BIMM Berlin’s Kickstarter Programme helps bring luz’s ‘Disco Ball’ to life
When BIMM Berlin launched the Kickstarter Programme – a new initiative giving emerging student artists the chance to record in a professional studio – one of the first to seize the opportunity was luz, an indie-pop singer-songwriter.
A rough demo of her song, ‘Disco Ball’, was brought to life with the help of talented collaborators and seasoned engineers at L.A. Recordings. For this Berlin-based artist, the experience was more than just a technical upgrade – it was a milestone in confidence, creativity, and finding her sound.
We caught up with her to hear about the experience, the meaning behind the song, and how her time at BIMM helped her make the leap from session musician to solo artist:
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself as a performer?
“I am an indie/pop singer-songwriter focused on honest lyrics and emotional storytelling. Having primarily worked as a session musician for other bands before, I have only recently begun focusing on my own music. For me, this was a crucial step that allowed me to have enough time to determine what kind of artist I wanted to be and to gather inspiration from other performers.
I feel like, as a performer, I value authenticity and emotional connection over perfection. Of course, I always strive to do my best work, but in the end, I just want to find a way to connect with my audience, especially while performing live.”
How did this recording opportunity come about? Could you go into a little more detail about what the Kickstarter programme is and how you were selected?
“It was all very simple! I opened my BIMM email a few months ago and saw something about the Kickstarter Programme. It was aimed at new artists from BIMM who wanted the chance to record one of their songs in a professional studio with experienced engineers and producers. To apply, you just had to send in a demo, explain what your song was about, and say why you felt you deserved the opportunity. Only one artist or band would be selected.
I was really lucky to be chosen in the first round. I applied with a very rough, homemade demo of my song ‘Disco Ball’, and honestly I wasn’t even planning to record it anytime soon. I was super insecure about it and didn’t expect to be picked at all. So when I got the news, I was over the moon!
Thankfully, my talented friends and band (Joona Keturi, Michael Christofaris, and Henrique Moutinho) were available to join me on this small adventure. I think since then, they have done a few more rounds of this initiative. I think it’s so amazing that the university gives opportunities like this. It was truly motivating.”
What was the studio like? Have you recorded in a professional setting like that before?
“The studio was amazing! I love L.A. Recordings. I had been there before, recording for another artist, and I also attended a songwriting camp that they hosted, so I knew that it was a safe space where I would be inspired to record my music for the first time. I loved it so much that I recently came back to record the rest of my debut EP there!”
Can you walk us through the track you recorded? What inspired it?
“‘Disco Ball’ is a song for the people who’ve always made you feel safe. For me, that’s my family. When I was a kid, we used to have two disco balls in our living room, and I decided to use them as a symbol of safety, warmth, and all the love I felt growing up. The idea for the song actually came from a memory of me telling my dad that I was scared of the dark (which I still kind of am), and him telling me something along the lines of, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” That moment really stuck with me. We all need someone who tells us it’s going to be okay — someone who never brings the disco ball down. So yeah… thanks, Dad!”
Did working with studio engineers or producers teach you anything new about your sound or songwriting?
“That’s an interesting question. I had the luck of being in the studio with both amazing studio engineers, Liam Blomqvist and Jack Deasy, and they truly made the experience so seamless and made all my ideas feel so seen. When I first walked into the door of the studio, I thought that most of the decision-making would come from them, but I was so wrong! They let me take the reins completely and gave wonderful insights and opinions. Working with them and later with my amazing vocal producer and mixing engineer, Pedro Necho, taught me so much about my sound.
That whole experience really helped me understand how important recording with a live band is for the kind of music I make. It brought a whole new energy to the song, and that’s actually what inspired me to book studio time in L.A. Recordings later on.”
How has your time at BIMM helped shape your confidence and creativity as a musician?
“Before I enrolled at BIMM Berlin, I had never written a song of my own. It was my performance classes during my Popular Music Performance degree that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me realise that I actually can and love writing my own music.
Also, opportunities like this one, or the end-of-year gig, always gave me a clear goal to work towards which was super helpful to stay motivated. I think without this Kickstarter Programme, it would have taken me a few more years to finally be brave and record some of my music.”
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