KAI DANZBERG (Hanover, Germany)
KAI DANZBERG emerged to take the pop world by storm in 2018 with his self-produced album Pop Up Radio. Hailing from Hanover, Germany, Danzberg, who's only 25, wowed critics and listeners alike with his firm grasp of songcraft and studio technique, drawing sonic comparisons to legends like ELO while presenting a fresh take on classic pop. Like his California-based BSR labelmate ADDISON LOVE, Danzberg represents the new generation of power pop millennials, crafting hooks and harmonies to stand with the greats.
Danzberg has been honing his craft since age 4, starting on drums and joining a German punk band by age 12. Around the same time, he taught himself guitar and took a deep dive into vintage sounds of Queen, Jellyfish, Chris Rainbow and of course The Beatles. Those influences shaped Pop Up Radio into the ambitious, hook-filled concoction that captured ears everywhere.
Hailed as “the standard against which all 2018 releases will be measured”, the record's production and arrangements (all handled by Danzberg) evoked song cycles like A Night at the Opera and Pet Sounds, as the '70s-radio-ready sheen adorns a set of thematically-related songs. “The lyrics are very personal,” Danzberg explains. “It had to do with a relationship I had for 8 years, which broke up in early 2017.” That cathartic underpinning makes the record all the more accessible, and tunes like “Too Late” and “Just Listen to Me” show that a blend of passion and craft can still exhilarate in the right hands.
The success of Pop Up Radio opened doors for the tireless Danzberg, who quickly began work on the followup with the assistance of new peers and heroes from the global pop community. Luminaries like DANA COUNTRYMAN, DAVID MYHR, and ROGER MANNING JR. (of Danzberg's beloved Jellyfish) all contributed to the record. Los Angeles songstress LISA MYCHOLS serves as Kai's duet partner on the lead single, “Let Me Know”.
“The album is called Not Only Sunshine, and it will have different themes,” Danzberg explains. “Some are love songs, some are just happy or aggressive. I chose the title because it means that not everything turns good in your life... sometimes you need to go through stuff. But it also contains a lot of sunshine melodies and good-vibe songs!”
Not Only Sunshine will see release in early 2019 on Big Stir Records. “Let Me Know” is available now as part of the label's Digital Singles series. Pop Up Radio is also available for free at the BSR website.
Track List: 1) Overture 2) Welcome To Euphoria 3) Finally Free 4) Fool To Me 5) Paralyzed 6) Over You 7) The Day (featuring Lisa Mychols)
KAI DANZBERG's acclaimed 2018 album POP-UP RADIO has been hailed as "Album of the Year" and a masterpiece, with the accolades still flowing in. In advance of our release of his followup NOT ONLY SUNSHINE, BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to offer CDs of POP-UP RADIO signed by the artist himself! Tracklist:
- Overture
- Welcome to the Show
- Yes We Can
- Just Listen to Me
- You're the One
- Puppet on a String
- Stranger
- How Can You
- Too Late
- What the F (Radio Version)
- Sophie
- I Should Try
- Sleep (Tell Me)
Rockshow
Kai Danzberg
CD Download |
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The new album from KAI DANZBERG for 2020... now also available on CD!
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Rockshow 4:180:00/4:18
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0:00/3:36
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You & Me 4:330:00/4:33
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Living Room 3:480:00/3:48
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Waiting For You 4:020:00/4:02
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Let Him Go 3:170:00/3:17
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Making It Right 3:130:00/3:13
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Magic Night 5:000:00/5:00
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Undone 4:320:00/4:32
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Mr. Floyd 4:190:00/4:19
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The End 2:290:00/2:29
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Overture 1:110:00/1:11
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Welcome to Euphoria 4:040:00/4:04
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Finally Free 4:590:00/4:59
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A Fool To Me 4:400:00/4:40
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Paralyzed 4:580:00/4:58
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Over You 4:050:00/4:05
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0:00/5:57
Finally Free (Big Stir Digital Single No. 25)
Kai Danzberg
We kick off the Third Wave of BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLES – the final 12 for 2019! – with a throwback to the roots in more ways than one. KAI DANZBERG, the Hanover, Germany-based pop wünderkind who helped inaugurate the series last year and kicked off 2019 with his acclaimed Big Stir Records release NOT ONLY SUNSHINE, is back with a brand new song
We kick off the Third Wave of BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLES – the final 12 for 2019! – with a throwback to the roots in more ways than one. KAI DANZBERG, the Hanover, Germany-based pop wünderkind who helped inaugurate the series last year and kicked off 2019 with his acclaimed Big Stir Records release NOT ONLY SUNSHINE, is back with a brand new song And as if that's not enough, we've got TWO B-sides in the form of a pair of all-new remixes of beloved tracks from the current album!
