Tag: germany

Spotify’s ‘Sandra’ Podcast Goes Global—and Local—With ‘Sara,’ ‘Susi,’ ‘Sonia,’ and ‘Sofia’ Debuting in France, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil

July 6, 2020

In April 2018, Gimlet (now a Spotify company) launched Sandra, a seven-part fictional drama depicting a world where artificial intelligence isn’t so artificial. With big names (and voices) like Alia Shawkat (Helen), Kristin Wiig (Sandra), and Ethan Hawke (Dustin), the show launched to critical acclaim. And due to its relevant themes of technology, security, and self-actualization, Spotify deemed it a story worth telling listeners around the world. 

So on Tuesday, July 7, Spotify and Gimlet will premiere an exclusive localized version of the Sandra podcast in four markets: France, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. The show has not only been translated into each local language—it’s also been specially adapted via a culturally relevant name (Sara in France, Susi in Germany, Sonia in Mexico, and Sofia in Brazil), a customized storyline, and more.

Other podcasts have been translated, but these Sandra adaptations will be the first truly localized adaptations ever made of a hit fictional podcast. The Spotify Studios teams in France, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico have worked with local directors to adapt the script, cast local talent, and reimagine the podcast with an appreciation for local culture, language, and nuance. In each market, the podcast has an A-list cast mixed with traditional TV and film actors as well as digital creators and influencers. 

Take a look at the names behind each market’s version and the unique spin the creators have taken to make it their own.

France — Sara

  • Starring Virginie Efira as Sara (Sandra), Natoo as Helen, and Stéphane De Groodt as Dustin
  • Biggest change for Sara: “The geographical localization of the story is a change which required a lot of thinking. We needed to find the French equivalent of Helen’s hometown, a small city with little perspective and excitement. But it also needed to fit the story’s actions in a realistic manner. Which French city is close enough to a prison so that you can go and come back in a day as Helen does when she visits her husband? This is how Guymon became Ruffec, in the French region of Charentes.” – Claire Hazan, Head of Studios, France & Benelux
  • Biggest challenge for Sara: “Keeping the original rhythm and dynamic of a scene is something that can be tricky when changing languages. The words can be longer or shorter, they can impact how a sentence feels, the duration of a whole scene and, in the end, the pace of the story. We chose to work with a production studio who developed a very specific creative response to that issue. They created a tool which synchronizes the soundwave of the original English-speaking audio and the words in French. It has greatly helped our actors to find the right tone and rhythm for their acting.” – Claire Hazan, Head of Studios, France & Benelux

Germany – Susi

  • Starring Martina Hill as Susi (Sandra), Almila Bagriacik as Sara (Helen), and Bastian Pastewka as Jens (Dustin)
  • Biggest change for Susi: “All the little details that will make it authentic to the German audience. For example, the big change is in where the story is set and things you can hear in the background—watch out for the TV program in one scene.” – Saruul Krause-Jentsch, Spotify Head of Studios Germany
  • Biggest challenge for Susi: “We ended up casting quite big names even for the smallest roles which, obviously, made scheduling and recording difficult from time to time. But after hearing the result, that was all worth it.” – Saruul Krause-Jentsch, Spotify Head of Studios Germany

Mexico – Sonia

Brazil – Sofia

  • Biggest change for Sonia and Sofia: “This is our first podcast project on a global scale on Spotify. Our expectations are high with Sonia in Mexico and Sofia in Brazil.” – Javier Piñol, Head of Spotify Studios in Latin America and U.S. LatinX audiences
  • Biggest challenge for Sonia and Sofia: “Our main challenge when it comes to adapting a global project is that it doesn’t always allow you to introduce some local tones and nuances, but when we decided that Sandra would go global, we agreed on one common goal: to adapt it to the local culture. And that’s exactly what we did by having a local production and casting these talents. The result couldn’t be better.” – Javier Piñol, Head of Spotify Studios in Latin America and U.S. LatinX audiences

The Sandra adaptation marks a podcasting milestone across the world. “Spotify is uniquely positioned to grow podcasting globally, but we know our customers also want authentic local programming,” says Courtney Holt, Global Head of Studios and Video, Spotify. “Adapting Sandra is a great example of that. By thinking and programming locally, and using our creative teams on the ground in each market, we’re able to develop a show that feels like a German, or French, or Mexican, or Brazilian podcast, rather than a translation. Sandra was also Gimlet’s first scripted podcast when it launched in 2018. The fact that podcasting, and specifically Sandra, has drawn such a group of A-List talent in each market is also a great endorsement of the medium growing at a global scale.”

