Philipp Hermann

Philipp Hermann’s pieces are storytelling in musical form; like a projector, they bring films to life in the listener’s mind.
They tell of encounters and places, of moments and ideas, awaken memories and dreams from murky depths into consciousness again, or invite thoughts to drift freely.

“Music is a language, and musical pieces are its stories—both bring people together. My music is meant to contribute to this sense of unity. Because when people experience it together, a shared reality arises—if only for a moment.”

At the intersection of neoclassical, jazz, and ambient lies the space in which Philipp Hermann’s music lives. Chilly Gonzales, Yann Tiersen, Hania Rani, and Ólafur Arnalds are just a few of the names who have left their mark here.

At the center stands the piano, complemented by an ever-growing palette of new sounds and influences—always in search of music that lingers in the mind and ear long after the last note has faded. A trained jazz pianist, Philipp now also composes for both the big and small screen—a path that recently earned him the “Best Original Score” award at the Canadian Cinematography Awards.

On his latest single, the Münster-based musician collaborates with the Estonian duo Ruut. From the delicate original, “Väljad Karja Käia”—accompanied only by Estonian zither—a rework emerged that blends flowing piano patterns and cinematic soundscapes with the original vocals, casting the song in a completely new light.

“The delivery and pure musicianship that the composer […] proves on this thing is just so undeniably convincing.”
— Music Dances When You Sleep [on the single “Like the wind in her face”]