New music to listen to this week: Aukai

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Aukai (Press image)

Aukai ("traveller" in Hawaiian) is the pseudonym of multi-instrumentalist Markus Sieber.

He spent part of the ’90s playing rock music in East Germany then travelled around Mexico and Colorado before settling in Berlin to record his self-titled album with Martyn Heyne (Nils Frahm, Efterklang, Peter Broderick).

He's only released one single so far from his upcoming album (wait for it...) - "Cachoeira" - an exquisitely delicate work that unfolds like buds on the trees in spring.

"Cachoeira" means waterfall in Portuguese; Sieber was inspired by a visit to the landscape of northeastern Brazil, and the track merges the rich, deep acoustic sound of a Latin American string instrument, the Ronroco, with Fender Rhodes and beats.

What follows is a premiere hosted on The Independent of Aukai's second single, "Agua Azul", which uses less synth and features feather-light touches on the piano and a gorgeous violin.

Have a listen below and let us know what you think:

Q&A with Aukai

What have you been listening to recently?

If I get some moments in between to listen to music I have been recently enjoying Max Richter’s latest work ‘Sleep’. I resonate much with the idea of music offering spaces of slow pace and rest in a fast world and as I travel a lot it has become a dear companion to carry me straight into dream state whenever I need it.

Besides that I had much fun digging into the Piano Day playlist featuring piano music from musician’s all over the world hosted by Nils Frahm for Piano Day 2016.

What are your plans for summer 2016?

I am looking forward to work on a couple of music video’s for the album with two incredible film makers from St. Petersburg.

Aside from that I will enjoy some time off the grid with my family in a beautiful mountain village in Haute de Provence, South of France.

What was the first gig you ever played, and what’s been the best so far?

I guess this was with my first band Sternraffer ( Star Gatherer) during High School in Potsdam, Germany, beginning of the 90’s and the best for me seems to be always the project I am currently working on.

Aukai's self-titled album is out 3 June