Although Stephan Noel Lang can be considered rather popular among listeners for a German musician of his genre (his most popular composition now has over two million Spotify views), he has remained an insider tip to this day. And yet the Berlin pianist, composer and lyricist's multi-layered style is quite unique, with its transitions between postmodern art music, contemporary jazz and pop elements, his characteristic use of concise pauses and his carefully crafted, distinctive harmonic language.
"Stephan Noel Lang (...) draws on a variety of sources, ranging from Baroque to Soul, Latin and Afro-Cuban music and Tango-Nuevo. With his trio (...) he combines these influences into an independent, highly creative and very melodic style."- Jazz Podium
This is how the artist himself describes the effect of different influences on his style:
"New creations arise from the personal processing of existent elements. In my case, this process is often triggered by extra-musical experiences. It is therefore a natural process for me to nurture my personal expression, while drawing from the most diverse sources of style."
Stephan Noel Lang began as an autodidact. After a period of travelling and an abandoned art degree in Switzerland, he later studied at the acclaimed Amsterdam University of Arts / Hilversum Conservatory with Rob Madna, Karel Boehlee, Frans van Dalen and Kenny Napper (Arrangement). Since 1993 he has been living in Berlin as a freelance musician, where he also teaches piano, jazz piano, ensemble, theory and composition at municipal music schools.
Composition makes up a significant part of his work, examples of which are his trio albums "Echoes" and "Tender Tracks", his "Songbook"-Album, the soundtrack for the TV production "Nelken für Sansibar" (NDR) and the multimedia production "Die Reise hinter das Licht" (NGBK). His salsa-inspired composition "Goodbye" was recorded on CD by the Japanese Akira Matsuo Trio ("Besame Mucho" - Terasima Records)
Stephan Noel Lang is also occasionally active as a stage musician, e. g. on the silent film classic "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (on the occasion of the film anniversary at the original film location in Berlin-Weißensee), on the theatre monologue "Novecento" with Rainer Guldener (directed by Andreas Seyferth), or in the musical area (Vinyl LP "Godspell", with Uwe Kröger, among others).
As part of his teaching activities, he has created a comprehensive treatise on harmony with the title "Kompendium der Harmonie" (with numerous music examples from different epochs and genres) and a methodical piano school for beginners entitled "Tastentöne" (both previously unpublished).