Studnitzky - KY! (2025)

The music projects of Sebastian Studnitzky aka KY are minimalistic yet full of layers and diverse sounds. In a stylistic departure from his orchestral project MEMENTO which earned him an ECHO Jazz Award, KY organic takes its aesthetic influences from electronic music and is performed by a scaled-down instrumental ensemble, whilst his latest releases document his solo works.

Studnitzky has long been known as a unique voice between jazz, classical and electronic music. A multi-instrumentalist on trumpet and piano, he creates sound worlds that are both intimate and cinematic. He performed on the stages of major festivals worldwide, received the ECHO Jazz and Opus Klassik awards, and collaborated with artists across genres from jazz innovators to electronic pioneers.

As a founder and artistic director of Berlin’s XJAZZ! Festival, Sebastian has also become a cultural entrepreneur and connector, shaping one of Europe’s most forward-thinking music platforms. His projects – from the orchestral Memento Odesa to the expansive new album KY! – embody his rare ability to merge emotional depth, genre-transcendence and collective energy into music that feels both timeless and of the moment.

KY! is the new, epic album – and the name of a powerful ensemble. It unites multi-instrumentalism, genre-transcendence and raw emotional depth, with the Odesa Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra joining forces. The result: grooves with intensity and hypnosis, melodies of pure beauty, and a collective sound of rare strength – a musical uprising, a radical commitment to beauty, truth and togetherness.

"I gathered my favourite musicians and the Odesa Chamber Orchestra – with whom we had just toured extensively – in Berlin’s legendary MEISTERSAAL to record the album live, in front of an intimate audience, and without any overdubs. The hall, which had already hosted David Bowie, Depeche Mode and U2, revealed its magical acoustics. Every musician played with inspired focus and intensity – the risky setup worked, and we captured the raw energy of a real live set." ​