Hear: The Micronaut — Leipzig District Mixes

Leipzig-based artist and multi-instrumentalist The Micronaut (Stefan Streck) has my fullest admiration. I got to know him personally at a work-related event where he was hired as a sound engineer. I talked to him most of the evening because, long before meeting him in person, I was a fan of his music.

If I had to find one word to describe what his music means to me, I would say: inspiring. In Stefan’s music, you can hear so many influences and a love for detail. Every one of his tracks is original in its own way, and not a copy of a copy. This is indeed inspiring me when I make music myself.

I follow him on Instagram, where he always shares impressions of how he works, and I am always curious to see where he’s going next. He has a sense for melody and melancholy that resonates deeply with me.

The way he makes music is also audible in the way he mixes — it’s a melting pot of influences. A few years ago, he started a DJ mix series, naming the mixes after districts of Leipzig. I asked him about the logic behind the names and his relation to the districts. He said: “No logic here, I just like the sound of the names.”

There are 6 mixes out of 7 available on his SoundCloud profile, starting with number 2. I don’t know what happened to number 1. However, each mix is a compilation of timeless music. I can always listen to music like that.