Missed out on the original? Stream Sandra below.

Germany’s Zoe Wees Owns Her Journey on Powerful Debut Single

July 6, 2020

Photo credit: Svenja Blobel

Every artist dreams of penning a breakthrough track—one that opens all the right doors. The 18-year-old German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees hit that benchmark with her very first single, “Control,” a vulnerable ballad centered on plaintive piano and a powerhouse vocal performance.

Since its release in March, the song has charted on Spotify’s Viral 50 in dozens of countries, and between “Control” and her guest feature on Hamburg duo Moonbootica’s 2019 single “Hibernating,” Zoe has already secured more than 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. 

“It feels like I’m dreaming,” Zoe tells For the Record. “It’s unbelievable how much feedback I get every day.”

And now, Zoe has been picked to represent Germany in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

“It’s a great honor for me to be part of the program,” Zoe says. “Spotify helped me to build my fan base from scratch and helped me reach people from all over the world who can relate with my story. They discover me on Spotify and reach out to me on my social media channels to tell me how much they like it. That’s magical, and I’m very grateful for that.”

Part of Zoe’s success lies with her ability to connect with listeners. “Control” is a deeply emotional song with lyrics that are relatable to anyone who’s ever struggled with anxiety and the feeling of not being in control. The lyrics actually draw from something much more specific in Zoe’s life: her prolonged struggle with benign rolandic epilepsy (BRE), a condition in some children that causes nighttime seizures strong enough to wake them. Though BRE often resolves itself during puberty, its formative effects on a child can linger well into adulthood.

“This disease had me fighting for years with problems like helplessness and exclusion from a very young age,” Zoe explains. “The sickness was stronger than me and left scars that have become part of my life. Accepting them has taken so much time, but they make me what I am today: a fighter. ‘Control’ is not only the story of the end of a long struggle for me, but also the beginning of leaving my past behind.”

Dedicated to a teacher who helped her through the darkest times of her condition, “Control” finds Zoe taking ownership of her story in a way that allows her to move on. “I’m so happy that I can finally tell the story of the most important and also the most difficult phase of my life,” she says. “Even though it was painful to write, it was also very healing. The whole process was therapeutic, giving me an opportunity to contain the fear and to deal with the pain.” 

As “Control” continues to wow new listeners, Zoe will be working on a follow-up track. And while the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the touring she had planned for this year, it hasn’t slowed the song’s prodigious rise online—especially on Spotify.

Listen to Zoe’s single, “Control.”

German News Anchor Linda Zervakis Celebrates Diversity in Her New Spotify Original Podcast, ‘Linda Zervakis präsentiert: Gute Deutsche’

June 15, 2020

German news anchor Linda Zervakis likes to describe herself as a “Hamburg native with Greek roots.” Due to her family’s experience with immigration and what she calls her “migration background,” she has a frankness around multinationalism and an interest in diversity that she brings to all aspects of her life. Now the journalist and author is taking her passion to a new medium in the Spotify original podcast Linda Zervakis präsentiert: Gute Deutsche.

In each episode, a well-known guest will join Linda to share their family’s story of migration and the formative role of their homeland. The show also tackles tougher topics, like stereotypes and misconceptions. While these conversations at times are serious, Linda always approaches them with her signature lightheartedness and humor. Through deep dives into the culture, politics, and history of the guest’s origin country, the podcast aims to prove that all of us, no matter where we’re from, are more alike than we are different.

For the Record caught up with Linda to talk about what she hopes listeners will take away from Gute Deutsche.

Your podcast challenges people’s perceptions of individuals and stereotypes about the country their families migrated from. Why is this so important? 

The podcast is meant to help break down stereotypes about people who come from different countries. Hopefully, this will show listeners that having people from different nationalities in your life is enriching for both people and society.

You’re very open about the background that you and your family come from. What has been the response to that?

I’m often contacted on social media by people who tell me that my story has given them courage. They know that I come from a simple upbringing and that I have made it this far despite my parents’ background. Growing up, I never thought I would be a role model for so many people.

You have a segment called “The Pearl from Afar” where guests bring with them something that reminds them of their journey from one country to another—what you would refer to as a “pearl.” What is yours?

