A very special project started in March/April 2024 in the special rooms of the MPS studio: The Singing Souls by Lady Melanie and band stood in front of the microphones and sang 15 very special tracks. “These songs are written for people whose mental health is impaired. These people are dealing with special topics and issues,” explains Melanie Volz, head of the project. She works as a music therapist in a psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic in Bad Dürrheim and is familiar with the clinical pictures of depression, burnout and trauma disorders. “Music reaches the depths of the soul where words sometimes cannot penetrate,” she explains. The 15 songs were specially composed to support mentally impaired people in their recovery.
The ensemble is mixed: the band, consisting of bandleader Alexander Schirmer (drums), Thomas Duttenhöfner (piano), Mikolaj Pociecha (guitar) and Daniel Bruder (bass, electric bass), is professionally staffed with Master’s graduates from the Trossingen University of Music. “Working with these outstanding musicians is great fun; they are punctual, committed and on point when it counts,” says Melanie Volz, praising the collaboration. So it’s not surprising that the band records a whole 9 playbacks within two days; in a concentrated and cheerful atmosphere, supported by sound engineer Peter Ettwein, the arrangements are repeated and recorded until everyone is satisfied.
During the second recording weekend, the MPS studio is cramped: 15 singers need space and lots of headphones! At first, the dry studio acoustics seem a little unfamiliar, but the ensemble, consisting of amateur singers, quickly gets used to it. The recording of the 9 choir pieces begins with an energetic “You can do it!”. Peter Ettwein ‘s friendly composure ensures that the initial nervousness is quickly forgotten. Time flies by and at the end of the three days there are 9 songs on the tape.
For the grand finale, 7 soloists arrive on the third recording weekend, and the band is also present once again. Rock or ballad, swing or boogie woogie; the band and sound engineer Peter Ettwein ensure a perfect working atmosphere with their high level of professionalism and many creative ideas. The soloists (Sabrina Burger, Nicolle Klausmann, Marion Schulze, Harald Ritzmann, Alexander Gambin and Melanie Volz) – some of whom are very well trained singers – quickly find their way into their songs and again six titles can be sung within two days.
The atmosphere is also good during the breaks – listening to the rehearsal after the recording becomes the highlight of every single song. “With this music, we want to enable people who have to find their way back into everyday life after psychosomatic rehabilitation to feel good and find new courage to face life,” says Melanie Volz. Her rehab aftercare program Reha Goes Live supports people in this process with psychological support, soothing texts and stories, art therapy and – of course – lots of music; sung, played, performed and recorded in the MPS studio in Villingen.