rampstyle #37

Till Brönner: A Controlled Loss of Control

Till Brönner is ­Germany’s most successful jazz musician. He works as a photographer, he published a cookbook, he’s just released a new album. What we’re getting at: the man is versatile. He knows a thing or two about improvisation.

So who better to contact for a photo shoot built around the theme “Wrongly Dressed”?

Velvet Jacket: Polo Ralph Lauren / Pocket Square: Brioni / Shirt: Seidensticker / Trousers: Zegna / Watch…
Velvet Jacket: Polo Ralph Lauren / Pocket Square: Brioni / Shirt: Seidensticker / Trousers: Zegna / Watch & Boots: Private
  • Interview
    Michael Köckritz
  • Photos
    Norman Konrad
  • Production
    Antonietta Procopia, Kaja Köckritz
  • Styling
    Elcin Ayser
  • Hair & Make-Up
    Sonja Shenouda
Mr. Brönner, where are we catching you this very second?

Somewhere between two worlds – in the studio and out on the street. We’re prepping the Italia tour that kicks off in spring, and at the same time we’re putting the final touches on our Christmas concerts. It feels like a creative jet lag between music, everyday life and packing suitcases – but a pleasant one.

You recently said: “Art might carry more responsibility today than ever before.” What exactly did you mean by that?

That art has the freedom to say things that are glossed over elsewhere. Taking a stand means not staying silent when things get uncomfortable – but also defending beauty and quality. They’re not luxuries, they’re expressions of our humanity.

“Creativity is often a ­controlled loss of control.”
Till Brönner
Artists taking political positions is a pretty delicate topic at the moment.

True, and what I keep thinking about is how we can take a stand without moralizing. I believe art shouldn’t just sound or look beautiful these days – it has to say something too. And at the same time I don’t want to lose sight of the positive. We live in loud times, but music, good food, encounters – these are the moments when you breathe again. Something that’s getting harder by the day.

Tweed Jacket: Loro Piana / Turtleneck Sweater: Zegna / Glasses Saint Laurent
Tweed Jacket: Loro Piana / Turtleneck Sweater: Zegna / Glasses Saint Laurent
Let’s talk about the good things: You spent your early childhood in Rome. Last year you published a cookbook of Italian recipes, and now you’ve released a new album called Italia. Can you tell us something about how the book and the album came about?
Italia grew out of a deep affection for all things Italian – the music, the language, the cuisine, the way of life. I wanted to capture that lightness and at the same time that depth. And the best recipe, of course, …

→ Read the entire interview in the latest issue of rampstyle #37 Wipe Out.

Velvet Jacket: Polo Ralph Lauren / Pocket Square: Brioni / Shirt: Seidensticker / Trousers: Zegna | Watch: Private / Coat: Loro Piana / Shirt: Brunello Cucinelli / Tie: Giorgio Armani / Trousers: Tiger of Sweden / Socks: Burlington / Loafers: Loro Piana
Velvet Jacket: Polo Ralph Lauren / Pocket Square: Brioni / Shirt: Seidensticker / Trousers: Zegna | Watch: Private / Coat: Loro Piana / Shirt: Brunello Cucinelli / Tie: Giorgio Armani / Trousers: Tiger of Sweden / Socks: Burlington / Loafers: Loro Piana
Michael Köckritz

Michael Köckritz

Editor in Chief
As a journalist, author, artist and media maker, Michael Köckritz succeeds time and again in creating both attention-grabbing and sustainably stimulating impulses in the context of contemporary and future topics as well as lifestyle and luxury worlds. As publisher and editor-in-chief, he has realised a whole series of book and lifestyle magazine formats that have regularly won numerous national and international awards over the years. The car culture magazine ramp, the men's lifestyle magazine rampstyle and the design magazine ramp.design are published internationally and are considered style-setting.

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