I would definitely bring mixed Greek appetizers. Among them would be white beans in tomato sauce, grilled octopus with olive oil and fresh lemon, and fava, a Greek version of hummus made from yellow flat peas as well as fresh spring onions and parsley. And for washing it all down afterwards: a good ouzo. (Thinking about this made me hungry again immediately!)

What do you hope listeners will take away from this podcast?

I hope that we can bring a lightheartedness into difficult topics and that we can show that a colorful, diverse society is enriching to everyone.

Podcasts have traditionally featured primarily male voices. What advice do you have for aspiring female podcasters who may be nervous about entering this industry? 

Believe in yourself and your podcast; don’t let statistics scare you.

If you could have any guest on your show, who would it be and why? 

Edin Hasanovic. He was born in the middle of the Bosnian war, grew up without a father, and is so talented and has a great career. To me, that’s more than impressive.

What podcasts are you streaming lately?

I’m a fan of Fest & Flauschig and also listen to Hotel Matze from time to time.

What was the most surprising thing you learned while recording the show?

I learned that home does not have to be a place, but instead a feeling. This feeling can arise when you have family and friends around you that you don’t have anywhere else in the world.
 

Check out the trailer for Linda Zervakis präsentiert: Gute Deutsche below.

Spotify Supports Underrepresented Podcasters With ‘Sound Up,’ Now in the US, UK and Ireland, Germany, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil

June 1, 2020

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own podcast, this is your chance. Spotify’s Sound Up program, now in its third year, is designed to uplift and amplify the voices of aspiring podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds through education, workshops, and support. Applications for Spotify’s Sound Up 2020 program are now available in the US, with applications for other countries rolling out soon.

Through the workshop, participants will learn the ins and outs of developing and producing their very own podcasts. We’ve seen a huge interest in the program, with 20,000+ applications submitted over the past three years. Ultimately, 60 people have completed the program throughout the UK, Australia, the US, and Germany. Ten of those graduates have since launched their own shows, and three now have Spotify Original podcasts on the platform. To celebrate our graduates’ success, we’ve put several of their podcasts all in one place.

This year’s program, however, will look a little different. Due to the challenges of gathering during this unprecedented time, Sound Up will be divided into two phases. First up is a virtual four-week course that will take place later this year. To ensure everyone has equal access to technology, we’ll be providing computers, WiFi access, and podcast recording equipment to participants. Then, those who demonstrate a particular knack for podcasting will be invited to a future in-person training where they will further develop their ideas.

But that’s not the only new thing in store. Sound Up is also making its grand debut in two countries—Brazil and Sweden—in an effort to bring Sound Up to even more individuals. In Sweden, the program is aimed at women and non-binary people who may experience racism because of their skin color, culture, language, religion, or ethnicity. Applications in Brazil, will be open to young people of color from the Periferias, or outskirts of big cities.

Twenty applicants from each participating country will be chosen to take part in the four-week online program. During that time, they’ll start their podcasting journeys, honing their skills in  storytelling, designing a podcast, editing audio, and learning the business of the medium. At the very end, participants will leave with the tools they need to create a trailer for their show.

This year’s U.S. session will be facilitated by longtime collaborator and Sound Up veteran, Rekha Murthy. She will be joined by co-facilitator Maria Murriel of the production house Pizza Shark.

Thinking about applying but don’t have podcasting experience? Not to worry. To be a part of the program, you don’t need any prior podcasting experience, just something unique to say and a desire to use podcasts to say it. (Plus, you must be a resident of the country where you’re applying and self-identify as a member of the community being served in that country.)

U.S. residents can now apply for this year’s Sound Up here. Those in Sweden, Germany, and Brazil can apply later this month, and applications for the U.K. and Ireland will be available in August. The program will be offered to women and non-binary people of color in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, and Sweden; young people of color from the Periferias in Brazil; and members of the LGBQTI community in Germany. We can’t wait to hear what these new podcasters have to share.

Applications are now available for residents in the US . Interested applicants in other countries should stay tuned for more updates.

Apache 207, Juju, Summer Cem, and More Headline Live Modus Mio Concert

December 17, 2019

For the second year in a row, hip-hop fans in Germany had the opportunity to witness a favorite Spotify playlist, Modus Mio, come to life on the big stage.

In honor of the playlist—which has over 1.3 million followers—Spotify brought some of the biggest names in the German hip-hop game to the Warsteiner Music Hall in Dortmund on December 14. For the second annual “Modus Mio Live On Stage,” artists including Kreuzberg phenomenon Ufo361, Juju, Summer Cem, Azet, KALIM, and Apache 207 performed many of their chart-topping hits for an über-enthusiastic crowd.

