Torsten Stenzel
Encyclopedia
Torsten Stenzel is a German musician, songwriter, composer and producer for more than 22 years. Classically trained from an early age his roots are within the field of Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...

. Furthermore he has worked with the likes of Moby, Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...

, Mike Oldfield, All Saints, Chris Rea, Tina Turner, ATB
ATB
ATB may refer to:*The US Reorder tone is often referred to as an ATB, for All Trunks Busy*Active Time Battle system is a feature of role-playing games*Mountain bike is an off-road bicycle...

, Tarja Turunen, Jennifer Paige, Rick Nowels, Rob Davis, Asheni, Vanessa Mae, Arenico Film, Universal and many more.

Early life

Stenzel was born on September 27, 1971 to parents Walter Stenzel and Gisela Alberti. His interest for music first started at age 5 when he received piano lessons by academic piano teacher Andre Terebesi. Today Terebesi is a professor at the respected Peter Cornelius Konservatorium in Frankfurt, Germany.

Age 13 Stenzel changed to church organ and received his church organist diploma age 15. Graduating from the Protestant church in Frankfurt.

In 1990 he released his first single "Recall IV - Contrast" through Zyx Records. His partners failed to credit him as a writer and because of his lack of knowledge of the music industry, only "mixed by Torsten Stenzel” appeared on the credits.
In 1992 Stenzel became A & R-Manager for the underground record label "Crash Records". It was his first job in the recording business and together with his partner at that time - Zied Jouini - he became responsible for the label. Their first release N.U.K.E - Nana went straight to No. 1 in Italy and No. 3 in Benelux.

In 1993 Stenzel started his colloboration with DJ Taucher
DJ Taucher
DJ Taucher is a German trance DJ. His name means "Diver" in German.Taucher began spinning in 1992, initially collaborating with Torsten Stenzel. He quickly became one of the best-known spinners on the Frankfurt-am-Main club scene...

, who had weekly shows at the legendary Music Hall in Frankfurt.
The first release by the duo was the single Happiness. The second single Atlantis (1993: Planet Love Records) is still today considered a classic track within the EDM
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...

 scene.

First Label (1993–1998)

In 1993 Stenzel founded his first own underground label 'Liquid Records'. He now had the freedom to release whatever he choose and, unbeknownst to him at the time, it proved a wise decision. Together with fellow German, producer Oliver Lieb, he started the project 'Paragliders'. During this period he kept working with renown electronic artists such as Booka Shade
Booka Shade
Booka Shade is a German house duo. It is made up of Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier, described as veterans of the Frankfurt electronic music scene...

, Dj Tatana
Tatana Sterba
Tatana Sterba is a dance and trance producer better known under her alias DJ Tatana....

, Dj Taucher, Talla 2XLC
Talla 2XLC
Talla 2XLC, real name Andreas Tomalla, is an electronic music producer and DJ whose work has spanned from industrial music to trance music.-History:In 1979, Talla 2XLC began DJing with the sounds of Kraftwerk, YMO, and Depeche Mode....

 and DJ Sakin
DJ Sakin
DJ Sakin is a Turkish-German dance music producer, remixer and DJ. Bozkurt started producing music and DJing in 1990....

. Stenzel released over 40 Vinyl-singles through Liquid Records.

Dj Taucher and Stenzel

In 1995 Stenzel bought the rights to 'Planet Love Records' in which he afore had been the A & R-Manager. He was now focused on developing his trance sounds together with Taucher. Their single 'Fantasy' was licensed to Sony Dancepool, and, surprisingly, it reached a top 50 position in the German media control charts. The third single 'Infinity' reached a top 50 position in Germany as well.

Until 1997 the duo remixed over 52 artists and were named the 'worldwide third best remixers' by readers of the magazine Raveline.
Stenzel and Taucher reworked tracks by amongs others Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...

 - 'God is a DJ', which in several countries reached a number 1 position in the charts. The Stenzel-Taucher productions were also licensed to famed British producer and Dj Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...

 for some of his compilations. Furthermore The duo also released productions under their alias' 'Red Light District' and 'Diver & Ace'.

Commercial Breakthrough - Dj Sakin & Friends (1999–2006)

In 1998 Stenzel released the track 'Protect Your Mind' together with yet another fellow countryman, producer Sakin Bozkurt (Dj Sakin). It was the first single under the new project 'Sakin & Friends' and it was released through 'Planet Love Records'.

They had produced a club version based on the film music by composer James Horner. Through 4 months several European Dj's played the track frequently and it quickly became a clubhit. In 1999 Stenzel licensed the track to the underground label 'Overdose' and produced a remix - (Suspicious Remix).

