Q: At Zamanand, the Indie Munich Stage seemed like an oasis in the midst of the storm – cozy living room vibes, deck chairs, and generally more chilled-out music compared to what you’d hear about 50 metres either way.
Was this the intended effect, and what went into making it happen?

A: Absolutely. The whole idea was to embrace the name “Living Room Stage.” We wanted people to slow down for a while, grab a deck chair, listen to some music and enjoy a more intimate atmosphere amongst the energy of the rest of the festival.

It also influenced how I programmed the stage. The budget for each slot was €100, and I want musicians to be paid fairly, so I felt it made more sense to focus on solo artists and duos rather than splitting that amount between larger bands.

For me, the most rewarding part was being able to offer nine musicians from our community the opportunity to perform over the June weekend. We’ll be back in September with another nine singer-songwriters based in Munich, giving even more artists the chance to play on a festival stage.

Having performed at Zamanand myself in previous years, I already knew that this stage had a different atmosphere to the rest of the festival, and it felt like the perfect place to showcase the incredible singer-songwriter talent we have in Munich.

Q: I saw acts I recognised this year – Caro Kelley and Fel Songwriter.
What went into the decision process for deciding who got to play? If someone wants to play at an Indie Munich event, what’s the best way to reach you?

A: I deliberately used the Munich Musicians Database as my starting point when selecting artists. It’s becoming an incredibly useful resource, and I wanted to use it exactly as it was intended.

One thing that made a huge difference was having a good live performance teaser. Being able to quickly watch and listen to an artist gave me confidence that they would suit the stage. Unfortunately, there were also some great musicians whose profiles were incomplete, so I simply didn’t have enough information to consider them.

The database is a fantastic tool, and I’ll definitely be using it more for future bookings. My advice to musicians would be to create a profile, keep it up to date, and include a good-quality live performance video. It really can make the difference when opportunities like this come along.

Q: How would you rate this year’s Zamanand overall?
Will you be organising a stage again at the next one?

A: I thought it was a fantastic weekend. As an organiser, it actually felt surprisingly relaxed because everything came together so well. Every artist arrived on time, every performance was enjoyable, and Julian, the sound technician, was brilliant throughout the weekend.

It’s always satisfying when you can simply enjoy listening to the music because everything behind the scenes is running smoothly.

We’ll definitely be back for the September edition, and if we’re lucky enough to be invited again, I’d love for Indie Munich to host the Living Room Stage in 2027 as well.

Q: Indie Munich both hosts events and provides its members a space to promote their own.
For the hopeful event organisers reading this, what are some underrated factors that go into making a music event successful?

A: For me, it all comes down to organisation and communication.

As an organiser, you’re constantly troubleshooting and thinking one step ahead. My background as both a performer and someone who’s comfortable with live sound and technical setups means I can usually see problems before they happen.

Communication is probably the single most important factor. The artists need to know what’s expected of them, volunteers need clear roles, and everyone involved has to be pulling in the same direction.

I’ve also been incredibly lucky that more and more members of the Indie Munich community are happy to volunteer and help at events. Having people you can rely on makes a huge difference.

Of course, there’s also the challenge of getting an audience through the door, especially for ticketed events. I think everyone shares that responsibility. The organiser should create a great experience, the artists should help bring an audience, and the venue should provide a welcoming environment. When everyone works together, that’s when events really succeed.

Q: Finally, let’s talk about Ryan Inglis the musician.
What got you into music? Who are your stylistic influences?

A: I’ve now been a full-time musician for exactly 20 years, which still feels a little surreal.

I was always fascinated by the guitar—how expressive it is, how many different sounds you can create, and how portable it is. It’s an instrument you can take almost anywhere, and it’s incredibly versatile, which has certainly helped me stay employed over the years.

Singing actually came much later. At first, I was just a guitarist, but I realised that if I wanted to perform the songs I loved, someone had to sing them. Nobody else was around to do it, so I gradually developed that skill out of necessity.

I’ve had countless influences over the years, mostly guitar-driven rock and acoustic music, but I’m much more inspired by great songs than by following one particular artist. Whether it’s a rock band, a singer-songwriter or a pop artist, if the song is well written and connects with people, that’s what really inspires me.

The music I listen to the most though is from the local and traveling artists I meet in person. I always make a point of buying a CD from them and I have quite a large selection sitting in the Indie Munich headquarters.

Q: Thanks for your answers, Ryan!
If you want to shout out any specific songs by artists you’ve met on your journeys, feel free to do so and I’ll link to them on the page.

I love these songs:
Carmina Rayes - Hold On Me
On The House - Caroline Kelley
Problematic- Mirror Lane
Side Where You Slept - Luke Potter
Howling at the Moon - Rowlette
I’ll make you strong - Hannah white

MusicForMunich

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