“Nihilum”, the mesmerizing Debut Album of 10 classical piano compositions by London based, German composer BW RECKNAGEL, has been introduced in June 2009 via http://www.bwrecknagel.com and since enjoyed growing popularity amongst the online community. The new deal with I-tunes secures worldwide digital distribution and will add further exposure within the classical sector. The new deal includes the territories UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Kate Marsh, head of CCD Promotions, confirms: “BW RECKNAGEL’s music and style has proven to be very popular and it is well received by a lot of people all over the world. Our focus so far has been the online arena including digital Radio platforms such as Last FM with the main online strategies to come in autumn/winter this year. The second Album is already in the making and we are focusing on a long-term development with new features on the website such as the newly introduced monthly free download of one piano improvisation. Also, we are giving away the sheet music for all 10 racks with each download of the Album. Selling the Album via I-tunes now will give the customer the opportunity to purchase individual tracks and we are confident to achieve our projected sales conversations for the coming quarter of 2009″.

Since the romantic style of classical music is still one of the most popular, BW RECKNAGEL’s own piano compositions, a charming mix between Minimal Impressionism and Romanticism, are already reaching an audience which goes well beyond the strictly classical scene. Unlike other contemporary composers, BW RECKNAGEL has no accademical background in classical music but an interesting history which spans from a classical upbringing to a very active life in the music world and music industry in London since 1992.

For more information and downloads please visit:
http://www.bwrecknagel.com

BW RECKNAGEL’s website, which also enables customers to download the Debut Album “Nihilum”, adds further features by offering freely available Piano Improvisations on a monthly basis. The pieces will give an interesting insight into his work which does not fall under the classical umbrella.

The first improvisation, entitled “Peace Of Mind”, is available from October 2009 on http://www.bwrecknagel.com/free-downloads.php. A new piece will be updated every month and the downloads do not require any registration with the website.

As Kate Marsh, head of CCD Promotions, confirms: “We strongly believe in the concept of free music in order to promote and create closer interaction between the artist and the audience. Piano Improvisations are very authentic pieces, always created “in the moment” and rather than shelving them, we have decided to make them available for free for everyone to enjoy.
Also, all improvisations will be left in their original, raw and unmastered state.

BW RECKNAGEL’s mesmerizing Debut Album “Nihilum” has already been greatly received since the launch of the website in June. and a loyal fan base has been build which goes well beyond the strictly classical scene. CCD Promotions, engaged in the long term development of BW RECKNAGEL as well as online promotion of the website, confirms a steady rise in sales since the launch of the website.

More news can be expect in relation to a European-wide physical distribution of “Nihilum”, first UK Gigs in London for the winter season and previews of the second Album which is due for release in early 2010.

For more information and downloads please visit:
http://www.bwrecknagel.com

“Nihilum”, the mesmerizing Debut Album of 10 classical piano compositions by London based, German composer BW RECKNAGEL, has been launched via http://www.bwrecknagel.com and since enjoyed growing popularity amongst classical music lovers and pianists all over the world. Since there is a rising demand for the sheet music of the Album, customers will now receive the piano scores of all 10 pieces together with the download purchase of the Album on http://www.bwrecknagel.com.

The pieces appeal to advanced piano players as well as professionals with a very appealing feel, strong melodies and rich harmonic structures. Originally performed by Russian Pianist Xenia Russo, all pieces are more likely a description of mood and rather than being technically demanding, BW RECKNAGEL’s work calls for a more intimate and personal context with a meditative approach.

With the romantic style of classical music still being one of the most popular, BW RECKNAGEL’s piano compositions, a sublime mix between Minimal Impressionism and Romanticism, are already reaching an audience which goes well beyond the strictly classical scene. Unlike other contemporary composers, BW RECKNAGEL has no accademical background in classical music but an interesting history which spans from a classical upbringing to a very active life in the music world and music industry in London since 1992.

For more information and downloads please visit:
http://www.bwrecknagel.com
For press releases and videos please visit:
http://www.bwrecknagel.com/blog

For press enquiries please mail: press@bwrecknagel.com

In 1992, at the height of his career, Prince had the guts to disconnect himself from major record labels and decided to continue on his own. With no major backing, no supportive hit singles and completely out of the industry machinery, Prince still managed to be the highest earner in 2004, sold out 21 nights in the London O2 arena in 2007 within seconds and just recently had a No.2 Album entry in the US Billboard charts.
How come?

1. Prince Works

Despite his continues stream of songwriting, producing and releasing his own records, Prince constantly re-invents himself as time demands. He always plays live, experiments with his catalogue including new band set-ups, involves musicians and simply lives and breathes his music. By doing this, he has become one of the most fascinating musicians and live performer with a soverenity second to none. His work is not set, scheduled or in any other way determined by the usual release policies and routines dictated by the Record Company but simply out of his own desire to keep his music alive and exciting without any hang ups.

2. Being The Industry - Being A Marketing Genius

Bands/Musicians these days have two choices. One is the devil called Record Company, the other one is the saint called Internet. It is the devil they hate and the saint they don’t understand. As a result, bands tend to sleep with different devils hoping the new one might be the lesser evil and, at the same time, praying that “doing a bit on the Internet” will, maybe one day, bring some ease to their continuous struggle. So what did Prince do already 15 years ago? He dumped the devil and became his own industry. Secondly, he embraced the then still very underdeveloped medium called the Internet. This was not done overnight, required incredible self-discipline and willingness to create his own, fully functional set-up, all on top of his 24/7 workload.

