How is a song actually created? Anyone who occasionally scrolls through social media may be familiar with those little glimpses into the recording studio: musicians tinkering away at an idea together, someone picking up a guitar, others listening in, and a pizza being ordered now and then. It often looks like a mix of focused work and a fairly relaxed time with friends. You can find out what lies behind such moments at Warner Chappell Music in Berlin.
Warner Chappell Music is a music publishing company and, as such, the creative and organisational home for songwriters, composers and producers. Unlike a record label, a music publisher does not deal with the recording and release of music, but rather with the rights to the songs: it represents the creators, ensures that they are remunerated for the use of their works, and supports them in developing new music. Warner Chappell Music is part of the Warner Music Group and represents more than 140 music creators in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Warner Chappell Music has set up the Xberg Studios right in the heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg. These in-house studios serve as a meeting place, workspace and creative hub all in one. It is a place where up-and-coming newcomers, indie and pop songwriters come together, as do established rap and electronic music producers.
At the heart of the musical action: two Hi Lo sofas by &Tradition, which have long since become more than just comfortable seating. Their name sums up what makes them special: a low profile, generous proportions and upholstery that envelops the body. The interplay of high and low is not only evident in the design, but also complements the musical vibes of their surroundings. However, anyone expecting a sofa corner here for a break between two sessions is mistaken. On both models, lyrics are written, demos are listened to and ideas are exchanged – and sometimes a spontaneous encounter gives rise to a musical idea that nobody had thought of before.
In this interview, Warner Chappell Music explains how the Xberg Studios work and what role the facilities play in this.
smow: Why are the two ‘Tradition’ sofas in the middle of the recording studio rather than in a traditional lounge area? What purpose do they serve for you?
Warner Chappell Music: For our songwriters, the sofas are a multifunctional centrepiece and an indispensable part of our creative setup: they serve as a retreat for a quick creative break, as a workspace for writing lyrics, or for group listening sessions to hear the demos we’ve just created from a new perspective and in a relaxed listening environment.
smow: Does a carefully designed studio atmosphere change the way music is created or the way people collaborate?
Warner Chappell Music: Yes, for us, the room is actually almost like having a musician of its own in the room. For us, a studio isn’t a sterile workplace, but rather a creative playground where you can experiment. The furnishings play a direct role in situations that you simply couldn’t plan for. Our sofas aren’t just any old seating area for having a coffee. In our publishing work, everything revolves around the people who create melodies, lyrics and productions – we’re constantly bringing together a wide variety of talents here for collaborative writing sessions. On the sofas, artists from completely different genres meet up; they hang out together, show each other sketches, have a chat – and suddenly, out of this relaxed atmosphere, an idea for a song or a feature emerges spontaneously that nobody would have thought of before. The same thing happens when instruments are lying around ready to hand all over the room: you pick up a synth or some percussion without any pressure, start fiddling about, and suddenly you’ve got exactly the element the track was missing.
But what really sets us apart from other studios is that we have direct natural light here. Anyone who’s ever been to a traditional recording studio will be familiar with those dark, bunker-like rooms where, after two hours, you lose all sense of time and the outside world. The natural light gives us a warm, natural energy and keeps our minds fresh even after long sessions. Combined with the wooden features, it creates an atmosphere of immense calm and cosiness. When the vibe is right and everyone feels at ease, the best songs just come together all by themselves.
smow: What features of the &Tradition sofas convinced you to incorporate them into the studio?
Warner Chappell Music: Ultimately, they’re the perfect combination of relaxation and work. The problem with many extremely soft sofas is often that you sink into them as deeply as you would into a bed – then the energy in the room immediately fades and your creative flow is gone. With the models from &Tradition, it’s different: you can really relax and unwind without losing focus during your session. Your posture remains active enough to write lyrics or try out new chords on the guitar whilst feeling relaxed.
Although I must admit, to be honest: we did catch a few of them dozing off on them [laughs]. But that just goes to show how inviting and cosy they really are. With their aesthetic and that balance between focus and comfort, they simply fit perfectly into our interior design concept.
smow: Thank you so much!
