Schoeffler – Anklang

With Anklang, Schoeffler presents no ordinary album. Rather, it is a multifaceted Gesamtkunstwerk—a total work of art—in which music, imagery, and poetry are interwoven. The individual elements do not merely exist side by side; instead, they enter into a lively dialogue, opening up a space for the audience to engage in perception, memory, and reflection.

The project takes as its starting point a collection of self-built instruments. Driven by a desire to unlock new sonic worlds, Schoeffler initially created a series of experimental constructions; the unique quirks and inherent resistances of these instruments profoundly shaped the subsequent creative process. The music of Anklang embodies this spirit of discovery. It navigates between tranquil, flowing soundscapes and more vibrant passages in which the DIY instruments step forward as the central protagonists. Like a river that appears to glide serenely through the landscape yet generates eddies, currents, and unexpected movements, the compositions unfold with a dynamic fluidity. Field recordings surface throughout the work—such as audio captured on the cable car ascending Monte Capanne on the island of Elba—lending the pieces an additional spatial and narrative dimension.

Emerging from these musical impulses, the project’s visual layer began to take shape. The photographic series Im Vorbeifahren (In Passing) explores those experiences, emotions, and impressions that often go unnoticed in the rush of daily life, yet nonetheless influence our thoughts and actions. These works invite the viewer to look more closely and to question their own perceptions. They serve as a reminder of how much is lost amidst our daily routines—even though the opportunity for mindfulness remains available to us at any moment.

The project is further enriched by a collection of poems bearing autobiographical traces, offering the most intimate gateway into Schoeffler’s artistic universe. Themes such as longing, love, loss, artistic self-doubt, and pivotal life decisions run like threads through these texts. Yet, the poetry feels neither didactic nor melodramatic; rather, it is honest, authentic, and deeply relatable. She lends linguistic resonance to the impressions previously heard and seen, making it clear that this resonance has emerged from lived experience.