Experiences from BauSongs: "It’s truly next level"

3. okt. 2024

At the abandoned Berlin airport, Tempelhof, songwriters and composers gather for the BauSongs camp to explore new creative paths. Here, it’s all about collaboration and musical freedom. Meet instructor Greta Schenk and former participants as they share their experiences from Berlin and the BauSongs community.

The BauSongs songwriting camp in Berlin is about more than just writing songs—it's about creating something new together and breaking free from familiar patterns in the creative process. Here, participants are encouraged to be open and receptive to new influences, with the hope that they will explore their creativity in a different way. We spoke with BauSongs instructor Greta Schenk and two former participants, Donata Kramarz and Maria Vallentin. In the interview, they share their experiences with the songwriting camp and how they experienced the musical freedom that unfolded in Berlin.

From Creative Standstill to Creative Renewal

As an artist, it's entirely normal to experience periods of creative stagnation—moments where ideas seem stuck and inspiration fades. Maria Vallentin, a Danish sound artist based in Copenhagen, participated in BauSongs in 2023:

“Before I participated, I had a bit of a creative block. BauSongs showed me many different ways to nurture creativity. The combination of the things we learned is something I still use in my work process today. It’s something I take with me every day.”

When Maria arrived at the Bauteil3 studios, she came with an open mind and without too many expectations, which gave her the freedom to explore new approaches to her music. She noted that many other songwriting camps often focus on achieving concrete results — requiring that a song be completed in each session.

“This can sometimes cause the entire creative process to be somewhat lost. But the BauSongs instructors do a great job because they focus more on the process. There doesn’t need to be a finished product in every session; it’s about developing your creativity and working through the process of making a song. That’s a big advantage, and something I truly appreciate about BauSongs.”

According to BauSongs instructor and songwriter Greta Schenk, the process is the focal point of the camp:

“Here, it’s about creating the best process together. We plant seeds and let them grow, often in unexpected directions, which is a fantastic experience. For the participants, it’s enriching, and for us observing from the outside, it’s a constant surprise. At the end, we listen to what has been created in one or two days. The result can be completely different from what we started with, but that’s only positive. We don’t have a checklist for right or wrong; if the process has been good and inspiring, that’s the goal.”

Berlin-based musician Donata Kramarz participated in BauSongs in 2022. In a conversation with Donata, she reflects on how the camp reminded her of the value of bringing creative people together:

"After the entire COVID period, I was reminded of how important it is to be in the same room as other creative souls. There's something truly special about being with people who do the same thing as you but in vastly different ways. It reminded me to come out of my shell, reconnect, collaborate again, and let unexpected things happen."

Collaboration and Community Across Cultures

BauSongs embraces a rich cultural and musical diversity, and a significant aspect of the songwriting camp is building sustainable relationships and collaborations that extend beyond the camp’s duration. As Greta Schenk points out, it’s an opportunity to broaden one’s horizons:

“Although Denmark and Germany are close to each other, there are fundamental differences that allow us to discover new perspectives. It’s a revelation for several of the German participants to experience the Danish “Højskole” tradition, which is the core essence of BauSongs. At the same time, Danish participants can also find inspiration in the more disciplined approach of the German participants. It’s about recognizing that we are all creative individuals with shared needs and dreams, no matter where we come from.”

The collaboration between participants with different approaches to the musical process is a central part of the overall BauSongs experience. It can be challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Maria explains:

“The session I remember best was with a producer who primarily focused on production but also wrote songs. He had a very result-oriented approach, while I work more with processes and ‘flows.’ We clashed a bit in our methods, and at first, I thought it wouldn’t work, but I needed to step out of my comfort zone, and it actually ended up being a really cool track that reflected both of our approaches.”

Maria continues, sharing more about her experience:

"It can be frustrating when you're in the middle of it, but it’s an incredible relief when you come out on the other side, and suddenly you understand so much more. I also think it was rewarding for him [the producer, ed.] to have a more playful approach to the music, and we both learned that it really enhances the music we create when we collaborate with what we each bring to the table."