Shortly after a single with the new remix was released it entered the German charts without a music video or further promotion. It became a fast selling item and after only one week it rose in the German music sales charts onto a number 3 position. In the German Dance Charts it hit a number 1 position, and additionally received Silver, Gold and Platin records in several European countries.
Today more than 700.000 copies of 'Protect Your Mind' have been sold and the track is considered to be one of the most popular trance productions ever released!

The second single from the duo - 'Nomansland' featured the melody of an old TV show that Stenzel loved as a child (The Adventures of David Belfort). 'Nomansland' reached a 10th position in Germany and 16th position in The United Kingdom. It was difficult to continue the achievements of Sakin & Friends after the runaway success of 'Protect Your Mind', but even their debut album 'Walk on Fire' charted successfully.

As a result of this success Stenzel decided to fulfill his dream and explore options outside of Germany. He moved to the Spanish Balearic island Ibiza and built a recording studio in his home close to San Jose.

York

After setting up the studio in Ibiza, Stenzel worked promptly on his different projects. Among these York that he had started in 1997 with his brother Jörg Stenzel. Their first single The Awakening reached a 11th position in the UK charts. It became the first trance track that had the electric guitar as lead instrument. With more than 250.000 sold copies 'The Awakening' became one of the best selling singles that did not reach a top 10 position in the United Kingdom.

Their second single 'On The Beach' was released on the German producer Andreas Tomallas' (Talla 2XLC) label - 'Suck me Plasma'.
It was later on licensed to Sony Music Germany and Manifesto in The United Kingdom. 'On The Beach' was a coversion of British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. It instantly reached a top 3 position in Germany, United Kingdom and US. Stenzel had his second huge hit following 'Protect Your Mind'. Furthermore Chris Rea was so positively affected by the coversion - which had sold more copies than the original from 1986 - that he helped promoting the track with a performance in the British 'Top of The Pops' show. Chris Rea and Stenzel started writing songs together, among others the track 'Your Love is Setting Me Free' by Watermen Meets Chris Rea.

Moby

Stenzel has been a huge fan of Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...

, since the release of the album Go in 1991. In 2001 Moby's manager contacted him and asked if he would be interested in remixing the new single Porcellain. Stenzel produced a deep Clubremix, that later on was released through Mute Records (US).

Ibiza Projects

In 1999, after a short time in Ibiza, word of mouth spread and the biggest German music channel VIVA sent reporters to interview Stenzel. Local Dj's and producers in Ibiza welcomed him and he then met Dj Sin Plomo, who was a resident Dj in the Space-Club (We Love Sundays) and the well known KM 5-Club. They started an intensive collaboration and had numerous releases together on different labels. Among these they released a series of KM 5 compilation albums on Richard Branson’s label Virgin Records. Additionally Stenzel worked with Sin Plomo's friend Paul Lomax. Together they produced two records Islands and Sweet Love - two typical Balearic sound tunes. Stenzel managed to get his Chillout Productions on the famous Cafe del Mar and Buddha Bar compilations. He also released an album and several singles in co-operation with Dj and producer Matt Caseli - resident Dj at Ibiza’s most famous nightclub 'Pacha'.

- 2004 Stenzel met German Dj and producer Sven Greiner (Dj Shog) on Ibiza. Together they founded the record label '7th Sense Recordings' where they released various new trance projects under alias' such as Mandala Bros., Jolly Harbour and San Jose.

Tarja Turunen

In 2006 the Finish rock singer and ex-front figure of the rock band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...

 was searching for new songs for her first solo album. Torsten’s Kenyan songwriter friend Adrian Zagoritis
Adrian Zagoritis
Adrian Zagoritis is a British songwriter and producer whose songs are published by Universal UK and EMI Germany...

 pitched her the track Iceflowers, taken from the second 'York' album 'Peace' (2004). Tarja liked the production and was interested in writing music with Stenzel.

It was a music direction totally new for Torsten. She had the idea to write her new album in Ibiza and he organized together with the Berlin Department of Universal Music, a writing camp where they flew in 10 writers from all over Europe. They wrote about 75% of the songs on her debut album My Winterstorm at this session. Stenzel wrote 5 songs for this album of which 3 - 'The Reign', 'Damned & Divine' and 'Northern Star' - were recorded in Santa Monica at the Remote Control Studios of Academy Award-nominee Hans Zimmer.

The album was released through Universal Music in 70 countries. It became a huge worldwide success and received several Gold and Platinum records in Finland, Russia and Germany.
In 2010 Tarja released her second album 'What Lies Beneath'. Stenzel wrote two tracks for this album. The album reached top 5 in the German sales chart.

Los Angeles

In 2006, Stenzel travelled to the USA to promote the new album he produced with Jennifer Paige. He was introduced by Paige to musical genius and multi-Grammy winner, American Rick Nowels
Rick Nowels
Richard Wright Nowels Jr. is a Grammy / Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer who has worked with many of the most vibrant artists in contemporary music...

