Simone Kopmajer & Viktor Gernot
Biography Simone Kopmajer & Viktor Gernot
Simone Kopmajer
“Is the future of contemporary jazz once again coming from Austria?” asks the German magazine “inmusic,” only to answer it itself in the next line: “Anyone who listens to the album ‘Didn’t You Say’ by the exceptional singer Simone Kopmajer simply has to come to this conclusion.” That was four years ago.
“The Best In You” – that’s the present. Recorded in Philadelphia, the brand-new album takes fans even further away from jazz. Crossover with a strong dose of classic Philly sound is the order of the day. “The Best In You” isn’t just a big step into the future musically – nine of the twelve songs were written by Simone herself: “You can’t be afraid to try new things.”
Normally, press releases resort to exaggeration, sometimes make things up, and painstakingly dig up positive aspects. With Simone Kopmajer, that's not necessary – in principle, you just need to quote from the countless articles in the (specialist) press, with the "Florida Times" summing it up succinctly and perfectly with "She's Dynamite."
But a few basic facts are in order. Born at the foot of the Dachstein mountain in a time when New Wave and Falco dominated the charts, Simone was drawn to classical instruments from an early age. She chose the piano and saxophone. She also sang in her father's band: "At home, there was new music to hear and discover every day, and we played it ourselves." After graduating from the University of Music in Graz and winning the prestigious "Hans Koller Prize," the home of jazz beckoned.
Across the Atlantic, where she recorded her debut album, "Moonlight Serenade," with producer Todd Barkan. Across the next major pond, the Pacific, where the 21-year-old immediately achieved great success in Japan. Simone herself doesn't know exactly how many of her albums she subsequently sold to her fans in the USA, Spain, and Japan. Sales figures are irrelevant as long as the artistic quality remains high and her songs continue to surprise and fascinate audiences. "She sings simply beautifully! Her magnificent voice is one thing, but when she launches into scat singing, it becomes a vocal festival!" raves "rocktimes." Again, nothing needs to be invented; the reviews speak for themselves.
Anyone who thinks Simone's voice is reserved for an elite audience is sorely mistaken. Influences from Prince and the Motown sound, from Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart, and a touch of folk create a unique niche for her sound, which captivates and enthralls people all over the world. "Didn't You Say" conjured up beautiful soundscapes ("Concerto") primarily for a European audience; its successor, "Nothing's Gonna Change," was created in collaboration with, among others, the virtuoso Wolfgang Puschnig (2011); the following year, "Live at Heidi's Jazzclub" was recorded in the USA, and "Emotion" (2013) was released primarily in Asia, from Thailand to Malaysia.
"The Best In You" (2014) finally paves the way to a global audience and is guaranteed to showcase the very best of Simone Kopmajer. For now, anyway, because who knows where the journey will lead...
Viktor Gernot
Cabaret artist. Musician. Parodist. Storyteller with conviction.
Viktor Gernot is one of Austria's most versatile and popular stage performers. As a cabaret artist, musician, actor, and entertainer, he has been on stage for decades – with witty programs, musical precision, and a feel for the subtle interplay between humor and truth.
Whether as a soloist or in an ensemble, Gernot captivates audiences with linguistic wit, musical virtuosity, and characters that feel close to life. His programs are pointed, socially relevant, but never malicious – always imbued with a wry perspective on everyday life.
In addition to numerous solo performances, Viktor Gernot is currently appearing with Thomas Stipsits in the duo program "Lotterbuben" – a musical cabaret evening for two friends that brings generations, styles, and realities into conversation with one another.
