Vita

 Vita

My journey to intuitive music

"The melody of rhythm" - "Percussion drives emotions": this is a musical arc of tension that goes far beyond the boundaries of the usual. The percussionist Ullip is on the one hand inspired by diverse influences such as world music and jazz, classical and experimental, but always seeks and finds his own way to express moods in tempos and feelings in the specific sound of the percussion instruments. Whether solo or in an ensemble, the rhythmically driving performance, the versatility of the percussion instruments used or the very own way of playing create sounds and vibrations that are sometimes perceived as cosmic, sometimes as mystical, very often as meditative and almost always as invigorating. A player who has found his unmistakable style over many musical stations.

Cronology
1977  1981  1986-1997  1998  2004  2012  2015  2016  2017  2020  2024

percodrumming Chained music & the power of drum sound

Music for speakers as honesty in art

Allow music to do what it wants to do with us

A project is ended when the new is mandatory

Ullip :Not, and that characterizes his artistic profile, not additively, “side by side”. Ullip combines these functions to create something new. CDs whose tracks do not preserve and play back "played music" as is usually the case. Rather, CDs, where the music is created by editing, mixing and recording "on the fly" for the sound carrier. The CD as an audience, so to speak. With the great advantage that - unlike in live sessions - you can enjoy the cuts of the CDs again and again.

Based on a rich musical experience and an almost "wild" past, Ullip - together with other musicians - has today found a style that activates and inspires a special genre:

Chained music ’.

Sounds and pieces, music and rhythms that are played in a self-inspiring manner or that are created on technical devices. Born in the moment, like in jazz. Also, not just as with jazz, given as a theme, otherwise intuitiv. Above all, they are not reproductions in the sense of notated notes. All elements that stand between the first beat and sound of a live gig, a studio recording and the final burning process on a CD are linked to form what the “piece” that is captured on silver discs is ultimately.

How it all started

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After training as a drummer, punk and the revolutionary new music-making came into his life in 1977. The founding of the band S.Y.P.H. was the beginning of his musical journey. Together with Peter Braatz, Thomas Schwebel and Uwe Jahnke, and later Jojo Wolter, this adventure began. Sound recordings in studios were due. A turning point: the Solingen punk band S.Y.P.H. record their second and fourth records in the legendary Innerspace CAN Studio. Holger Czukay produced the band. For Ullip, Holger became the role model for sound design, editing and sound design. Numerous records and CD's were produced in this formation, which became internationally known. The song "Zurück Zum Beton" was a milestone in the punk movement and in 1978 it became the anthem which then culminated in a large exhibition of the same name in the Düsseldorf Kunsthalle in 2002. Over 60,000 people saw this action and attracted attention worldwide. S.Y.P.H. were the co-founders of the German punk scene and have cult status to this day.


How techno was invented long before its time in 1981

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With this experience, Ullip set up his first studio in 1981, the "Trinwasserstudios" in Solingen. While working with Udo Berger (later known as Chilltopia), the first recordings were made with the veteran of techno, the Roland Bassliner 303. Synthis paired with Ullip's own drum style gave birth to the music of "MIDI Divison". Many recordings by the band Bit's were made in this studio.

The band Bit's was formed in 1981

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Ullip then founded the Bit's formation with Jojo Wolter. Gintaras Gaubis and Waldemar Kutschma were added, and later Uwe Jahnke was also on board. Many recording sessions produced a lot of material. Then the band traveled to Michael Karolis - Outerspace Studio near Nice and recorded the Bit's Maxi single there with Karoli (ex CAN). The record became a masterpice in cutting and sound engineering and received a lot of attention worldwide. This resulted in the commitment to "Documenta 7" in Kassel, where a major action integrated the band into the art scene. Joseph Beuys and Carmen Knoebel helped the band with this. Later on, other CDs and many participations in samplers were created. Bit's music was always free improvised music that could largely be reminiscent of the music of CAN but also of PIL, while being completely independent, taking up and transforming all styles. Life also play the formation with many other musicians. Damo Suzuki, Matthias Keul, Anna Donarski, Boris Polonski, Dominik von Senger and Michael Karoli should be mentioned as guests. Appeared on the label Fuefundvierzig. Many fans of this band can be found in Japan and America / Canada. 

Meanwhile - between the chairs

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In the decade from 1986 to 1997, Ullip occupied himself in a completely different field:

His family was now in the foreground and turmoil his musical life. There was also a very intense phase with his passion for horses. During this time he worked on sound design and recording techniques. He was torn between the chairs. Changes were pending. In 1998 the time had come when the collaboration with Damo Suzuki's network began, the way back to his passion was taken up again.

Damo Suzuki's network and processing of S.Y.P.H.

