Alex Christensen is considered one of the most successful music producers in Germany. With hits like “Das Boot” he helped shape the music scene of the 90s.
In the backstage interview, the producer gives a glimpse behind the scenes of his current tour and the making of his latest album. Christensen reports how, driven by lockdowns, he traveled to different countries and cooperated with well-known stars. In addition, he reveals the networking tip he got from Udo Lindenberg and what he thinks is important when it comes to networking.
FOCUS Online: Looking back, what would you say is the price of success?
Alex Christensen: Looking back, I would say that sometimes you let go of the balance between your family and music in favor of music. And then at some point I really regret it! For example, if you’re in the middle of the creative phase but there’s a family celebration at 6 p.m., I call around 6:30 p.m. and say I’ll be a little later. Then the question always arises: what does “something” mean? Creativity simply cannot be represented in hours. Personal life suffers as a result. But even with that, a family learns to live.
How do you rate the relationship between talent and diligence? What is more important?
Alex Christensen: I think persistence and diligence are the most important! Talent is often overrated. It always makes it very easy for outsiders to tell that Mariah Carey, Tiger Woods or any other gifted person was born something. This makes it easier to apologize to yourself.
I believe that talent obliges you to be more diligent and persistent! That’s when something good can happen! If you want to play the first violin in an orchestra, then you need at least 12,000 hours of accompanied lessons. And if you want to be really good, you need 18,000 hours. Only a few manage this jump to 18,000 hours. It’s just so much more! That’s why I’m more on the side of diligence and perseverance.
With the format “Alex Christensen
Alex Christensen: I find this Dance meets Classic format exciting! The songs appear in a completely different guise. All of a sudden you realize that these are high-quality pop songs. “Rhythm Is a Dancer” is a great pop song! This is sometimes somewhat subverted with the stamp of the dance genre. Pity!
That’s why my series of four albums is so successful. Because then you suddenly realize that’s great. That’s exactly what makes me a little bit proud. That I’ve created something of my own here. It’s a genre of its own, through which I can lead elegantly, because I was a co-creator in the 90s. That’s why I think I can lead through the program in a very funny and interesting way.
You are currently on tour with your music project “Classical 90s Dance”. What does your audience expect at this show?
Alex Christensen: We’re coming with a big cast. We are traveling with over thirty people. And have guest singers in most of the tracks.
Then I always tell stories in between. And so far I’m blown away by how successful it is. We are one of the few who have sold out over 85 percent of the concerts despite the prevailing fear of Covid. That’s a really great rate and I’m very proud of it. And of course that we can get so many people into a congress hall to listen to an orchestra is of course extraordinary.
What are your three ultimate project management tips to make a project a success?
Alex Christensen: I think the long term is that the music has to have quality. It has to be well produced and exceptional. In addition: “The singer makes the song!” Of course you also have to find the right voices or the right artists and then work on it together. Then nothing stands in the way of success!
And of course you also have to think about logistics. You can’t make a Christmas album in the summer. As an example. You have to roughly time this and find a gap to be successful with it.
In your opinion, what are the reasons why many projects fail – for example in business and politics?
Alex Christensen: There’s a saying in my world: “Hits don’t allow democracy!” That means when I play with an orchestra and filter fifty opinions – to really bring everything down to a common denominator – then it’s so soft washed so that it usually doesn’t turn out.
Sometimes it’s good when you have an Elon Musk who pushes things through. Even against adversity and then it works. That doesn’t have to be the general concept, but I do believe that you have to persevere. This is very important. You can listen to everything, but at the end of the day you have to stand by the decision you made at the beginning. Otherwise you will never finish something! I think the Olympics is a very good example. If you then do a referendum, somehow they all say “no”. But in reality they all want that!
In 2021 you released the album “Classical 80s Dance”. What was the most exciting experience for you in the making of this album?
Alex Christensen: Well, the most exciting experience was that, driven by Covid, I always had to flee to countries where there was no lockdown at the time. We wanted to DJ in Berlin and then according to the Covid regulation, the wind instruments were not allowed to play together with the strings… And you have to isolate them and then it was all impossible, because an orchestra is a living organ! You have to take it together. That thrives on social interaction! That lives from the fact that the herd sits together and plays. Then I fled to Prague. We were there for two days and then the lockdown came and I had to see how things should continue.
What happened next?
Alex Christensen: Then I wanted to record Bonnie Tyler. Then she was in Portugal. So I went to Portugal and then the lockdown came there. I followed all the rules, but it was pretty difficult to put it all together. Unfortunately, I was only able to record some of them via the Internet. I spoke to Gary Barlow on the phone. Then we facetimed and then recorded. That might be a good thing, but of course it doesn’t have the same quality as when you meet and then work on things together. But somehow we made it.
You have already worked with well-known stars. How did you make these contacts?
Alex Christensen: I’ve been at this for over thirty years. If you persist, your phone book will fill up automatically. I also performed with most of them at some point. Whether that was the BRAVO super show back in the 90s or whether you met on a chart show. Also: I can then call Melanie C and ask if she can give me Gary Barlow’s number. Those are very short distances.
Then you first talk among the artists and in the background the record companies take care of the business side. It actually works quite well that way. And of course I have a bit of thermals in that I can say that my first album was in the charts for almost two years… How does it look? Of course, that also opens doors. Of course that makes it easier! If you have already presented something successful. The world is always open and you can skim off the cream.
What three pro tips do you have for our readers when it comes to networking?
Alex Christensen: Well, I learned the following from Udo Lindenberg: He goes through his phone book and says that he should call this or that person again to “network” a bit. If you want to have a network, you have to have shared experiences with people. So you can always come back to anything. So: “Do you remember how we used to be…”
So it’s no use just cold networking, you have to have experienced something together! You have to have a memory together. This is how friendships are formed! And of course it has to be regular. You can’t bring yourself not to report for five years now… That’s not the point of a network.
And as a musician or producer you have to be socially networked, otherwise you have no chance! In Nuremberg I needed three great guitarists and you have to have the right numbers. That’s why it’s very, very important to position yourself well and be socially acceptable. Therefore, it is important not only to talk about music, but also to broaden your horizons and learn to listen. We’ve learned to respond, but we haven’t learned to listen. Or to put it another way: we already know the answer… but we’re not even listening.
What is the best piece of advice you have received in your professional life?
Alex Christensen: Of all the successful people I’ve met, be patient and just keep going! Don’t cramp up. It’s always difficult with “must”. Success comes through trying. So failed attempts… at some point you just hit! You just have to try a lot and do a lot! Anyone who does and tries a lot will go through life as a successful person!
