nagel got invited to remix one of the first releases on their new label LSF21+ besides established figures like Steven Weston or Roy Rosenfeld. He celebrated its release in 2022 with a stunning performance on a rooftop in front of a giant three-dimensional projection mapping at the german Rauhnächte Festival – a singular event during the pandemic showcasing audiovisual art from all around the world inside the old town of Nuremberg.
But Frieder Nagel has also much quieter moments. His meditative and introspective ambient track “Dawn” published by K7! in 2020 was a secret hit featured on over 2500 Spotify playlists and being promoted by dutch superstar Ferry Corsten and David Puentez. His outdoor audiovisual installation “Sonido Blanco” has left visitors in awe as he hid audio and light equipment in the top of trees that automatically started to play for passersby – both mysterious and romantic. Also he reworked classical compositions by the italian violinsts Laura Masotto from Verona and Francesca Guccione from Sicily.
Besides Frieder Nagel’s productions skills are widely known. He promoted several concerts and shows in Berlin with guests like Martin Kohlstedt or David August, whom he brought together with the German Symphonic Orchestra. He produced a music video for Daniel Brandt from the London based label Erased Tapes and developed a contemporary dance opera together with japanese choreographer and dancer Fukiko Takase. In 2023 he was happy to produce the Original Soundtrack Album “Rebuilding Notre Dame” out of a three-hour-long documentary commissioned by french/german tv station ARTE and composed by his labelmate Secret of Elements.
Having received a scholarship by the collecting society GEMA Frieder Nagel is now working on a re-definition of his sound. He started to develop a new studio with ukrainian producer Gleb Lasarew inside of Z-Bau – a center for contemporary art in south Germany – and is working on his debut album.