Countdown to Here and Now ? the mesmerising debut album by Stefan Drechsel coming soon.

(PRWEB UK) 30 June 2012

Here and Now makes you stop and listen. Stefan Drechsel's music invites you to explore hidden moments of magic, infinite possibilities and reconnects you with things extraordinary, precious and real. Original and moving, Here and Now is familiar like an old friend leading you home, with a soulful energy that will warm your heart.

The Blue Yonder is the first single from the album and lays the blueprint for the journey ahead. Soft vocals lead you through quiet melodic memories before the heart-soaring crescendo of the chorus throws you into an uplifting world filled with emotions, eventually sliding down into a lucid interval of stillness, as if from beyond.

Optimism weaves through every song on the album, even those exploring the darker aspects of life. Stefan says: ?Here and Now covers the whole spectrum of emotions. I want my music to be accessible and real, but nothing stays dark forever. Even from the most murky places light and hope will always exist.?

Fools of Love ? an enchanting duet with Honduran/British singer Cecilia Delgado ? is one such song, where both the longing and uplifting side of love can be felt, and will be the second single released from the album. September, the one of two songs sung in German, tells of death and separation but expressed peacefully in lightness.

Stefan?s passion and sensitivity are engrained in his lyrics. In the soulful St James Park he contemplates ?The leaves on the trees that rustle in the air create a space, that makes me aware of the warmth and the sunshine of her face?. He intends for his lyrics to be open so that everyone can experience the song as their own.

Stefan skillfully arranges his music around pauses, creating an undeniably calming effect and moments to breathe. His intricate handling of the acoustic guitar reminds the listener of John Martyn, whilst the spontaneous elements of his guitar play echo the West African Ali Farka Toure. Stefan?s warm and soft voice rings memories of the young Leonard Cohen or Nick Drake. Through the masterful layering of piano and electric guitar, Stefan creates songs that are both fragile and strong, full of peace and energy, and sets a rhythm in the listener without any percussion. As Stefan says ?rhythm is something that happens in everyone naturally.?

The journey concludes perfectly with Peace, a song about the freedom found when we stop ?running hard to be fast enough?. When we accept the mystery of life and stop struggling to know, suddenly we are in the blue yonder.

Stefan has been writing and recording music collaboratively and as a solo artist since the nineties, but it was in 2011 that he decided to leave his successful marketing career and to take a decisive leap toward his true passion. It was a life-changing decision from which he?s not looked back.

?Once I gave focus to my music suddenly a world of inspiration and opportunity opened its doors. The album seemed to write itself and I?ve had overwhelming support from friends and at gigs around London. I am already living my dream.?

Here and Now will be released on Moving Closer Records on 17th August on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all major distributors. Stefan?s European tour starts in September 2012 ? dates to be announced.

Watch the promotion video for Here and Now with samples from the up-coming album at http://youtu.be/vGHA8_s2A0k