“Finally Free” b/w “Not Only Sunshine (Unplugged Mix) featuring Helma” and “Your Shiny Eyes (AC's Laid-Bach Mix)” will see release Friday, April 19, and are available for pre-order now. The special 3-track package goes for the same $1 as a standard 2-track Digital Single and can be purchased here:
https://www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles
We can only describe the new track as charming in the extreme as our young artist takes us back to a musical setting from earlier in the past century than expected. Kai explains, “The new single is kind of different from what I've done before. To me it’s still power pop, but it goes more in a direction of the 1940s. It's inspired by Disney musicals and musicals in general – I really love those string arrangements! The lyrics this time are far from autobiographical... it's just a story. Kind of a happy story but with a tragic ending!”
On the double B-side blast, Danzberg reimagines the title track to his latest album in a breezy acoustic setting, with the lead vocal handed off to guest singer HELMA along the way. It's yet a third interpretation of the tune including the original and “Reprise” versions on Not Only Sunshine. “Your Shiny Eyes” is likewise stripped down and rearranged, but lacks none of the groove and chamber-pop flourishes that made the original version such a standout.
Not Only Sunshine, along with a very generous selection of KAI DANZBERG's back catalog on CD, vinyl, and digital download, are available here on the Big Stir Records website:
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Finally Free 4:590:00/4:59
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0:00/4:34
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0:00/4:48
Not Only Sunshine
Kai Danzberg
BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to announce the upcoming release of the new album from KAI DANZBERG: Not Only Sunshine. The street date is February 1, 2019, on CD and digital download (the CD contains an exclusive hidden track) and the album is available for pre-order now.
KAI DANZBERG emerged to take the pop world by storm in 2018 with his
BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to announce the upcoming release of the new album from KAI DANZBERG: Not Only Sunshine. The street date is February 1, 2019, on CD and digital download (the CD contains an exclusive hidden track) and the album is available for pre-order now.
KAI DANZBERG emerged to take the pop world by storm in 2018 with his self-produced album Pop Up Radio. Hailing from Hanover, Germany, Danzberg, who's only 25, wowed critics and listeners alike with his firm grasp of songcraft and studio technique, drawing sonic comparisons to legends like ELO while presenting a fresh take on classic pop. Danzberg has been honing his craft since age 4, starting on drums and joining a German punk band by age 12. Around the same time, he taught himself guitar and took a deep dive into vintage sounds of Queen, Jellyfish, Chris Rainbow and of course The Beatles. Those influences shaped Pop Up Radio into the ambitious, hook-filled concoction that captured ears everywhere.
The album is still garnering “Best of 2018” nods across the global pop community and Danzberg has wasted no time in crafting a followup. Drawing on the assistance of some noted peers and heroes (luminaries like DANA COUNTRYMAN, DAVID MYHR, LISA MYCHOLS and ROGER MANNING JR. of Danzberg's beloved JELLYFISH), Kai has delivered a second melodic opus barely one year after the last. Everything here, from the giddily orchestrated “My Beautiful Day” and the title track to the swinging rocker “Let Me Know” and moodier excursions like “Where Can I Sleep” and “Lonely” will more than satisfy the faithful and doubtless convert those new to Danzberg's catalog.
“The album is called Not Only Sunshine, and it has different themes,” Danzberg explains. “Some are love songs, some are just happy or aggressive. I chose the title because it means that not everything turns good in your life... sometimes you need to go through stuff. But it also contains a lot of sunshine melodies and good-vibe songs!”