For Donata, the collaboration at BauSongs has opened up new ways of thinking in her work processes. Although she can sometimes be focused on results, working with other participants has given her valuable insights into how to approach music.

"One important insight I’ve taken from BauSongs is how different approaches open up new perspectives. When I work alone, I can feel trapped in a bubble, but with someone next to me, they can ask questions like: 'Why not do it differently?' Finding the balance between being goal-oriented and playful happens through the exchange of creative energy. It’s enriching to meet new people and their ideas, which remind me of the individual beauty that exists."

Participants have emphasized how a special sense of community forms during BauSongs, where music serves as the glue that binds them together. The shared experience of music allows them not only to express their creativity but also to form deep connections that can lead to new creative heights. Donata explains:

"You become part of a wolf pack. You become a family. You become one. When you create this space together, you become one big nervous system – an organism that breathes, listens, works, and plays together. It feels like you're all one big ear, because you listen to each other’s music so intensely every day. At the end of the day, everyone gathers to listen to it all together. It’s a beautiful experience, and I believe it’s essential for us as humans to gather and listen to music."

Unexpected outcomes and networking

When the BauSongs instructors draw on the open and playful approach of the folk high school tradition, they create a space where exercises and experiments become the driving force behind the participants' creative development. Through practical tasks and constraints, the instructors guide participants to break free from their usual boundaries.

Maria describes an exercise that she still uses in her work today. In the exercise, she was sent out into the city to record ambient sounds and take photos, which would then be used as inspiration for music.

“What I learned back then, I still use today. I was previously involved in an art project where I had to sample elements from a sculptor's working processes and then base my sound art on that. It was exactly the same constraints I encountered during the exercise at BauSongs. I learned a lot about text flow and poetry-based approaches, which is beneficial for me, as I rarely work with typical song structures.”

Donata shares an exercise where she had to choose a word for other participants to incorporate into a song. She chose the word "serene," which means peaceful and calm, but the participants misunderstood it as "sorry," which inspired them to create a song called "I'm Sorry."

"It was really beautiful to see how a simple misunderstanding could inspire an entire song. It reminded me that the creative process often takes unexpected turns. You can start with a clear idea but end up somewhere completely different—and that's okay, it’s actually fantastic. Something random can become something very meaningful, as it did with this song. It shows how important it is to allow things to develop spontaneously and not always try to control the outcome."

The group work at the BauSongs camp has not only led to creative development but also to long-lasting collaborations. As Maria describes, she met an artist at the camp whom she now manages. Halfway through the camp, she offered her help after a listening session where participants shared their work and gave feedback to each other.

“There are so many different people at the camp, not just songwriters and musicians, but also people from various branches of the music industry, which creates fertile ground for new collaborations,” she shares.

Donata also experienced how the networking at the camp led to a long-term songwriting project with another BauSongs participant, in which they are both still involved.

Berlin - the ideal stage for BauSongs

Berlin is more than just a metropolis – it’s a dynamic melting pot of history, culture, and creativity. For the BauSongs songwriting camp, the city provides the perfect setting for artistic expression, offering unique conditions for experimental music and creative freedom.

"Going to a new place like Berlin broadens your horizons and sets your creativity free. The city holds both beauty and ugliness, making it an inspirational paradise. There’s life and creativity everywhere, and there are moments that can deeply sadden you. But that’s exactly what inspires us; it touches something inside us that we can create art from. It’s truly next level," says Greta.

Maria also highlights Berlin’s potential for music:

"Berlin has an edge that provides a free framework for music. It’s a city where experimental music thrives, and that’s exactly what makes it so important for the BauSongs camp."

"Berlin has an edge that provides a free framework for music. It is a city where experimental music thrives, and that is exactly what makes it so important for the BauSongs camp.