Happy new year everybody! I'm starting this new Messy Mix season with a musical journey provided by one of my favourite artists: Mr. Martin Kohlstedt. His set is such a fitting, meditative start for the beginning of the year that I just had to immediately share it with you, once you all recovered from your NYE party hangovers. 

This mix is fittingly titled “In The Beginning” and it perfectly suits the current mood and that special storytelling approach of Martin’s music I’ve always loved. I can’t put into words how honoured I am about him taking part in this project. But, obviously, he found the right words and here’s what he said about his selection:

“This music mix blends soundscapes, film scores, and ambient pieces, capturing the essence of a world beginning to form as the new year unfolds. It mostly features tracks I created, with a few guest contributions, and incorporates cinematic compositions that add a narrative depth. The mix spans an hour of deep, dark winter vibes, evoking the quiet intensity of early winter and the sense of a story unfolding. This passage of time feels almost suspended, as if everything has frozen in place, amplifying the stillness and quiet tension of the moment. Gradually, however, things begin to stir, and a slow but inevitable momentum starts to build, as the world begins to thaw and move once again.”

There’s nothing to add here, really. Thank you @martinkohlstedt for your work on this one, your music and also the important environmental work you do besides it. Martin is back on tour this spring and these shows are always amazing, unique experiences so make sure to get a ticket for them. He’s also very entertaining and such a sweet guy on and off stage. May this mix give you the needed energy to start 2025 in the best possible way.

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Messy Mix 21 | In The Beginning (by Martin Kohlstedt)

Telling stories through sound and music. This is an onging mixtape project - from music lovers for music lovers, curated by https://soundcloud.com/burnout-sumner along with friends and admired artists. ♥

Meant as an alternative to the fast-paced, algorithm-driven age of playlists this is an in-depth journey into hand-picked music and sound-driven storytelling. ♫

nature field recordist
curator at earth.fm
sound designer

Messy Mix 21 | In The Beginning (by Martin Kohlstedt)

The Messy Mix