This Berlin-based sonic scientist is a multi-talented creator. Marc Gundermann is a collaborator, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who has recently released his first compilation of sound memory. The five-track EP Konsole has its roots in the raw energy of Berlin, infamously known as the ‘Grey City’ for its historical & cultural past. The EP is an outcome of the introspection of Gundermann’s auricular exploration since his days as a musician. Through Konsole, one gets to experience the blending of experimental grooves with cinematic flair that creates a lo-fi ambient electronica. Konsole, aptly named, is a reflection of Mark’s area of comfort since a tender age; it is his painting with sounds.
The sounds in the tracks compile Mark’s journey over the past half-decade or possibly longer. They are fragmented, weathered memories that feel dreamlike and distant. These sounds resemble marks left by childhood events or adult life’s monotony. They reflect both the good & bad of a chaotic world timeline. Listening to Konsole, I sometimes heard the booming horn of ancient war. Other times, I heard a robotic woman’s voice making announcements. There was also a forgotten one-string instrument and a stream’s happy gurgle. I even heard the sound of two rocks striking to create a spark. We did an exclusive online one-on-one with Mark to find out what went behind his preparation for Konsole and more.
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Q. You’ve mentioned that Konsole is a collection of sounds you’ve compiled over the past five years. What inspired you to begin collecting these sounds in the first place? Did you always envision them coming together as an EP or album, or did that concept evolve over time?
MARC: Ever since I got my first MacBook in early 2015, I’ve been continuously recording song ideas and writing music — almost obsessively. Nothing ever truly felt right, but the process of recording demos was something I deeply enjoyed. Among these pieces, “Lost Highway” and “Loading… Insert Memory Card..” stood out early on and became the foundation for what would eventually become this EP. When David Lynch unexpectedly passed away in early January, I revisited his body of work, and the idea of releasing these tracks as a tribute to him started to take shape. From that moment, everything fell into place quickly. One idea led to another — I envisioned an aesthetic reminiscent of old cassette tapes: lo-fi, slightly broken, and dreamlike. Within just a few weeks, the concept was fully realized and the EP was complete.
Q. Konsole has a cinematic quality and its soundscape feels like a dramatic reflection of modern life, full of rich textures and emotion. Would you like to share your visual or narrative concept that you had in mind while creating it?
MARC: Thank you. What eventually brought it all together were a few different influences — and I almost feel embarrassed to admit it — but I kept coming back to the atmosphere of late-90s video game classics like Metal Gear Solid, Quake, and Max Payne. Of course, there’s also the surreal pull of David Lynch’s work, but just as important were the places I found myself in over the years. Some of those spaces made their way into the music through field recordings. What mattered to me most was that the tracks would work both in the background and in the foreground — much like in video games. That dual function, where music can be both immersive and subtle, was something I kept chasing.
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Q. If you could collaborate with any visual artist or filmmaker to bring Konsole to life in another medium, who would it be and why?
MARC: I just watched Gone Girl recently. David Fincher, maybe?
Q. You’ve spent years shaping sound behind the scenes for well-known artists. What was it like to step into the spotlight and craft something entirely for your own? Can you share a few pivotal moments from this personal creative journey?
MARC: Music is meant to be something you enjoy, but the longer I worked on my own music, the more the fear and pressure grew. “What if I just suck?” Working with talented musicians, playing and performing songs, brought me so much joy. Plus, it took me a long time to figure out what I actually wanted to make and listen to myself.
Q. The name Konsole is intriguing. Is it a reference to the music production console, the idea of comfort or solace, or perhaps a blend of both? What does the title represent for you personally?
MARC: Ha, almost. What I really appreciated was the interplay of meanings — a console as a gateway to digital experiences, as a structural element that supports or presents, and as an act of comfort, of offering solace in moments of disappointment.
Q. Who or what first sparked your passion for music? Could you share a memory from your childhood that helped shape the artist you’ve become today?
MARC: My family, for sure. No one played an instrument, but they‘ve always been passionate music listeners. There was exciting music coming from all directions, and somehow I found myself especially drawn to the darker stuff: The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, but also Marillion & Underworld. Then along came the Grunge and hard rock thing — and all of this before I even started school! It didn’t take me long to figure out there’s a whole world out there – way bigger than just my family or my neighborhood.
Q. The EP spans several years of your creative life. How did your sound or creative approach evolve over that time, and do any of the tracks reflect specific phases or experiences from those years?
MARC: Almost all of the songs include field recordings from different places – they kind of tie the pieces together for me and remind me where I was and where it all came from. Working on Konsole showed me that having a tight framework and clear limitations can actually be really inspiring and create a sense of freedom. That’s something I hadn’t managed to do in the years before. I mean, all the tracks came together pretty easily, but with ‘Wohlgemut’ it felt kind of magical. ‘Wohlgemut’ was the last track I made, and it shows a different side that I find really interesting to explore. I didn’t force anything – I just had a clear vision and was able to follow it.
Konsole is multi-layered. The EP blends personal echoes, fragile and forgotten fragments, half-remembered, and modern sounds. It gently reminds us that we shape our universes with the sounds we hear and create. Listen to Mark Gundermann’s EP, now streaming on all major music platforms.
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