Your Daily Podcasts Playlist Makes Finding Your Next Favorite Show Easier Than Ever

November 19, 2019

You’ve just binged your favorite podcast and you’re finally caught up. But now you have to wait an entire week until the next episode. Now what? With so many great podcasts on Spotify, it can be hard to know what to listen to next. Thanks to our latest personalized playlist, it’s now easier than ever. 

Spotify transformed music discovery with playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix. Now we’ve created Your Daily Podcasts—our first daily personalized podcast playlist that gives users an easy way to discover new shows while also keeping up with old favorites. If you’ve listened to at least four podcasts in the past 90 days, you’ll find the playlist in the “Your Top Podcasts” shelf on Home or in the “Made For You” hub on browse.

Here’s how Your Daily Podcasts works:

  1. Spotify’s algorithms analyze your podcast behavior—like recent streams and follows.
  2. Then, based on your listening history and the podcast type, we’ll recommend the next best episodes for you.
  3. That might be the next sequential episode in a podcast you’re already listening to (think Dog Tales and How’s Work with Esther Perel), a recent stand-alone evergreen episode in another show (maybe Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls 1 Keith or Certified Buckets), or a timely episode from a daily updating podcast (like Horoscope Today or The Journal).  
  4. Don’t worry—no spoilers here! If you’ve never listened to a story-driven sequential show we think you’d like, you’ll get the trailer or pilot episode first—to see if it catches your eye (er, ear).

Free and Premium users in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can check out their Your Daily Podcasts playlist, now available on Spotify.

Daily Drive Launches in Germany

October 8, 2019

Whether you’re racing between Berlin and Hamburg on the Autobahn or gazing at the countryside from the train window, it may feel like you’re always in transit. To help make that time fly by, stay up to date on the world around you, and maybe rock out to some metal classics, take a listen to your Daily Drive.

The Spotify playlist,* now available in Germany, combines the very best of news talk shows, including the relevancy and personality of the hosts, with the best of audio streaming (on demand, personalized playing and discovery). It combines music you love with relevant, timely world updates from reputable sources – all put together in a seamless and unified listening experience.

Get revved up for a personalized audio feed that blends music and news in one place for the perfect commute experience. Included at launch:

  • Short-form podcast news updates from Deutschlandfunk: Nachrichten, Spiegel Update, and Zeit Online: Was jetzt?
  • A mix of your favorite songs and artists interspersed with tracks you’ve yet to discover
  • Updates throughout the day to keep both the music and news fresh
  • An escape from toggling between multiple stations to avoid music that isn’t quite your speed

Whether en route to work or school, German users can make the most of their time on the road by tuning-in to Daily Drive starting today. Map your way to spotify.com/dailydrive.

*Earlier this year, Your Daily Drive launched in the US. You can learn more here.

6 Questions (and Answers) with Michael Krause, Managing Director, Spotify Central Europe

September 26, 2019

One of the most-streamed podcasts on Spotify isn’t a daily news update or a true crime saga. It’s Fest & Flauschig, a current-events comedy show hosted by two German radio hosts—in German. The show came to Spotify in its current iteration in May 2016 and is now one of several German podcasts high on Spotify’s global streaming charts.  

On the heels of the release of Spotify Exclusive popular podcasts Herrengedeck and Gemischtes Hack, we sat down with Managing Director, Spotify Central Europe, Michael Krause, to get his thoughts on why German listeners connect with podcasting like no one else.

Earlier this year, we announced our audio-first strategy. Within your market, what would you say are the most exciting or interesting trends that you’re seeing?

Germany was a diverse audio market from the very beginning, with our users listening to both music and audiobooks. That began to pave the way for an audio strategy or an audio focus for us even before it was the global direction.

Now in Germany, there’s a new original podcast episode being released every day. So there has been a lot of habit-forming, or ritualizing. People like to listen at a certain time or while doing a specific chore. Daily podcasts, like what Parcast is doing in the U.S. with Horoscope Today and Today in True Crime, could be very interesting here because podcast listening is such a part of the everyday routine.

We’re also seeing really big talents moving into the medium. And it’s not limited to people who can express themselves visually like streaming stars or TV hosts—it’s also great for authors, for example, who now have a new channel for their creative output.

