Marie Antoinette Lührs

Hello Marie Antoinette! Describe a "normal day" in your life.

7.30 a.m. - Get up, dress the child, prepare a breakfast box and then take the child to kindergarten.

9:00 a.m. - Work as an artist usually begins on the computer. Booking, promo, etc. Once a week, clients come by or I drive to the office of my "day job" as office manager of a concert agency.

4:00 p.m. - Pick up the child from kindergarten and then enjoy the mom-child time and do cool things.

6.30 pm - Dinner together with family and out again with the dog

7:30 p.m. - Bedtime companion for my child. I usually fall asleep too.

2:00 a.m. - 4:00 a.m. - usually my creative waking phase on the cell phone :-) !

And a perfect day,…. What can’t be missing?

There are two perfect days.

The first thing is to wake up on tour, drive to a new city for breakfast, enjoy the culture there, eat something before moving on to the next venue. Then in the evening there's a concert and fan care.

The second day is getting up in the morning, putting on some good music and packing some provisions. Then riding my bike to the lake or the sea and chilling there. All day long. Reading, dozing, watching, hanging out. In winter, a spa is also an option. At the same time, I like to spend time with my son. At the zoo, for example.

When did music come into your life?

Since I was born to my mom. My parents lived near the border to the West and secretly recorded tapes of 80s music. We were always singing. I was 3 years old when my mom thought I might like music school. During that time I sang Gianna Nanini's "Bello Impossibile" and Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" in imaginative English.

When and how did you get to know HOKEMA instruments?

My former duo partner came into contact with the wonderful Conny Sommer, who had long been infected with the "HOKEMA virus". He introduced us to each other. The sounds and the handling were love at first click!

How and when do you use the Sansula / Kalimba?

I mostly loop live Sansula improvisations to recite my spoken word poetry in concerts. There are also fixed arrangements in which one or two fixed licks are established.

How do listeners react to the instruments and their sounds?

At every concert there are people with whom I talk about it afterwards. It is rare to have such a balanced sound and at the same time so easy to handle for everyone.

Do you think that HOKEMA instruments could be considered “serious” musical instruments?

I understand the question well and have thought about it. Let's put it this way... every technician who had the task of recording it took me seriously when it came to amplifying it audibly. With the Sansulas, this works really well!

What is your favorite instrument from HOKEMA?

Definitely Sansula with the Pygmy tuning . I love the feel and the harmonies. Its lightness and the suppleness of the wood. It has everything I want, sound quality, aesthetics and charm.

Biographical information on the career

Growing up as a village child on the edge of the forest, influenced by western radio shows that her parents secretly recorded on cassettes during the GDR era, her ambivalence between deep beats, poetry and hooky vocal lines was formed early on. Today, the Berlin artist combines these roots with neo-soul, the lifestyle that has influenced her the most. Her sound balances between metaphorical icon pop, silk sonic and everyday aesthetics. RnB in German with a good pinch of feminism. When MARIE ANTOINETTE reflects empathetically on her roles in society, accompanying herself on piano, bass or the sansula, you can feel her resonance with the world. After her pregnancy, she followed her heart. With more than 300 live shows played across Europe, MARIE ANTOINETTE sings as an absolutely rousing force right into the system. Pulsating soul full of confidence!