Hans Christian (musician)


Hans Christian is a German-born musician and producer now based in the U.S. in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Christian is a multi-instrumentalist usually associated with world music, ethnic fusion, chamber jazz and sometimes new-age music, but who also plays electronic and classical music. His solo concerts feature the cello, sarangi, sitara, and nyckelharpa with a technique called live looping, where he uses a customized system to record and overdub his live playing on stage. His production work includes projects in a range of genres, from Americana to bluegrass, folk, rock, and devotional chants. He operates a recording studio in Sturgeon Bay, WI called STUDIO 330 and a record label named Allemande Music.
His first six years in the United States were spent in Los Angeles where he recorded, performed live or appeared on TV with Robbie Robertson, Gene Clarke, Sparks, John Waite, Billy Idol, Toni Childs, members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Victoria Williams and others. He appeared on American Bandstand, Solid Gold, and on MTV with various artists and worked as a musician with notable producers, including T Bone Burnett, Anton Fier, Daniel Lanois, Thomas Barquee, Ben Leinbach and Shimshai. Christian also did technical work for artists such as Jai Uttal, Ancient Future, Habib Khan, Silvia Nakkach, Dave Stringer, Girish, Snatam Kaur, Spring Groove, GuruGanesha Band and many others. He has toured extensively as a solo artist in North America and Western Europe, including multiple national tours with the GuruGanesha Band, RASA, and Spring Groove.
Since his move in 2002 to Door County, Wisconsin, Hans Christian has been active as a producer in the genres of Americana, Folk and Blues, working with regional singer/songwriters, including Jon Doll, Rusty Wolfe, Yata, Randy Timm, Randy Bruce, Terry Murphy, John Rood Lewis, and many others. He also continues to collaborate with national chant artists, including Johanna Beekmann, Kavita Kat MacMillan, Dave Stringer, and others. In 2021, Hans started to produce a series of songs to be used as fundraising tools for a variety of non-profit organizations, often working with Door County–based singer/songwriter Holly Olm. His release called Ocean Dreaming Ocean, a collaboration with the late cellist David Darling garnered him a 2024 Grammy® nomination for Best Album in the New Age/Ambient/Chant genre. In 2024 he released an album called Melodiya, an instrumental collaboration with Thomas Barquee.
Awards:
  • 2024 Grammy® nomination for Ocean Dreaming Ocean
  • 2025 Bammy® Best Recording Studio/Studio Producer of the Year
  • 2025 Bammy® Best Jazz/Classical composer of the year
  • 2025 Bammy® Best String Instrumentalist of the year
  • 2025 New Age Notes® Best New Age/Pop Crossover album for Melodiya
  • 2025 New Age Notes® Best Classical Crossover album for Melodiya
  • 2025 New Age Notes® Best Contemporary Crossover album of the year for Melodiya
  • 2021 Best of the Midwest Media Fest® Award of Excellence for Thought Passing Through
  • 2021 Best of the Midwest Media Fest® Best in Show for Thought Passing Through
Academic work:
As adjunct faculty/artist in residence with Ubiquity University he has performed as a solo cellist in and around Chartres Cathedral for six years to set the musical framework for week long retreats. He has recorded three live CDs during these retreats and collaborated with faculty member and noted modern mystic Andrew Harvey on a collaboration called Rumi Symphony. He was also a part time faculty at NWTC Green Bay, WI teaching Audio Engineering classes between 2021-2023.
RASA:
Hans Christian is the co-founder of the Indian devotional group RASA, together with the Washington D.C.–based singer Kim Waters. Between 1999 and 2007 RASA released six CDs on the Hearts Of Space and New Earth Records labels. The duo toured nationally and gave about 130 concerts.
Recording Studio 330:
Hans Christian's is located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and features a recently installed 36 channel console. STUDIO 330 offers recording and production services for independent artists and voice-over recording services for corporate clients.
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Discography

Solo albums

  • 1994: Phantoms
  • 1996: Surrender
  • 2004: Light & Spirit
  • 2007: Cinema of Dreams
  • 2008: Sancta Camisia: Cello Improvisations at Chartres Cathedral
  • 2010: Undefended Heart: Live Cello Improvisations with loops
  • 2011: All Is Well: Live Cello improvisations with loops
  • 2011: Rumi Symphony
  • 2012: You Are The Music Of My Silence
  • 2014: Hidden Treasures
  • 2015: Nanda Devi. This album has been nominated for 'Album of the year 2015' by ZMR.
  • 2016: Moments Of Grace
  • 2017: Source
  • 2020: After The Fall
  • 2022: Mariupol, Warrior Spirit, Resistance
  • 2022: DEEP DIVE 1 cello meditation
  • 2023: DEEP DIVE 2 cello meditation
  • 2023 Ocean Dreaming Ocean, Grammy®nominated
  • 2024 ''Melodiya''

With Rasa

  • 2000–2007: six albums

Collaboration albums

Legendary music sessions include:
Guest performances include:
  • 1997: Watchful
  • 1998: Offerings
  • 1998: Pilgrim Heart
  • 1998: Seven Veils
  • 2000: Live... on Earth
  • 2000: Pivot
  • 2003: Chakra Healing Chants
  • 2004: Reveal
  • 2007: Divas and Devas
  • 2007: The Journey Home
  • 2008: Spring Fever
  • 2009: Adhara
  • 2010: Ylang
  • 2010: Diamonds in the Sun
  • 2010: Silent Moonlight Meditation
  • 2010: Crimson Sadhana
  • 2010 to present: Hans Christian regularly contributes as a musician, producer, and mix engineer to a number of recordings in various genres.