Meet Monika Demmler

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monika Demmler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monika below.

Hi Monika, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I got my work ethic from my upbringing. I grew up in a very small village near the German Alps with hard-working parents. When I went to university after school, I worked at bars at night to finance my studies during the day. In general, I’m very happy about it because it is very beneficial to see how far you can get if you believe in your power and don’t give up. My dad used to say when I was a kid, in case you fall, make sure you get up as quickly as you can because there might be a car behind you rolling over you. And, persistence is the key!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My story begins with a car accident on the German autobahn. I was in a carshare on the way to my doctoral defense from Berlin to Munich. The car got hit by a truck high-speed while I was in the right front seat. Being not able to do anything for 6-12 months, I’ve realized life is too short and I like to do what I love in my life, which is my passion for music. After recovering, I went on a trip to the South of the USA, visiting music places such as New Orleans. On this trip, I met musicians from Los Angeles, and it was the first time I stepped in a car again – a road trip from Austin (where I bought my first vintage Silvertone guitar) to Los Angeles where I ended up in many jam sessions and I guess learnt how to play by ear as well as songwriting. I’ve been playing instruments since my childhood, but was trained more classically reading notes – so being able to just play without “helpers” was something I was very eager to learn. Right now I’m based in Los Angeles – I’m a composer, multi-instrumentalist, djane, artist and speaker, channeling my research in Solfeggio frequencies into my artworks by blending genres in a new and captivating way: My latest releases (2022) are Zucker (avant-garde techno-deep house) with Holzkopfkinder and Princess – a feline mix of krautrock, shoegaze, punk.
Overall, I’d like to contribute to make this planet a better place for future generations and society appreciate real values again. For me, music is the high art form by which this can be achieved. My next plan is to combine various art forms to get an even greater impact. We all know that our old structures of “capitalism” where riches get richer are ending right now as this does not serve humanity at all and even does not have an advantage for those who are privileged. In order to have a productive society, each member must be taken care of as we are all inter-connected. To change this, in my view, talents of individuals should be fostered so it serves society. There are indeed enough resources on this planet for our future survival, and an end goal is to achieve a meaningful balance between what I call “a return to nature” and technological advances.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Keep doing what you love from your heart, believe in yourself and take one step at a time.

I think one big mistake is wanting everything at once. I feel like both my music and myself are growing step by step. I’m enjoying learning day by day in various areas – songwriting, and performing. Being a musician is so varied and very individual. I think everyone needs to find out what works for him/her best and what you like to do, and maybe even learn who you are. Every journey is different.

Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey I’ve probably acquired in another area than art. When I was 18, I was a bank clerk and later on earned a Masters in Economy – this part of my life might have helped me to make the best out of the resources that are available to me. Working as a teacher at high school, I guess showed me how to deal with emotional issues with human beings in the music industry. I try not to take anything personal, rather reflect and try to understand which problems someone is dealing with in their life when a conflict arises. And third, my childhood with music, trying to learn as many instruments as possible and having been provided the possibility by my parents to do art most of my days.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was never expecting anything from me and letting me develop as the person who I am. My dad, for example, told me early in my life, “you know what you’re doing, don’t you?” – “I do, yes!” – I’ll never forget that moment while he looked deep into my eyes. My dad gave me from early on such confidence in life and myself which I somehow carry until now. Another beautiful thing in my childhood was growing up in nature and being surrounded with animals. I spent days roaming through the nearby forest, discovering the beauty of nature and stillness. I’m from a shepherd’s family and enjoyed the company of young and old sheep 🙂

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Image Credits
Martyn Goodacre

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