Johannes Schmoelling was born in November 1950 in Lohne, Oldenburg. At the age of eight he started to take piano
lessons and at the age of twelve he took his first steps at playing on a church organ. The fantastic sound of
this majestic instrument shaped him more during the following years, moreso than playing the piano. At the age
of fourteen he was already organist in a Catholic church in Delmenhorst.
After completing his school leaving examination in 1970 in Wilhelmshaven, he was very interested in the job of
sound engineer, which would allow for the perfect combination of his musical education with the technical components
associated with that discipline. In autumn 1972 he started to study sound engineering at the "Hochschule der Künste"
(college of arts) in Berlin.
After his study in 1978 he kept busy with electronics. A logical step caused also by his intensive working on the organ.
A job as sound engineer for theatre at the "Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer" in Berlin followed. There he learned to
handle noises, sounds, room installations and lighting. He still uses this knowledge in his music.
In the middle of 1979 he was engaged by Edgar Froese directly at the theatre. Edgar Froese – founder of the electronic
band TANGERINE DREAM – endeavoured to reform the band again in the classic lineup of three keyboard players.
Schmoelling stayed with TANGERINE DREAM until 1985.
Apart from tours around the globe, several studio- and live-albums developed, as well as soundtracks for movies from
American studios (e.g. Thief – directed by Michael Mann, Legend – directed by Ridley Scott) and German TV stations
(e.g. Tatort).
With the album "Wuivend Riet" on the Erdenklang label, Schmoelling started his solo carrier in 1986.
In 1988 his second album "The Zoo Of Tranquillity" was released on Theta/ Polygram in London. In 1990 his third album
"White Out" followed on Polydor in Hamburg.
Besides the studio works in his own "Riet-Studio" in Berlin-Kreuzberg, several radio-plays for the German ARD-radio
stations came into being, mostly together with the author Martin Burckhardt.
In 1990 Schmoelling composed the first of three works for the "Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz" for the play
"Mütter und Söhne" (mothers and sons) written by Javier Tomeo. In 1992 followed the music for the play
"Der Ohrenmaschinist" (the ear mechanic) by Gerd Jonke and in 1995 the music for the play "Kunst" (art) by Jasmina Reza.
This successful play documents the prolific cooperation between the director Felix Prader and Johannes Schmoelling.
Since 1993 compositions for TV-movies by the director Konrad Sabrautzky came into being, among others "Zu Treuen
Händen" (to loyal hands) by the ZDF (second German TV-station) which got the "Grimme Preis 1996" and the
ZDF-crime series "Ein starkes Team" (a strong team) with Maja Maranow and Florian Martens.
In 1995 the fourth studio album "Lieder Ohne Worte - Songs No Words" was released, again on the Erdenklang label and
in 1998 the album "The Zoo Of Tranquillity", which was deleted for a long time, followed in an edited version.
In 2000 the cooperation with the director Felix Prader continued in the production of "Das Atelier" by Jean-Claude
Grumberg at the "Renaissance-Theater" in Berlin. In 2001 the music for Jasmina Reza’s "Drei Mal Leben"
(three times life) came into being at the same theatre, again produced by Felix Prader.
In the year 2000, Johannes Schmoelling succeeded in founding his own record label, a long time ambition, which came true.
For the initial release on Viktoriapark Records (the name of this new label) the album "White Out", which had been
deleted for 10 years, was released. Added as a bonus track to the 1990-version was a remix by the young artists
Ulrich Schnauss and Robert Wässer.
In December 2002 the second album on Johannes’s own label followed: the radio play "Laufen" (walking) by author Dirk Josczok,
with music by Johannes Schmoelling.
During 2003 the album "Recycle Or Die" evolved, and was released exactly on Johannes’s birthday, November 9th, again on
Viktoriapark Records.
In 2004 the attempt to release radio-plays in addition to standard album music, led to the double-CD-production
"Weltmärchen - Weltmusik" (world fairies – world music), a collaboration with the author and artist Hubertus
von Puttkamer.
In autumn 2005, Schmoelling started to work on a new, highly anticipated album, which, although it was considered to
be overdue, was much sought after following the success of the "Recycle Or Die" album. In August 2006, the fifth
release on Viktoriapark Records was released under the name "Instant City".
In 2007 the anthology "Images and Memory" followed, a compilation of tracks from 20 years solo-works, the years 1986 – 2006.
To download Johannes Schmoelling’s second album "The Zoo Of Tranquillity" (1988-version) in high quality-MP3s visit his personal website at
www.johannesschmoelling.de
Hi Johannes hope life is well with you these days. I like the new release really great to get a look back in times past & to capture those moods in your music. I'm in studio myself these days just finishing off my first album. 11 tracks in total ....thanks for the influence you bring Geoff
Finally got the new album and what can i say "Wonderful".
"Walking On Sunset Boulevard" edges it as my favorite track with "The Avatar" a close second. The album on a whole is very enjoyable and im so glad you released it.
johannes is still alive...super! :-) ich kenne das stück "matjora..." schon über 20 jahre...hat mir immer gut gefallen...viele grüsse alfred, soniq theater
Hi Johannes, Your new release 'Early Beginnings' just arrived at my mailbox a day ago. It is truly awesome. Thank you so much for sharing these masterpieces to the world!
Mit Freude habe ich das Interview in der aktuellen Keys gelesen... leider ist es viel zu kurz! Dabei fiel mir zufällig auch heute die Ausgabe 6/1986 der deutschen Keyboards in die Hände, in der ich eine Rezension des damals frisch erschienenen "Pergamon" Albums entdeckte!
I hope that all is goin well with the new release this week. It's another classic album and one that should be in every music lovers collection. Thans very much for giving us all the insight and exclusive you did with Conrad for the Show it was truly appreciated by myself and all of the fans worldwide. Warmest wishes to you and yours, Chris
Greetings from Cheshire, UK. Huge respect to you and an honour to be a Myspace musical friend. You have been a massive inspiration to me. Hope you enjoy my sounds too.
Hello! Thank you for adding me. Please dream away in virtual landscapes of (my?) music...... Great Sound here!! Lots of greetings from Cologne – Germany - Norbert (Cosmic-Project)
Hi Johannes Just popping by to wish you a great week and weekend ahead.Here's the line up of new music & artists to feature on this saturdays edition of TDFZ Radio Show.Warmest wishes Chris
