Julian Petrin is a Hamburg native whose work blends neo-classical music, compositional ambient, and downtempo electronica, with influences ranging from Jean-Michel Jarre to Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian. His track “Embrace,” which was published on December 28th, 2020, is a re-recorded and re-issued version of his 2003 release, which was on the renowned compilation “Café Abstrait.” “Embrace” is a thrill, and Julian’s level of passion piqued our interest. Read on to find out more about him and the song.
Songweb: Describe your background and who you are.
Julian: Throughout my professional life, I have oscillated between urbanism, where I am working for more than 25 years, and music. After founding a New Wave band in Düsseldorf in the 1980s, I moved to Munich in the early 1990s, where I wrote stage music for independent theatre groups. A large part of my tracks was written in my present hometown of Hamburg from 1993 onwards, with individual releases, e.g. in Raphael Marionneau’s “Café Abstrait” series, „Mercedes Benz Mixtape“ and on the Label i: ideology. Over the past thirty years, I have created a rich catalog of songs that reflect the decades from the dawn of synth pop to today’s diverse ramifications of electronic instrumental music – and which is now being re-edited, remixed, and published step by step.
Songweb: What inspired you to pursue music?
Julian: Music has been part of my life since my early childhood. My Italian father came to Germany as a Jazz Drummer in the sixties, I was surrounded by Bossa nova, Jazz, and started with piano lessons at the age of six. Making my music was therefore a logical step for me, especially when the world of electronic music opened up to me in the eighties.
Songweb: What is it about music that evokes such strong emotions in you?
Julain: Well, what is more, immediate than being touched by music 🙂
Songweb: Describe the steps you take to create a new song.
Julain: It varies a lot: sometimes there’s a strong melody at the beginning, sometimes an inspiring beat, sometimes a good harmony sequence. The important thing is that the theme or the beat inspires and somehow touches me.
Songweb: Describe your newest song, “Embrace” for us.
Julian: Embrace“ was first released in 2003 on the renowned compilation “Café Abstrait”, in 2020 the song was re-recorded and re-released. A swaying beat, a wide string line, overlaid with intertwining melodic layers – this is how this track builds up piece by piece.
Songweb: What do you hope the critics will say about your newest song?
Julian: Any criticism that seriously addresses the musical idea in my songs makes me happy.
Songweb: Identify the best and worst aspects of being a musician.
Julian: As an independent artist, it’s not easy to be heard in the ocean of new releases. But the moments when you work on your music and then get positive feedback are just beautiful.
Songweb: What can we do to support your career advancement?
Julain: Networking with fans who like similar music would help a lot. In general, it’s very helpful that there are opportunities like this blog to be introduced to a wide audience.
Songweb: Describe your future artistic plans.
Julian: An album release is planned for 2023, as well as a series of remixes to select tracks from my catalog.
“Embrace” is a very lovely piece, and I’m confident that from the first note, it will convey listeners to a very pleasant and delightful environment. The ambiance of the song, paired with its pleasant tone, makes it ideal for deep relaxation, and I was intrigued by the melody. The usage of cinematic instrumentals is creative and lush and that enticing character quickly grabs the ear and makes you want to listen to the song on repeat. Overall, this 4:38 instrumental music has a distinct and excellent production with expert arrangements.
Listen to “Embrace” by Julian Petrin on Spotify or SoundCloud and watch the video with the above link and let us know your thoughts.
You can follow Julian here for more information.