Finally, I’m excited to see popular podcasts from other markets, like Sandra, be adapted for our German audience. It demonstrates that we can leverage global synergies in the podcast space.

Over the summer you spoke at the Publisher Business Conference in Hamburg, focusing on Spotify as a marketplace for podcast creators. What advantages do you see that we can offer creators that other companies aren’t able to?

We always hear from podcast creators that all the data and insights we give them are very, very helpful. On many other platforms, they don’t know how many streams they have, or at what point people stopped listening during the episodes. We have all the analytical tools for partners. Our creator team was very fast in making Spotify for Podcasters because we learned from Spotify for Artists.

Unlike in the music industry, there is no big podcast community that meets on a regular basis in Germany. This is why we’ve held various master classes and industry events that connect people in the podcasting field. For us, it’s very important that we bring the industry together and provide thought leadership and inspiration for our creator partners. 

What do you think it is about podcasts that makes them so popular among users in Germany?

Many Germans actually grow up listening to audiobooks and audio plays. I peeked a bit into the history, and because the theaters had been bombed after World War II, people had no access to entertainment. Radio then picked up audio plays. Those were very successful, and later they were released on cassettes and CDs. Today, children grow up listening to hours and hours of audio content. Even adults are listening to these audio plays on Spotify to relax, enjoy sweet childhood memories, or fall asleep.

I also think podcasts are successful here because they’re very authentic and truly personal, like Paardiologie with Charlotte Roche for example. I think it touches people in a way that’s more than just watching a video clip or other news formats. So it’s definitely something that is working very well because it feels like you’re part of something intimate and interesting.

What do you view as the primary or key headwinds that you and the market face?

I’d say mobile network connections. It might sound a bit odd because Germany is an industrialized country. But in terms of mobile data, we’re like a developing country. We don’t have mobile data coverage in many parts of the country. And the price for data is also very high.

We’ve spoken a lot about podcasts—what are some surprising music trends in your market?

In the German market, physical music still makes up 35% of revenues, which means people are still buying CDs in Germany. It’s a bit like Japan—we are late-bloomer markets. It’s only been in the last one or two years that we have achieved this level of change from physical to digital music consumption, and only this year that streaming has become the largest source of income for the industry.

Unsurprisingly, German hip-hop is a very important part of the culture, but we are now focusing on more diverse electronic pop and alternative rock genres. That’s why we have also launched a new flagship playlist called OFF POP. But Modus Mio (the equivalent of RapCaviar) is still going very strong, and in fact we’re putting Modus Mio live onstage for the second time with a big event on December 14 in Dortmund.

If we took a look at your recently played list, what would we find right now?

In my commute this morning from Hamburg to Berlin, I listened to the latest episode of Ja Ja Nee Nee, which is one of our newest Spotify Original Podcasts. It has this German author (think a German Nick Hornby) who’s speaking to a younger actor, and they talk about everyday life. They approach their topics in a very philosophical but fun way. So even things like office supply products can become magical topics when discussed by our very special anchors. 

Take a listen to OFF POP, Spotify’s latest flagship focusing on great music outside the mainstream, to get a feel for the current flavor of Central Europe.

Heavy Metal Is Still Making Noise, and Wacken, Germany, Is the Epicenter

July 31, 2019

If you happen to be in Hamburg, Germany, July 31 to August 3, here’s a tip: That’s not an earthquake shaking the ground beneath your feet. It’s the 30th edition of Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s largest Heavy Metal festivals, taking place about 50 miles to the northwest. We jest, but Germany is a driving force of Heavy Metal’s continued global popularity, and the streaming numbers show that this four-day festival is the turbocharged engine. 

Whether it’s an upstart artist playing underground clubs in Berlin’s Friedrichshain or an international metal titan like Sabaton, Slayer, or Demons & Wizards (all among the 2019 headliners), Wacken Open Air is the coveted place to perform. It’s not just because Germany is second only to the U.S. when it comes to overall metal streaming, though. Wacken, normally a sleepy town of 2,000, becomes an 75,000-person headbangers’ ball for the multi-stage festival—and during those few days each year, metal streaming cranks up.

Spotify users who were in the area during last year’s festival increased their metal streams 11% during those few days. More telling, though, is the global boost that occurs specifically during Wacken Open Air.

