Favorite Music

Music is one of the biggest parts of my life. That includes both making and listening to music. Find a selection of my favorite songs / albums below. Click here to be taken to a random entry.

Yasunori Mitsuda / ACE (TOMOri Kudo, CHiCO) / Kenji Hiramatsu / Manami Kiyota / Mariam Abounnasr / Yutaka Kunigo

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Original Soundtrack

Being one of my favorite game series of all times, all Xenoblade Chronicles Soundtracks are truly amazing. However, I admit I have a favorite. The OST of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with its melancholic piano intro and the reoccurring flute leitmotivs is so full of emotion it moves me every time I listen to it.

1. おくりびと (Off-Seer) - Yasunori Mitsuda
2. 空へと昇った想い (Feelings Risen to the Sky) - Yasunori Mitsuda
3. 大剣の麓 (Great Sword's Base) - Manami Kiyota

ALI

LOVE, MUSIC AND DANCE

Have you ever wondered what jazz, hip-hop, funk, rap, blues, and more sounds like? Well it sounds AMAZING (what did you expect from a band called Alien Liberty International). I have listened to this EP and ALI in general on repeat for months of my life. I recommend giving it a listen and see the incredible songs they make.

1. BETTER DAYS
2. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP

King Princess

Girl Violence

People who know me know I LOVE the Arcane soundtrack. And thanks to that soundtrack I got introduce to King Princess. This gorgeous human being creates some of the most interesting indie-pop I have heard in quite some time. Also, the texts really connect with me.

1. Girls
2. RIP KP
3. I Feel Pretty

C418

Excursions

Daniel Rosenfeld's (C418) magnum opus to date. Excellent soundscapes. I find myself coming back to this album several times a year in times where life is too much. It always calms me down.

1. Beton
2. Thunderbird
3. Hope

C418

Minecraft - Volume Beta

Minecraft was one of three games that shaped me during my teen years. While some consider its music in the early days as boring in game, I have to disagree. Minecraft's music served as the atmosphere in the background while playing, and I love that.

1. Alpha

Lena Raine

Celeste Original Soundtrack

Celeste is my favorite 2D platforming game (and in general one of the best games I ever played). Besides, Lena knocked it out of the park with this amazing soundtrack. Its precise, dynamic, and emotional.

1. Starjump
2. Ressurections
3. Reach for the Summit

Satoru Kōsaki

BEASTARS - Original Soundtracks

There is so much I love about the soundtrack of BEASTARS (mostly speaking of season 1 of the anime, btw). The main melody which appears as a leitmotiv in so many places, the melodies of individual characters, the tense tracks when things don't go as planned, etc. A clever detail: The instruments used depicting carnivores are brass, while the herbivores get woodwinds. And Louis gets the Saxophone. Quite fitting!

1. BEASTARS -wolf and rabbit-
2. JUNO is in love
3. Harlequin Rabbits

Riot Games - Various Artists

ARCANE - Season 2 Original Soundtrack

When I got in contact with Riot Games, it was only known for League of Legends. I played that game almost religiously for several years. Now, I play here and there. I never expected them to produce something like ARCANE. I think no one did. The show's two season are nothing short but a work of art. Starting from the story, going over the animation, and ending with the music. And the live versions... my god...

1. Fantastic (Live from Vevo) - King Princess
2. The Line - Twenty One Pilots
3. I Can't Hear It Now - Freya Ridings

Billie Eilish

Guitar Songs

2020 to 2022 were shit years for me mentally. At one of my lowest points, this single was released. It allowed me to process my feelings better. Thank you Billie and Finneas for this.

1. The 30th

Billie Eilish

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

In my opinion Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas redefined what pop music can be. These tracks are unique, not just another washed up pop album. I mean just listen to bury a friend; such an exciting track!

1. listen before i go
2. bury a friend
3. wish you were gay

Billie Eilish

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Another masterpiece album by Billie which came at the right time in my life AGAIN. That girl and her timing. Unfortunately, the record does not sound as good as her first studio album on a stereo system. Just too much compression...

1. THE GREATEST
2. BLUE
3. LUNCH

AllttA (20syl and Mr. J. Medeiros)

Facing Giants

AllttA managed something not many people do: They have had a song in my on-repeat playlist for several years straight. The mix of 20syl's electronic sounds and Mr. J. Medeiros raps is a magical combination. Give them a listen!

1. Disarm (fg. VI)
2. Snow Fire (fg. I)

AllttA (20syl and Mr. J. Medeiros)

The Upper Hand

AllttA's first album. While I don't listen to it regularily these days, I come back to it a few times a year.

1. Kinsmen
2. Drugs
3. AllttA

Grabbitz

Time Isn't Real

Grabbitz has been with me since my midde to late teens. So you could say I liked his stuff before he blew up. This is just one of his albums, though the old stuff is amazing as well.