In addition to Not Only Sunshine, the prior release Pop Up Radio and the Digital Singles “Let Me Know” and the holiday-themed “If Santa” are available at the Big Stir Records website, and earlier singles and collections can be found at Danzberg's Bandcamp site.
TRACK LIST: 1. Not Only Sunshine 2. My Beautiful Day (featuring Dana Countryman) 3. Nothing In My Head (featuring David Myhr) 4. Turn Away (featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr.) 5. Lonely 6. Help 7. Reach You Somehow 8. Empty Room (featuring Johann Danzberg) 9. Where Can I Sleep 10. Your Shiny Eyes 11. Let Me Know (featuring Lisa Mychols) 12. If She Only Knew 13. Not Only Sunshine (Reprise)
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Not Only Sunshine 2:210:00/2:21
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My Beautiful Day 3:560:00/3:56
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Nothing In My Head 3:470:00/3:47
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Turn Away 5:390:00/5:39
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Lonely 5:240:00/5:24
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Help 3:590:00/3:59
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Reach You Somehow 2:540:00/2:54
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Empty Room 4:150:00/4:15
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Where Can I Sleep 4:580:00/4:58
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Your Shiny Eyes 4:580:00/4:58
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Let Me Know 3:550:00/3:55
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If She Only Knew 3:100:00/3:10
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0:00/4:17
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Bye Bye, My Friend 3:310:00/3:31
Let Me Know (Big Stir Digital Single No. 3)
Kai Danzberg with Lisa Mychols
BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to present the third in our Digital Singles Series, "Let Me Know" from KAI DANZBERG featuring LISA MYCHOLS! The single will be officially released on November 9, 2018 and available on the Big Stir Records website.
KAI DANZBERG, based in Hanover, Germany, officially joins the Big Stir Records roster with this release. At
BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to present the third in our Digital Singles Series, "Let Me Know" from KAI DANZBERG featuring LISA MYCHOLS! The single will be officially released on November 9, 2018 and available on the Big Stir Records website.
KAI DANZBERG, based in Hanover, Germany, officially joins the Big Stir Records roster with this release. At just 25 years of age, Danzberg (like his California-based labelmate Addison Love) represents the next generation of fresh but classic-styled guitar pop. Influences like Jellyfish, Cheap Trick, ELO and of course The Beatles weave through Danzberg's self-produced 2018 album Pop Up Radio, which took the global pop community by storm upon its release. "Let Me Know" is the lead single from its followup, Not Only Sunshine, to be released in early 2019 by BSR.
On "Let Me Know", Kai presents a duet with LISA MYCHOLS, long regarded as the queen of the Los Angeles pop scene, on a composition written especially for the two to sing together. An instrumental version of the tune serves as the exclusive B-side. Mychols is one of many celebrated guests (including ROGER MANNING JR. of Jellyfish fame, DANA COUNTRYMAN, and DAVID MYHR) set to appear on Not Only Sunshine, making the album a truly international affair in the Big Stir spirit and a must-have release on next year's slate!
"Let Me Know" is now available for preorder, along with prior Big Stir Digital Single releases from MICHAEL SIMMONS and KARLA KANE of THE CORNER LAUGHERS at the link below. The series will continue with a new release every Friday, including upcoming singles from THE EX TEENS, mylittlebrother, TRIP WIRE, and, through special arrangement with the wonderful folks at SPYDERPOP RECORDS, LANNIE FLOWERS and much more!
www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles www.facebook.com/bigstirrecords
For more on KAI DANZBERG, see:
Kai Danzberg's acclaimed 2018 album, available here for free in advance of BSR's release of the 2019 followup "Not Only Sunshine"!
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Overture 0:420:00/0:42
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Welcome to the Show 3:470:00/3:47
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Yes We Can 3:380:00/3:38
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Just Listen to Me 2:590:00/2:59
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You're the One 3:020:00/3:02
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Puppet on a String 3:450:00/3:45
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Stranger 5:370:00/5:37
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How Can You 3:010:00/3:01
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Too Late 3:350:00/3:35
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What the F 3:500:00/3:50
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Sophie 3:280:00/3:28
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I Should Try 4:220:00/4:22