During the festival dates in 2016, overall metal streaming rose 0.8%; in 2017 it was 2.6%, and last year it was 3.6%. In other words, heavy metal excitement reverberates around the world during Wacken Open Air. The sounds seem to carry far and wide after the festival, too. So far this year ahead of Wacken Open Air, heavy metal streaming is up 3.5% globally.

Long story short, heavy metal is still very much alive and raising devil horns. As prescient Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian said to a reporter ahead of a show at Yankee Stadium in 2011, “Why would heavy metal ever go away?”

Stream Spotify’s official Heavy Metal playlist below.

Spotify Hands the Mic to German LGBTTIQ* Podcasters in Audio Workshop

July 26, 2019

Recently, podcast listening has been growing around the world, and so has the opportunity to showcase voices that haven’t always been represented in media—something we’ve been doing at Spotify through our Sound Up workshops. What started with our New York-based initiative to showcase Women of Color led to a similar program in the UK, as well as one for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia. This past month, we were proud to hold yet another workshop—this time for members of the LGBTTIQ* community in Germany.

Each Sound Up workshop kicks off with an application process in which members of the particular community are invited to submit podcast ideas for consideration. Ten are selected and invited to the host city for a five-day workshop to learn the ins and outs of podcasting. Finally, three ideas are selected by a jury at the end of the workshop—leaving all attendees with newfound knowledge and accessibility toward podcasts, and three members with an opportunity to host their podcasts on Spotify.

At the July 8-12 workshop in Berlin, podcasting and audio experts provided the participants with knowledge and tips about the successful development of ideas, technical podcast implementation, and successful marketing. 

“With Sound Up, Spotify is creating a platform for the strong voices of the LGBTTIQ* community,” says Michael Krause, Managing Director Central Europe Spotify. “We want to provide targeted support to make these voices heard and promote podcast ideas that previously lacked the necessary network or practical knowledge.”

Through presentations by content and podcast experts, as well as joint activities, the participants learned what it meant to plan their own podcast episodes conceptually and technically—right up to their own podcast pilots.

The independent jury who judged the podcast ideas consisted of Felicia Mutterer (editor-in-chief of straight magazine and podcast), Jenny Luca Renner (ZDF television advisor), Christoph Alms (LGBTTIQ* activist, member of the Magnus Hirschfeld Society) and Jochen Schropp (actor and host). The three podcasts selected by the jury included concepts from participants Josefine, Fabian and Tamo* on topics such as representation of the LGBTTIQ* community in shows and films, queer life in the countryside, and being a trans parent.

 Stay tuned for stories and podcasts from Josefine, Fabian, and Tamo*.

 Can’t wait? Check out Dope Labs, a podcast by New York Sound Up winners Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley.

 

In the German market, LGBTTIQ* stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer; the asterisk represents unnamed identities.  

German Star Palina Rojinski Riffs on Podcast Interviews with Her Celebrity Friends

April 17, 2019

Visit Germany for a day, and it’ll be hard to miss Palina Rojinski. Known throughout the country as an actress, TV host, and DJ, Palina can now add top-ranked podcaster to her CV. After just a few episodes of Podkinski, the podcast already enjoys extreme popularity in Germany. The secret to her instant impact in audio is simple: Fans are drawn to Palina’s sense of humor and her approachable, conversational style.

She selects the guests for her show, guides the conversation, and keeps her subjects in the studio for as long as she feels necessary to create a compelling interview. No format is off-limits, whether that means improvising, using tarot cards, or playing memory games to get inside a guest’s head.

Palina’s first guests were actor Fahri Yardim, model Stefanie Giesinger (winner of Germany’s Next Topmodel) and Saudi Arabia-born actress and hip-hop artist Nura. Just after the release of the fourth episode of Podkinski, featuring German fashion designer and TV host Guido Maria Kretschmer, Palina spoke with us about her unique approach to podcasting.

Most Germans know you from TV and film. What has been the most interesting and different aspect of recording a podcast as opposed to working with scripted material for TV and movies?

It is very freeing to be invisible. I usually really enjoy getting ready for a film shoot, and I love makeup and fashion in general. But being invisible to the audience allows me to approach the recording in a very relaxed manner. The studio is a more intimate setting.

German TV and audio seem to have become more open, playful, and conversational, similar to your style, since you started out 10 years ago. How much of that can you take credit for, and how much is an evolution of technology and a change in how Europeans consume content?

I believe that everything changes all the time—with or without me. The German entertainment industry really looks up to America and tries to keep up. Also, Germany is looking at a comeback of the ’90s in style and fashion, and this means putting fun first. Also, maybe our society is looking for balance. If issues regarding the environment and politics are getting pretty serious, we long for fun in entertainment, art, and fashion.

