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“It doesn’t matter if it’s Berlin or Iserlohn/ I don’t feel like I’ve arrived anywhere,” sings Baumgart in “The worst place is inside me”. No matter where you are, you always take yourself with you. This is what the 22-year-old is good at: packing universal feelings into rhymes that make you immediately want to nod in agreement.
He grew up in Dortmund and currently lives in Hamburg. But above all, he lives for his music.
The Dortmund native started playing music early
It started very early: in the second grade he discovered the children’s choir, and while others preferred to go to the soccer field, he wrote his “first little songs” at the age of fourteen, the lyrics of which he of course no longer likes. He laughs sheepishly. Underneath his cap, Baumgart has an open, friendly face that matches his music. He mixes singer-songwriter electropop with a bit of hip hop and sings in a very direct way about what he experiences. That’s been a lot so far.
In 2018, when he was thirteen, he took part in “The Voice Kids”, then as Pepe. He failed in the battle round due to “Weinst du” by Echt. Probably good, so he continued working on his own songs. In between he had a project called Felipe, now he just calls himself Baumgart – not to distance himself from the past, but because he likes the reference to nature in his last name.
Baumgart calls his music a “magic bag”
As a teenager, Baumgart listened to a lot of German rap, Sido and the like, and then neglected singing a bit. A friend brought him back on the right path: “I was kidding myself that I was such a cool street rapper… But I’m not!” If it’s hip hop, then it’s more like the Clueso school – you can also hear Baumgart’s ability to combine spoken singing with stirring melodies. On Instagram his name says “Make music and soooo” – he doesn’t like to commit himself. “My music has influences from indie pop, some from rock, there are ballads, the verses are often very rappy – it’s all there. I don’t think in genres, but in stories. It always depends on what’s happening in my life. It’s a colorful surprise bag!” It’s fitting that his favorite singer of all is Freddie Mercury.
“When I was laughed at, I always thought: I’ll prove it to you! Etch!“
Due to the genuine way in which Baumgart writes his texts, he not only comes very close to his listeners, but has even experienced changes in his immediate surroundings. “Tower” is about alienation from parents and the speechlessness between generations. He has brought the family closer together; suddenly they are talking to each other. He sends such songs to those “affected” before they are published; so far no one has vetoed them. One can hope that the people he describes in “Loser” also felt addressed. From kindergarten through seventh grade, Baumgart was constantly teased simply because he had other interests.
“The fact that you’re being bullied because you sing or don’t conform to the norm in some other way – that wasn’t discussed that much back then. People said: Kiddies are just mean! But that stuck with me for a long time, so I thought it was important to write the song – also for people who are experiencing it now. Give a little hope. And those who bully say: That’s idiotic! And tell the teachers and parents that they should look.” He didn’t allow himself to be demotivated – and used music as an outlet to process everything and distract himself: “When I was still working at Edeka and was laughed at there because of the music, I always thought: I’ll prove it to you! I’m doing my thing! Now I’m already playing support and releasing singles, so… Ätschi!”
His first EP will be released this year. He constantly has ideas for new songs – and is not afraid of big dreams. He abandoned his study plans. He wants to enjoy the moment, be there one hundred percent for the music, anything else makes him unhappy. Anyone who listens to Baumgart for a while, to his songs or his statements about them, gets the feeling that perhaps this world can still be saved. Because Baumgart is certainly not the only 22-year-old who is so thoughtful and compassionate. He just says it better than many others. The most touching proof so far is “Lotti,” which he dedicated to his little sister with Down syndrome. It’s the opposite of a piece of lament – it celebrates the girl’s specialness without ignoring the challenges. “The only thing abnormal is the glow on your face,” he sings.
Baumgart doesn’t have a plan B, he relies entirely on music
Logically, if Baumgart had to think of a plan B, he would think of social work for people with disabilities. He did a voluntary social year at a special school and will definitely think about further projects with the people there – because it’s so much fun: “There was always more atmosphere at inclusion parties than in the techno shed,” he says. Music with attitude, life with a sense of community: you don’t have to worry about Baumgart, he’s not a “loser” at all. Nobody knows where he will be in ten years, but he has a wish: “On a festival main stage at 8 p.m. would be cool!”
