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Nils Frahm
Empty

ERATP134
First Defeat
03:15
A Shine
04:15
No Step On Wing
04:47
The Big O
04:33
Second Defeat
02:08
A Shimmer
06:37
Sonar
03:49
Black Notes
06:26
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CD
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LP
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To mark this year’s Piano Day and as an acknowledgement to these unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in, Nils Frahmsurprised the world with a collection of eight solo piano pieces, titled Empty, made available digitally on March 28. The highly anticipated physical editions on vinyl and CD are set for release via Erased Tapes on October 23, 2020.

Conceived of just before Nils broke his thumb and composed the similarly intimate solo piano album Screws, Empty is a soothing vessel of eight simple and serene pieces originally recorded as the music to a short art film he shot with his friend and film director Benoît Toulemonde. Drifting through emotions from the stark and sobering opener First Defeat, to the gently euphoric No Step On Wing and the contemplative but hopeful closer Black Notes, with its poignant minute of silence, Empty is a comforting score for these turbulent times.

“When I came back from the hospital with a broken thumb and listened to the recordings, I felt they were unfinished. I decided to put them aside and started to work on my small album, Screws. Many many other notes of the piano have been struck since these days, and before we all forget about this, I thought it would be a good moment to share these lullabies with you. I hope they help you stay all strong and calm in these days of solitude – despite the hardship, we can discover introspection and reflection unexpectedly. Who knows what it is good for. Much Love.”
— Nils Frahm

Piano Day 2020 also sees his acclaimed All Encores album released as one 3LP set. Previously only available on CD and digitally in October, All Encores encompassed the three Encores EPs as one full length featuring 80 minutes of music, orbiting his masterful 2018 album All Melody.

Available in all good record stores around the world, getting behind your favourite independent music supplier has never been as important as now. Support your local store online: https://recordstores.love

  • listen to the official Piano Day playlist curated by Nils himself
  • listen to the Soundcloud Piano Day playlist

Piano Day is an annual event conceived of five years ago by the composer, producer and pianist Nils Frahm. It takes place on the 88th day of the year on March 28, 2020 – the number of keys on the piano. Over the past five years Piano Day has grown into a global phenomenon, celebrated in countries all over the world by artists and audiences alike.

The desire to celebrate this versatile instrument is growing greater than ever with more than 100 piano-related events planned this year around the world. But due to the current situation with regard to the coronavirus pandemic, Piano Day encourages all the piano lovers, organisers and promoters to cancel their events to put everyone’s health and safety first.

A list of all originally planned Piano Day events is available on the official site. As this is changing day-to-day, please check each event you are interested in to see if it is cancelled, postponed or shared via livestream.

“Why does the world need a Piano Day? For many reasons. But mostly, because it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers and most important, the listener.”
— Nils Frahm
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