. After a short conversation Nowels wanted to hear the new songs produced with Jennifer Paige. He then asked Stenzel if he would be interested in playing keyboard for him as he was just completing new songs for the British girl band All Saints
All Saints (group)
All Saints were a British/Canadian girl group. Founded in 1993 as All Saints 1.9.7.5, the group consisted of founding members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis, and sisters Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton...

. Torsten eventually played keyboards on many of the songs including 'Chickfit', that was released as one of their 2007 singles off the album 'Studio One'. After this positive feedback he went back to Los Angeles a couple of times, again playing keyboards for Nowels on new songs he wrote with Canadian-Portuguese songstress Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...

 and UK phenomenon Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...

.

In 2007 Stenzel wrote his first 3 songs with Rob Davis, who, among others, composed the Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...

 hit Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

The West Indies: The New Island - Antigua (2007 - 2010)

It was time for a change. Throughout the 90’s, Ibiza became more commercialised, mainstream and gradually lost appeal. The increasingly hedonistic lifestyle and overcrowding caused Stenzel and his family to seek greener pastures.

As a avid world traveller, he had visited Thailand, Canada, Indonesia, South Africa and many other places while seeking the perfect home for his family. Their travels eventually brought them to a getaway vacation in Antigua. “When we came to Antigua” says Stenzel, “we said this could be the right place, it’s warm, and we wanted to escape from Ibiza because it was too crowded and expensive.”


Stenzel purchased a house and they moved there in 2007. Here he worked for one and a half year in his 'Midway Studio', before he in his private home put up another studio - the 'Jungle Studio'.

In 2008 Stenzel completed the production of a trance album by Croatian singer Narany. She was chosen as the best national singer the same year.

- 2009 Torsten produced the album 'Butterfly Survival Kit' with his wife Angela Heldmann (Asheni). The album is a blend of retro jazz and electronica. It was released on the Swiss record label 'Offshore Music' and 'Hi Note Records' in Asia, Japan, Chicago and Taiwan.

Due to his contacts in the US, Stenzel is now involved in several new projects. In 2010 he remixed a track for the RnB star Shontelle
Shontelle
Shontelle Layne , known professionally as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer, and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence in November 2008. Her sophomore album, No Gravity, was released in September 2010...

 and produced a Chillout / Lounge album with the ex-wife of Donald Trump, Marla Maples
Marla Maples
Marla Maples is an American actress, television personality, and socialite, best known for her marriage to businessman celebrity Donald Trump.- Personal life :...

. He has collaborated on several projects gone viral with actress/recording artist Niki Salettta, & has also started projects with local artists such as 'Jus Bus', 'Logiq', 'Claudette Peters', 'Tian Winter' and Reggae singer 'Promise'.

Film Music

Arriving fresh in Antigua in late 2007, Torsten met the movie producer Rolant Hergert through an Antiguan friend. Rolant was shooting a new motion picture in Berlin called Fire. Torsten was invited to Berlin to score 'The Making of Fire'. After the producer heard his work, he replaced the original composer with Stenzel, who wrote the entire soundtrack in Antigua. Meanwhile, Stenzel made another soundtrack for a Caribbean independent movie Memoirs of The Blue which will be released in 2010.

Awards

  • 1999 Echo-nomination: Sakin & Friends for "Best national Dance Act"
  • Planet-Radio-Award: Protect Your Mind was the most wanted track in Radio 1999
  • Gold Record in Germany: 250.000 sold CDs: Sakin & Friends, Protect Your Mind
  • Silver Record in England: 200.000 sold CDs: Sakin & Friends, Protect Your Mind
  • Silver Record in England: 200.000 sold CDs: York, On The Beach
  • Platin Record in Denmark: 1.000 sold CDs: Sakin & Friends, Protect Your Mind
  • Gold Record in Denmark: 5.000 sold CDs: Sakin & Friends, "Protect Your Mind"
  • Gold Record in Greece: over 30.000 sold CDs: "Pop Idol" winner "High 5"
  • Gold Record in Russia: 10.000 sold CDs: Tarja Turunen, My Winterstorm
  • Platin Record in Finland: over 30.000 sold CDs: Tarja Turunen, My Winterstorm
  • Gold Record in Germany: 100.000 sold CDs: Tarja Turunen My Winterstorm

Singles (selected)

