New Album: Funky ME, Funk & Variations

With Funk & Variations, Funky ME (aka Michael Ende) presents his first solo album – a clear statement for the electric bass as a lead voice and a bold artistic reorientation. After nearly two decades as bassist for the Gothic rock band Letzte Instanz and collaborations with acts such as the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, Leo Sayer, and Orange Blue, the trained jazz bassist leaves behind the classic sideman role to create his own sonic world: bass-centered, groovy, and stylistically open.

The album title plays on two concepts: First, the classical compositional principle of “Theme & Variations” – each piece develops a central musical idea in different facets. Second, “Funk” points to the common thread: the characteristically funky-grooving bass that drives all tracks, even though this isn’t classic funk throughout. The interplay of a consistently funky bass foundation and an open musical language – from house to rock to electronic experiments – gives rise to a unique blend. 

A special trademark: wherever possible, the bass replaces guitar or synthesizer parts. Ende creatively transforms his bass lines using effects ranging from delay to bitcrusher, employing modern techniques – slap, harmonics, chordal playing, tapping – to create a broad sonic palette. Special instruments such as fretless, piccolo bass, and 8-string bass are also featured.

The title track sets the tone: a solid house groove opens, anchored by a minimalist, funky bass theme. Jazz-inflected cadences, distorted bass riffs, and an aggressive lead synth follow – all without losing the common thread.

The album melds house influences with excursions into rock, drum’n’bass (“Escape”), world music (“Inner Treasure”), and tracks that oscillate between introspective, emotional moments and danceable grooves (“Clearing the Sky,” “Prisma”). Many beats incorporate organic field recordings – sometimes subtle, sometimes striking – which add depth to pieces such as “Inner Treasure” and “Clearing the Sky.” For “Monkey Mind,” Ende recorded short phrases on ten different basses, collaging them into a theme. For Michael Ende, no idea is too wild to try out – a clear contrast to industry pop, which always targets a concrete audience.

Composition, recording, and production are almost entirely by Michael Ende. Tracks 1–6 were mixed by US engineer Sjeng Shelvis. Guest musicians include Chris Adam (guitar on “Step Up”), Lara Sterzinger and Elias Kacki (vocals on “Prana Jama”), as well as Louis Alvez and Facundo Borgia (horns on “Step Up” and “Clearing the Sky”).

The name Funky ME (Funky Michael Ende) is more than a pun: “Funky” stands for his commitment that his music always carries a touch of funk, no matter the style. “ME” also represents his initials. Together, they form an artistic alter ego – somewhere between funk-loving performer and thoughtful composer – that is finally unleashed on Funk & Variations. After decades in supporting roles, the bassist puts himself center stage – sonically and artistically. Instead of catering to genre boundaries, this album explores the bass as the narrative voice of an independent artistic identity.

Visit online at www.funkyme.de