Meet Sebastian Kierner | Songwriter & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sebastian Kierner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sebastian, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think I mostly did it because of the challenges it poses. I feel that there is an infinite potential for growth in working as an artist. As a Songwriter and Producer I am constantly shown where I could improve my craft, or areas I need to work on. It is an immediate reality check, writing or recording something and then listening back to it. You can hear, if it is good or not. There is no way of denying the outcome, if you’re not willing to lie to yourself. Additionally there is the fact that you will never finish improving yourself and your craft. You will never be done. There are always new things to learn that can be incorporated in the work you do. So my aim is to always get better and improve myself but I also know I will never reach the end. It is both comforting and frustrating to know that, depending on your frame of mind. It might even vary on a day to day basis. It helps me to always be eager to learn new things, explore concepts and not close myself off from ideas. At the same time it is also incredibly humbling to realise you won’t ever reach the finish line – or perfection as some might call it. Whatever that may be. It took me some time to understand this and if I am completely honest I think I am still not completely there, but letting go of the thought, that I have to always be, or deliver something prefect actually helped me to improve. More than if I would have held on to the thought of needing to be impeccable. I felt less stressed and could focus all my energy on the task at hand rather than waste thoughts on whether or not I was creating something that’s perfect. However this did not come with a drop in quality. I still strive to create the best possible art I can and go a step further with every new thing I finish. I have recognised that perfection in art is a futile concept. At least to me it is. Nothing can ever appease everyone and while something might be incredible and perfect to one individual it can be utter garbage to someone else. In a song, it’s often the little imperfections that make it memorable or evoke an emotional response. The subtle break in a singers voice or some buzzing in a guitar can make all the difference to how a song is perceived and add depth to a song that makes it all the more enjoyable. Little details like this, will never cease to amaze and captivate me. I really enjoy getting to test my limits and pushing boundaries with every new project I do. It just never gets boring to me. I also feel like since my artistic personality is inevitably tied to myself as a human being, everything I learn through my work also influences my personal life and helps me grow outside of my profession.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Together with two friends and fellow artists, Simon Schenk-Mair & Paul Kotal I founded the recording and production studio called zonkey studios. It took about a year to adapt our space so it suits our needs and most of the construction and building was done by ourselves. It was a very tiring time but also exciting to finally record the first song in our very own studio. We all have varying fields of expertise and try to combine our strengths in ways that best support the individual projects we are working on. We strive to create the best possible product by letting the music guide us and use our abilities to enhance what is already hidden in the initial idea, enhancing and expanding it into a finished work of art. Even though it can be hard or tiresome at times I am incredibly grateful that I get to do what I love on a daily basis.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It really depends on the season. Austria offers different pleasuresdepending on the time of year. In the summer I would visit the beautiful lakes of Salzkammergut surrounded by the mountains for a refreshing swim with a dramatic backdrop. In the winter there’s endless possibilities to go skiing or snowboarding and stroll around the Christmas markets and have some mulled wine. In Vienna, the capitol city where I am from, there are numerous museums and parks to explore and the city has a rich history that can still be experienced vividly by walking through the countless little alleys in the old town. Exploring the city by bike is a fun and easy way to cover a lot of ground. The local wine tavern the so called ‘Heuriger’ offers a unique atmosphere to relax after an eventful day with some food, drinks and good company.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support of the people surrounding me. My family, fiancé, and friends are constantly offering their love and encouragements to me. They also provide me with advice or a gentle nudge in the right direction, should I ever find myself in a tough spot. This is comforting me, more than I could ever put into words. Having the support of the people that care for me, gives me the freedom I need to be daring and step out of my comfort zone. I feel especially as an artist it is vital to constantly enter unknown territory because to me that is where exciting things happen.

Website: https://www.zonkeystudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sebastian_ki_music/ https://www.instagram.com/zonkeystudios/

Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3v14INmsyFSbFL5syMczxT?si=a12e3f8ea666420c

Image Credits
Jennifer Prunner, Maximilian Payer, Su San Yong, Ieuan Denton