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The way back into the music world began with a bang. With Damo Suzuki's Network he played a 6.5 hour long concert in Dresden and drummed himself back. These trips on the Network went as far as New York on Broadway. The musical career got going again, the old recordings of S.Y.P.H. should be published in Japan, as there was great interest there, the recordings were digitized and implemented jointly by Kurt Dahlke with Uwe Jahnke and Ullip in the Atatak studio. By working with samplers, drum machines and computers, Ullip's music changed significantly and still forms the basis of many of his pieces today. While tape was still being cut in the 80s, he has now completely turned away from it. Pure, uncut, not ironed flat, authenticity should take the helm. A mixture of electronic sounds and percussive ambient developed. A lot of film music was created during this phase. The results of this time can be heard in his albums: New Brain, Between all chairs and Affinity. Finesong, a decoupling from Affinity, is featured in many drum & bass samplers.

The change from drummer to percussionist

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Due to his new life partner and great love, his music changed steadily in 2004 and got a completely different face. By working with "Mama Africa" he was able to adapt this world of rhythm to his playing. His approach was to take the elements out of it, but not to copy the type and technique of African music, but to reinterpret it. The beginning of the percodrumming was laid. The Soul of Future project brought the change from stick to hand. A new possibility of expression was allowed to develop from now on. His drumming began to tell stories, became a language of its own with percussion to tell stories.

Percodrumming and Framedrumming  became the focus

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With various band projects, Ullip continued to expand his percodrumming. However, the style should be immersed in the fascinating musical world of Persia, Afghanistan and India. From 2012 he learned to love the frame drum and kanjira through the master percussionist Hakim Ludin. The congas and bongos as well as the traditional Indian instruments Gatham and Madga found their way into his setup.

Positive Creative World Ensemble Crossover

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From 2014 Ullip worked with internationally known world musicians from India, Ukraine, Poland, Persia, Germany and Croatia as part of the Positive Creative World Ensemble. He further developed a percussive style, using the elements of percussion to interweave the elements as the basis for any type of music. This work has spawned many concerts and videos. The collaboration especially with Dinesh Mischra (Bansuri grandmaster) and Kristian Terzic (keyboard player and jazz pianist from Croatia) were very inspiring for him.

Flordelavida is a mixture of longing and devotion

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The Flordelavida project began in 2015. Together with Birgit Reimer (violin) and Pedro Namakua Bley, wonderful recordings were made that can be found in the wordmusic ambient style. Many concerts were played across Europe. Due to the sudden death of Namakua this project came to a standstill. At short notice, Eela Soley came to Flordelavida, with whom Ullip then continued to work on other projects. The CD "Florelavida Dream of Free Spirit" emerged from this collaboration.

The magic forest ensemble is created

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On the occasion of a large-scale performance by Zoran Velinov (painter), a formation emerged that was to have many successes. With Eela Soley and Thomas C. Brueck, Ullip worked out a perfect blend of creative sound painting. The concerts became major events in every respect. Inspiration from the painter and vice versa, interaction in the moment. This is how monumental images were created at the concerts. A highlight in his musical work. This resulted in several CD projects. "Zauberwald the first" is the current album.

Duo Ullip & Soley

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In 2016, the collaboration with Eela Soley became more intensive and videos and recordings were made at concerts. The mix of looping, flute, saxophone and vocals in connection with Ullips drumming soundpainting became a trademark.

lets go to Spain, a new era begins

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With his wife and great muse, he moved to the mountains of Andalusia in 2017. The landscape, the sun, the magical place where they live today is home to his "Bergton Studio". Many albums and singles have been released here at a rapid pace. Once again he mixed the influences of the country through Buleria and Flamenco as well as the handpan music into a new cocktail that combines strong ambient elements with percussive expressivity. The interplay in several formations resulted in further projects that are all currently shaping his musical life. So he got to know Matheo Alvarez and played many concerts with him as a duo. Flamenco and thus the Buleria are currently his field of study. Many musicians from all over the world, who have found a new home in this southern corner of Europe, are currently creating a mixture of influences from America, Britain, Spain, Cuba, Argentina, Tibet, France, Morocco, Switzerland and many other cultures. He has arrived here in his musical paradise.

Ullip & Craven  Punk meets Classic

After Ullip had set up his recording studio, he began further studies of traditional Andalusian music. Through an encounter with Steven Craven (member of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra), completely new perspectives and sound paintings were created, which took place in the period from 2020 to 2024. Many very different productions were created, which also resulted in a CD. Both Side Now was born. Here Ullip unfolded all his experience in mixing and sound design, which he had been cultivating for over 40 years. 

Ullip & Akasha Project are : Terra Lux Ensemble

Ullip is currently working with Barnim Schultze (Akasha Project) on new recordings and a stage programme. Here he has returned to his roots, because he was and is a great fan and admirer of electronic music. Besides the group CAN, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schultze were among his great heroes. With Barnim, he now combines his passions of the past with the present of his percussive development. In "Seven Seals", a production that was created in April 2024 in his studio in Andalusia, the foundation stone was laid for further collaboration. The Terra Lux Ensemble was born. 

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