1. Pain Killer
2. A Wolf Dressed Up As A Sheep
3. Dying To Know You

Linkin Park

From Zero

I got to admin, I did not have a lot of experience with Linkin Park before their new iteration featuring Emily Armstrong (besides the classics, of course). Nevertheless, as soon as I heard her voice, I could not get enough of it. Also, they did the 2024 Worlds song for League of Legends... Go watch the opening ceremony.

1. Heavy is the Crown
2. Good Things Go
3. The Emptiness Machine

Sam Siefert Ensemble Project

Perspectives II

This album is very dear to me. The composition was done by Sam, a friend of mine. Each track is a singe take performed by outstanding musicians with vocals by Mimi Schmid. This album is pure emotion in all of its facets. And I am honored that I was among the first to listen to parts of it before mastering. I listed to this album life. I won't ever forget that evening.

1. Beauty in Your Soul
2. Steps Through the Dark
3. Far Away

Atlus Sound Team feat. Lyn

Persona 5 Royal Original Soundtrack

Ah Persona, a late addition in my gaming catalogue. What can I tell you, its Japanese Jazz Fusion AND a video game soundtrack. I don't think there is a better combination of what music can be. Lyn's vocals in these track and whoever played the bass deserve the highest musical honors.

1. Life Will Change
2. Rivers In the Desert
3. Beneath the Mask -rain-

Atlus Sound Team feat. Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice

Persona 3 Reload Original Soundtrack

See what I wrote for Persona 5 and add hip-hop / rap to it. Mind explosion.

1. Burn My Dread -Last Battle Reload-
2. Memories of You -Reload-
3. Full Moon Full Life

Home

Before the Night

Home is an artist that I sometimes listen to when I need calming background music. Fits perfectly on a rainy train ride.

1. We're Finally Landing

Tut Tut Child

Come to the End; Then Stop

God I cried a lot to that album. It came out during my late teens. Later in my life, when I struggled a lot with my identiy, it helped me process my feelings better. I still listen to the complete album every once in a while.

1. Queen Of Your Heart
2. Just A Dream
3. You Hide

Manu Delago

Parasol Peak

Brutally honest and moving music recorded live by Manu Delago and his band going up to Parasol Peak. They use their surroundings to create and enrich sounds. They also made a short film of it: https://youtu.be/CmXzCB-BBMI?si=aaRnRt-kXC_JOj7f.

1. Alpine Brook
2. Parasol Woods
3. Parasol Peak

Manu Delago

Circadian

Another masterpiece of Manu Delago. I have seen this album performed live in my hometown and was just in awe by the music and visuals. Various remixes of these tracks (especially Zeitgeber) hit different.

1. Zeitgeber
2. Delta Sleep (Live at 4:33am)
3. Circadian

Ed Sheeran

÷

Divide was the first album I listened to from Ed Sheeran. I never considered myself a mainstream pop-listener before that. But I was addicted to his sounds and voice. I even went to see his show for Divide live in Vienna!

1. Shape of You
2. What Do I Know?
3. Eraser

Ed Sheeran

x

My journey of Ed Sheeran's music continued with Multiply, especially with I See Fire, which is one of my favorite songs of all time. The live version of Bloodstream is also fabulous! I love his loop station and going so loud the mix is peaking.

1. I See Fire
2. Bloodstream
3. Sing

Ed Sheeran

+

My Ed Sheeran phase ended with Addition. While I don't like it as much as Divide and Multiply, I still listen to its songs every once in a while, mostly in December for some reason. Listen to the live version of 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You'.

1. You Need Me, I Don't Need You
2. The A Team
3. Give Me Love

Punch Brothers

All Ashore

Listening to the music of Punch Brothers is truly special; though I recommend a good pair of headphones or a speaker system to fully appreciate their recordings. I was fortunate enough to listen to them live in Vienna with my uncle. I have never experience such musical excellence before nor after. They dynamics are otherworldly and Chris Thile's voice and mandolin performance leave me in awe to this day.

1. All Ashore
2. Just Look at This Mess
3. Jumbo

Lorien Testard feat. Alice Duport-Percier

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Original Soundtrack

2025 was a golden year for video games and their soundtracks. Nevertheless, Clair Obscur's soundtracks stands out as a masterpiece of modern classical music intertwined with action, emotion, and passion. If you are into video games, I highly recommend playing the game to experience its incredible story and music in the respective scenes.

1. Lumière
2. Alicia

Christopher Larkin

Hollow Knight Silksong Original Soundtrack

Exploring the world of Hollow Knight Silksong would not be nearly as immersive without its outstanding soundtrack. Sometimes I just stood in certain areas to listen to the incredible work by Christopher Larkin

1. Choral Chambers
2. Bellhart
3. Songclave