INTRODUCING BLINK 7
Marcus Klossek Blink 7
BLINK 7 is the latest and most ambitious project by Berlin-based guitarist and composer Marcus Klossek.
Over the past twelve years, Klossek has built a strong reputation with his acclaimed Electric Trio, releasing five albums and performing extensively at clubs and festivals. He later expanded the trio with three of his favorite horn players, forming the unique sextet BLINK 6 – his largest project to date at that time. Their debut album on Challenge Records International received enthusiastic reviews and led to acclaimed festival performances and concerts across Europe.
Now, BLINK 6 has evolved into BLINK 7 with the addition of Korean vocalist Chamin, whose original Korean lyrics bring a striking new layer of sound, color and expression to the music. Her voice blends naturally with the ensemble, adding both intimacy and depth rather than standing apart from it.
After an intensive period of writing, Marcus Klossek is now ready to present new material composed specifically for this seven-piece band. The music weaves together composition, improvisation and storytelling into a distinctive and dynamic sound world.
This multi-dimensional ensemble filters Klossek’s explorations of melody, harmony and rhythm through the lens of seven master improvisers – each adding their own personality to the collective sound. The result is music that flows between contemporary jazz, experimental rock and modern chamber textures, balancing structure and spontaneity with ease.
BLINK 7’s live performances are an experience of their own – energetic, inventive and full of surprise. The band’s chemistry on stage transforms every concert into a vibrant dialogue between precision and freedom, groove and abstraction.
The new album Blink 7 is released worldwide in April 2026 by Double Moon/Challenge Records International.
Stay tuned for more news about the release and live dates – and don’t miss the chance to experience BLINK 7’s innovative sound and vibe!
blink 7 out now
Composer and guitarist Marcus Klossek, long recognized as a distinctive voice on the Fender Telecaster, presents Blink 7, the latest chapter in a band whose sound has evolved steadily from his long-running Electric Trio. Rooted in clarity, dynamic contrast, and a deep sense of interaction, the project reflects more than fifteen years of close musical collaboration.
At the core of the ensemble are Carsten Hein on bass and Derek Scherzer on drums, longtime partners with whom Klossek has refined a highly responsive and nuanced group language. With Blink 6, this foundation expanded into a sextet, joined by three prominent figures from Berlin’s jazz scene: Nikolaus Neuser (trumpet), Ignaz Dinné (tenor saxophone), and Anke Lucks (trombone). The enlarged group quickly developed a strong collective identity, equally at ease with precise structure and open improvisation.
Blink 7 continues this collaboration and introduces a new and distinctive voice: Korean vocalist Chamin. Appearing on three tracks—Go | Not, Another One Beyond, and Unexpected Return—she sings and partially speaks Korean lyrics written by herself. Her voice adds a new layer of texture and expression, expanding the ensemble’s tonal range and interacting organically with the instrumental voices rather than standing apart from them.
In contrast to Blink 6, which was composed before the musicians were chosen, all eight compositions on Blink 7 were written specifically for this lineup. Klossek shaped each piece around the individual strengths and musical personalities of the players. “I knew what everyone could bring to the music,” he explains. “That allowed me to write more precisely for the sound of the band.” The result is music that unites clear compositional intent with the intuitive understanding that comes from long-standing collaboration.
The album opens with Violet Shift, a rhythmically intricate piece built from interlocking patterns that suggest mechanical precision while maintaining an organic flow. Go | Not begins with Chamin’s whispered voice, creating an atmosphere of quiet tension and ambiguity. Ephyra (Third Dance) unfolds with a restrained, melancholic beauty, while Half Past Never features one of Klossek’s most unrestrained guitar solos—raw, spontaneous, and unpredictable.
On Another One Beyond, Chamin’s voice further broadens the ensemble’s harmonic space, while Begin Again, Swift highlights the band’s agility, moving fluidly between tightly woven rhythms and open, airy phrasing. Glass Bridges introduces otherworldly sounds from Carsten Hein, blending acoustic bass with electronic elements. The closing track, Unexpected Return, brings the album to an energetic conclusion, driven by rhythmic momentum as Chamin’s voice merges seamlessly with the horn section.
Blink 7 captures a band at a mature and confident stage, balancing detailed composition with freedom and collective improvisation—music shaped as much by individual voices as by the shared identity they have built together.