More than a hobby

"Big in Japan" describes the pop-cultural phenomenon of being more famous far away than at home. The linguistic image is perfect for Julian Maramieri: the electronic music that the young man produces in his home studio is much more popular in Belgium than in his home town of Bielefeld.

Julian Maramieri doesn't find this at all surprising: "I just make 'new beat'." And this electronic music was particularly successful in Germany's western neighbours in the 1990s. The online platform Soundcloud is his favourite place to play. This is where his international audience can be found. In his personal fan ranking, the Netherlands follows its Belgian neighbours. He also finds many listeners in the USA. "Germany hardly plays a role there," the 30-year-old has observed. So far, 30,000 people worldwide have listened to his songs and around 600 subscribers follow his work on a permanent basis. Strong figures that Julian Maramierie is proud of.

For ten years now, he has been publishing everything that is created in his Bielefeld studio in the huge online audio library. And that is no small feat: he has now produced eleven singles and four complete albums. And yet only the evening hours are reserved for music. During the day, Julian Maramierie works in a Bethel proWerk workshop at Schillingshof. Here he is involved in the production of dosing pumps. A job that he enjoys: "I realise that I'm needed."

Julian Maramieri transformed a salt shaker into a microphone.

Julian Maramieri has built up his recording studio in an attic flat over many years. Much of the work here is done by hand. "I just like tinkering," he says modestly. He may have inherited this talent from his grandfather, who was a skilled craftsman. Or, he surmises, it is one of those insular talents that can be traced back to his autism. Whatever the case, creative recycling in the attic flat results in some amazing things. For example, a salt shaker is given a second life as a microphone. He even constructed the tables on which the keyboard, synthesiser, sampler, DJ turntable and much more sit enthroned himself.

Julian Maramieri has always been fascinated by sounds and creative audio processing. As a 14-year-old, he discovered a tape recorder at a flea market. A proud 80 euros was called for the aged treasure. The then 14-year-old took it anyway and recorded radio plays that he made up himself. He turned to music for three years, taking piano lessons and DJing at many events at his school, the Mamre Patmos special school in Bielefeld-Bethel.

"I can express feelings like sadness or anger well through my music," says Julian Maramieri. But it's often hard work: "I need at least six hours for a new piece. He works on a complete album for a full ten months. "It's definitely more than just a hobby for me," he says. He used to really produce every day. "That's become a little less now." This is not least due to the fact that he recently got married. Fortunately, his wife Chiara, whom he has known since they were at school together, is his biggest fan.

Photos: Thomas Richter | Text: Robert Burg

This story simply told

Julian Maramieri has been making electronic music for many years. He publishes his songs on the internet. People from all over the world listen to his music on Soundcloud. Julian Maramieri built his own recording studio.

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