Prince’s music was then primarily released through his Internet subscription service NPGOnline. Sales suffered and he “disappeared” but he never lost his presence. In addition, his independence turned him into a marketing genius always thinking outside the box, always surprising the punters with his extravagant shows and musical explorations such as his appearance at the great Monteux Jazz Festival or his legendary exclusive Las Vegas appearances. His free give-away of the Planet Earth Album via a UK Newspaper caused controversy but was the perfect promotion for his 21 Nights UK Tour. His persistent and successful crack down unauthorised usage of images, music and videos on the Internet is another way of “keeping up your price”. His new Album was a direct deal with US Retailers including Target. It worked. Previous Albums were based on marketing-distribution deals with major distributors, always keeping the full rights to his work.

3. The Art of Giving - Prince Live

Prince’s legendary Live performances and excessive aftershows made him the most bootlegged musician of all times. However, seeing him on stage makes one realise how different his live performances are from the rest of today’s top acts.
Prince does not perform because the industry routine demands it. Prince performs because he loves to share with the audience his gift of being an outstanding musician and performer with a repertoire to die for. Prince masters every trick in the book of playing live, he loves to deliver an explosive musical experience without compromise (no pyrotechnics needed). A man who plays for two hours in front of a stadium audience and then returns 2 hours later in a club playing a 3 hour show in front of 200 people with an always changing set clearly loves what he does. Having reached the age of 50 now, nothing has changed. In fact, it seemed that he is better than ever.

Although his recent devotion towards the Jehovah Witness believe system has raised some eyebrows, he certainly lives according to one rule: “God helps those who help themselves”

For more information about BW Recknagel please visit:

http://www.bwrecknagel.com

London based, German classical composer BW Recknagel launches his Debut Album “Nihilum”, a fine collection of mesmerizing Piano compositions, ranging from minimal to romantic. Performed by Russian Pianist Xenia Russo, it is an impressive recording and a powerful emotional musical statement. The Album is now available as download only under http://www.bwrecknagel.com.

With classical repertoire struggling to meet a larger target group, here comes a new composer who is not obsessed with abstract art but harmony and melody. BW Recknagel’s music, ranging from Minimalism to dark Romanticism, has hypnotic tones of such intimacy and emotional depth that the listener is immediately drawn into a world of deep yet edgy relaxation - from the first note to the last with a commercial edge and the potential of inviting a wider audience.

Performed by Russian Pianist Xenia Russo, her sensitive and expertly colored playing brings the final magical touch to this unique work, emphasizing the “openness” of BW Recknagel’s music, painting a picture of melancholy and sadness, taking you into a journey of your own inner stories of emotion.

Surprisingly, BW Recknagel has never set a foot into a musical academy but his colorful background and musical London life and career is more than an interesting read:

Raised by a musical family, he grew up with classical music and trained in classical piano and guitar for more than 14 years. Exploring and making music from all genres has always been his passion and the rather uninspired landscape of his German hometown Dortmund led to the move to London, a leap in the dark but it was about being in the right place at the right time - his own private Hacienda.

He soon teamed up with 80’s producer Zeus B Held (Transvision Vamp, Men Without Hats, John Foxx) and became his in-house studio engineer at VoiceVersa Studio, at the heart of London’s music metropolis in Portobello Rd. For the years to come, the studio turned into one of the most vibrant places during the Brit Pop/Dance Mania era. His new collaboration with Cult Journalist Kris Needs made him remix more than 40 Top UK artists including Primal Scream, St.Etienne, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) Malcolm MacLaren, The Prodigy - to name but a few. His own instrumental chillout work under the name Headman/Full Moon Fashions was also spotted by Billy MacKenzie of critically acclaimed The Associates fame and he staged his comeback single Loom feat. Billy MacKenzie “Anacostia Bay At The Edge Of The World”, sung over one of BW Recknagel’s original Teutonic instrumental tracks.

Still, the years 1992 to 2000 were anything but classical. BW’s life was a nonstop mixture of dance culture hedonism - think chemically influenced creativity for the 90s, detox units, rehab and production work all in the mix. In a productive haze and with the energy of five, he founded Millennium Records Ltd., (a dance imprint still active now with distribution in 20 countries) so becoming a music mogul was a natural progression. His move back to his classical roots was more accidental. “I haven’t touched or listened to classical music in 10 years and simply hearing a piece in a cab pushed a button and I haven’t looked back since.” He saw and experienced the seedy underbelly of London living for 17 years and like an avid voyeur, took in everything - these were times about being on the outside-being-in.

In the latter 5 years composing was about bringing light to the darkness - pure and intense fun for him so he never envisaged going public with his private ecstasies. Pressure from friends made him focus in 2008 and the result is the mesmerizing 2009 debut of “Nhilium”, a 10 track album of sheer emotional bliss.
Definitely one to watch!

BW RECKNAGEL “Nihilum” is available as download under:
http://www.bwrecknagel.com