How does your style of interviewing help guests share more personal or interesting information that they might not share with another podcast host?

It certainly helps that most of my guests are my friends. That makes it a bit easier to find the right start. I try to be myself—that’s a general rule of mine, being myself and inviting my guests to be themselves as well. I’m happy if that works out for both of us.

You’re one of the hosts of a new version of “Yo! MTV Raps.” What does hip-hop music mean to you, and why you do think Europeans, and Germans in particular, have such fondness of hip-hop?

It was the soundtrack of my teenage years—it means rebellion, it means adventure, and a certain kind of looking for an identity. Am I cool? Are you cool? The kinds of questions that we suffer with as teenagers. Hip-hop helped me a lot, lifted me up, and made me feel strong at times. It also creates a wonderful sense of community, which we are all in need of, I guess.

Talk about the games you like to play with your guests, such as “Ich packe meinen koffer” (I’m packing my suitcase). How does the game work?

You basically name an object that you would take along on a trip, and the other person has to repeat what you said and add one thing he or she would take along, and so on. Actually, it’s a good memory game, and I played it with a famous German actor. We tested how well our memory works (we have to memorize lines for acting), but also found out how he is packing his luggage either for a certain role or for a long-term filming away from home. Every guest gets a different game that suits his or her personality.

What podcasts and musicians do you enjoy listening to when you are not working?

My favorite podcast is Fest & Flauschig by my friends Olli and Jan, and I love a good mix of music. For example, I love classic bands like Talking Heads or Fleetwood Mac, and of course, some hip-hop like Cardi B, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and Drake, plus Ariana Grande.

 

Listen to the latest episode of Podkinski here.

‘Das allerletzte Interview’: Mörderische Spannung in der Podcast-Fortsetzung

November 22, 2018

Hip-Hop-Journalistin Clara plant, den erfolgreichsten Rapper Deutschlands zu töten. Aber warum? Das Rätsel hinter Claras Motiv sowie ihre düstere Vergangenheit haben im vergangenen Sommer Podcast- und Krimi-Fans in Atem gehalten. Die zweite Staffel des Spotify Original Podcasts “Das allerletzte Interview”, geschrieben und erzählt von Visa Vie, ist ab sofort exklusiv bei Spotify zu finden.

Der Podcast, der für “Schönste Geschichte” beim Preis für Popkultur 2018 nominiert war, erzählt von Außenseiterin Clara, die sich als Moderatorin beim größten Rapmagazin Deutschlands einschleust. Sie plant, nach ihrem allerletzten Interview Scar umzubringen, den bekanntesten Rapper des Landes. Am Ende der ersten Staffel gab es einen Showdown zwischen ihr und Scar – der mit einem Cliffhanger endete.

“Das allerletzte Interview” ist gespickt mit Anekdoten und Insiderwissen aus der Rapwelt. Autorin Visa Vie arbeitete jahrelang als Journalistin bei dem bekannten Hip-Hop Portal 16bars und sammelte dort reichlich Interview-Erfahrung. Als Moderatorin, Produzentin und Redakteurin ihres eigenen YouTube-Formats “Zum Goldenen V” konnte sie sich eine treue Fangemeinschaft aufbauen, die bei “Das allerletzte Interview” nicht nur gespannt mitgefiebert, sondern auch über Parallelen zu realen Rappern spekuliert hat.

“Das Feedback zu ‘Das allerletzte Interview’ war überwältigend und ich bin immer noch fassungslos über die großartige Resonanz auf mein Autorinnen-Debüt”, erklärt Visa Vie. “Deswegen freue ich mich umso mehr darauf, die Fortsetzung nun endlich mit der Welt teilen zu können. Und nicht zuletzt, weil so viele es sich gewünscht haben, wird es in der zweiten Staffel noch mal um einiges härter zugehen!”

Auch Michael Krause, Geschäftsführer EMEA von Spotify, ist begeistert vom Spotify Original Podcast: “Als größte Podcast-Plattform in Deutschland sind wir stolz auf unsere starken Original-Formate, bis jetzt haben schon hunderttausende Hörer bei ‘Das allerletzte Interview’ mitgefiebert. Wir können es kaum erwarten, den Fans von Clara die Krimi-Fortsetzung von Visa Vie zu präsentieren.”