  • 1990 recall IV - Contrast
  • 1991 Trust In 6 - Life in Ecstasy
  • 1992 Lyrical Terrorist - Lyrical Terrorists
  • 1992 N.U.K.E. - Nana
  • 1993 Taucher - Atlantis
  • 1994 Paragliders - Paraglide
  • 1995 Taucher - Fantasy
  • 1995 Paragliders - Oasis
  • 1995 Suspicious - Lovewaves
  • 1996 Suspicious - Maid of Orleans
  • 1996 Taucher - Waters
  • 1996 Miss Yetti - La Pression Innovative
  • 1996 DJ Buzz - Situations
  • 1996 Scooter - I'm Raving
  • 1997 Ayla - Ayla
  • 1997 Sosa - The Wave
  • 1998 Front 242 - Headhunter
  • 1998 Tatana & Dj Energy - End of Time
  • 1998 York - The Awakening
  • 1998 DJ Sakin & Friends - Protect Your Mind (For The Love Of A Princess)
  • 1998 C & M - Dream Universe
  • 1999 DJ Sakin & Friends - Nomansland
  • 1999 Taucher - Child of a Universe
  • 1999 York - Reachers of Civilisation
  • 1999 Taucher & Talla 2XLC - Nightshift
  • 1999 Ayla - Ayla Part 2
  • 2000 Moby - Porcellain (Torsten Stenzel Remix)
  • 2000 Faithless - God is a DJ
  • 2000 Vanessa Mae & Sakin & Friends - Reminiscing
  • 2002 Trance Allstars - Lost in Love
  • 2002 ATB feat. York - The Fields of Love
  • 2005 Elize - Automatic
  • 2006 All Saints - Chickfit
  • 2007 Mandala Bros. - Sleepwalking
  • 2007 High 5 - Mena Fili
  • 2007 Ike & Tina Turner - (Paul Lomax Remix)
  • 2008 Tarja Turunen - The Reign
  • 2009 Niki Saletta & Mandala Bros. - Amazing
  • 2010 Shontelle - Licky (Carnival of Souls Remix)

|

Media Control / Charts International

Every release is shown with its chart position and country abbreviation.
  • 1990[a] N.U.K.E. Nana 4(NL)
  • 1994[b] Taucher Fantasy 49(DE)
  • 1995[b] Taucher Infinity 50(DE)
  • 1998[g] Kai Tracid Liquid Skies 31(DE)
  • 1999[c] Tatana End of Time 48(CH)
  • 1999[b] Taucher Bizarre 32(DE)
  • 1999[d] York The Awakening 11(UK)
  • 1999[d] Ayla Ayla 22(UK)
  • 1999[e] Tatana 24 Karat 9 (CH)
  • 1999[b][c][d][g] Sakin & Friends Protect your Mind 3(DE) 4(UK),15(CH) 15 (FR) 7(NL) 14(NW) 23(BE) 2(IR) 20(AT) 23 (SE)
  • 1999[h] Sakin & Friends Walk on Fire 71(DE) 23 (CH) 8 (NW)
  • 2000[g][d][i] York On the Beach 4(UK) 23 (US)
  • 2000[b][c][d][g] Sakin & Friends Nomansland 14(DE) 13(NL) 16(IR)
  • 2000[d] York Farewell to the Moon 37 (UK)
  • 2000[e] Tatana Pink Punk 5 (CH)
  • 2001[d]York & ATB Fields of Love 16 (UK)
  • 2003[j] Hi 5 Gennithika Ksana 1(GR)
  • 2005[k] Elize Automatic 5(NL)
  • 2007[l] Tarja Turunen My Winterstorm 3(DE) 15(UK) 1(FL) 11(AT) 1 (RU)

|

Studio Albums

  • Two Man Ahead - Crossing All Stars
  • Two Man Ahead - Sign of a Difference
  • Taucher - Return to Atlantis
  • Taucher - Ebbe & Flut / (UK) High Tide - Low Tide
  • York - Experience
  • York - Peace
  • Tarja Turunen - My Winter Storm
    My Winter Storm
    My Winter Storm is the second solo album by Finnish singer Tarja Turunen, and the first to consist mainly of new and original songs specifically written by or for Turunen...

  • Jennifer Paige - Best Kept Secret
    Best Kept Secret (Jennifer Paige album)
    Best Kept Secret is the third studio album by singer Jennifer Paige. It was released on April 25, 2008 in Germany and selected European countries. The first single was "Wasted", the second single was "Underestimated" and the third single was "The Calling"...

  • All Saints - Studio 1
    Studio 1 (album)
    -Special edition DVD:-Singles:-Release history:-Charts:-External links:*...

  • Asheni - Butterfly Survival Kit
  • York - Islander (Out December 2011)

DJ Mixes/Compilations

  • 2007 Eye Trance Vol. 11
  • 2000-2002 KM 5 Ibiza - Vol. 3 & 4
  • 2006 La Maison De L'Elephant Ibiza

|}

Filmography

  • 2007 Fire, Making Of, Produced by Shab Kirchner, interview Gary Dourdan
  • 2008 Fire, Motion Picture, Arenico Production, produced by Rolant Hergert, ft. Gary Dourdan, Cosma Shiva Hagen, Ken Douken
  • 2010 Memoirs of the Blue Soundtrack, Halivantigua Films, Produced by Bert Kirchner & Luke Hanson

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK