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Mathias Kellner

Mathias Kellner

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Mathias Kellner – Singer-songwriter, storyteller, stage performer

Smoky voice, Bavarian soul: Why Mathias Kellner effortlessly transcends the boundaries between songwriting, pop, and cabaret

Mathias Kellner, born on September 19, 1984, in Straubing, is one of the most distinctive voices in the Bavarian singer-songwriter scene. His music career combines stage presence, humor, and passion: The drawer, singer, and cabaret artist blends poetic lyrics with a sense for groove, timing, and storytelling. Rooted in folk, pop, blues, and the Bavarian dialect, his pieces create an intimate, close atmosphere – supported by a warm, rough yet gentle voice, keen observation, and an artistic development that consistently forges its own path.

Whether as a solo artist with his guitar, as the frontman of English-language projects, or as a creative translator of international classics into Bavarian: Kellner guides his audience with charm, self-irony, and profound musical craftsmanship through stories of everyday life. He demonstrates that dialect does not limit but rather expands – adding colors, identity, and cultural depth.

Early years and first departure: From guitar to stage

At the age of nine, his musical journey began with guitar lessons; it wasn't long before bands followed, where Kellner often took on the role of singer. After completing secondary school, he trained as a carpenter – a solid craft that he eventually set aside in favor of his stage career. Instead, he honed his live experience as a guitar teacher, session musician, and ultimately as a songwriter who understood early on how arrangement, dynamics, and narrative rhythm shape the impact of a song.

In 2007, a wider audience opened up with support shows for Claudia Koreck, and a year later, he toured Germany with Katie Melua. During this phase, Kellner professionalized his repertoire and performance: sharp storytelling between songs, clear melodic lines, a distinctive vocal color, and the sensitivity to develop the dramaturgy of a concert organically.

The first albums: Song poetry, pop appeal, and road experiences

With his debut album “This Ocean Life” (2009), Kellner made a first aesthetic statement in the interplay of folk-pop, Americana flair, and radio-friendly songwriting. “Hey Dude” (2010) – featuring the catchy single “iSong” – and “The Road Sessions” (2011) refined his profile between catchy chorus craftsmanship and narrative depth. The productions emphasized organic instrumentation, coherent harmonic sequences, and hooks that work live and on recordings just as vibrantly.

During this creative phase, Kellner worked on a sound characterized by transparent production and earthy textures: acoustic guitars, warm electric basses, subtle use of organ, and percussion. His musicality manifested not only in songwriting but also in sensitive dynamic management – songs that are allowed to breathe rather than freeze in compression.

The step into the dialect: Bavarian lyrics, new depth

With “Hädidadiwari” (2014), a decisive chapter of his artistic development began: for the first time, he consistently wrote in Bavarian. The timbre, melody, and narrative nuances changed noticeably – from pop in standardized language to a dialect songbook with cultural anchoring. The dialect opened up additional layers of humor, intimacy, and precision. “Zeitmaschin’” (2015) deepened this approach as a concept album, reflecting memories, moments of youth, and pop culture of the 80s/90s – a mix of folk rhythms, pop chords, and grunge guitar sounds that intertwine live with anecdotes and stage wit.

The dialect proved to be not a niche but an amplifier of his artistic authority: it makes the stories unmistakable, embeds them in an acoustic home, and demonstrates how skillfully Kellner uses language as musical material. The result: a poetic realism that captivates with subtle humor, human kindness, and artisanal sovereignty.

Continuity and diversity: Studio, live, and side projects

With “Kettnkarussell” (2016), another milestone in dialect emerged; concurrently, Kellner kept his English-language side alive (“The Basement Tape”, 2017). “Tanzcafé Memory” (2018) once again told stories of the past and present, negotiating themes of memory with pop lightness and a sense of scenery – music as a cinematic space. Live energy is documented in releases such as “Gsungene Gschichtn – Live” (2016) and “No Sleep til’ Ingolstadt” (2023), which capture his stage presence and timing between songs and stories.

During the pandemic years, Kellner reacted flexibly: The cover albums “Homeoffice” (2020) and “Homeoffice 2” (2020) brought classics – from Neil Young to Nancy Sinatra – into personal, sparse arrangements. With “Blus’n EP” (2021), “Dark Side Of The Hawara” (2022), “Bavarian Recordings Vol. 1” (2023), and “Pflanzerl” (2023), he showcased how productive independent production can be when composition and production go hand in hand.

Band projects and collaborations: d’BavaResi and more

In the spring of 2020, Kellner founded d’BavaResi with Sebastian Horn and Otto Schellinger – a venture that intertwines a love for Bavarian song heritage with pop ideas. The album “Bay. Hitz mit Witz” (2022) celebrates the joy of a wink without losing care in composition and arrangement. As a soundtrack composer and actor, he also showed versatility: contributions to films like “Friendship!”, “Sommer in Orange”, “Zettl”, and “Dampfnudelblues” as well as stage roles – such as in the cult musical “Der Watzmann ruft”. This versatility strengthens his authority as a storyteller who connects music and scene.

Recently, the curation of international classics in Bavarian attire has surfaced more prominently: His program “Can you BOARISCH, please?!” translates songs by Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, the Eagles, Green Day, and Coldplay, showing how finely melody, meter, and syllable structure can be adapted to the dialect – a sophisticated art of arrangement between prosody, rhyme schemes, and phrasing.

Current events: New single, full live program

With “A Johr (feat. Vito C.)” released on December 27, 2024, a fresh single emerged that once again encapsulates Kellner's signature – melodic directness, narrative focus, coherent production. At the same time, he remains an indefatigable live artist whose concerts are regularly sold out. Previews and reviews emphasize his mix of melodic ballads, groove-oriented numbers, and spontaneous, humorous interjections. His stage toolbox: singing, guitar, stomping foot for pulse – and the freedom to frame a song dramatically in the middle of a set.

This music career shows: Continuity arises from adaptability. Kellner publishes, performs, arranges, and expands his repertoire – whether with his own discography, dialect translations, or collaborations. The production remains deliberately organic: clear sound images, space for voice and lyrics, a smart balance of intimacy and punch.

Discography at a glance and classification

The studio albums span a range from English-language beginnings to a formative dialect phase: “This Ocean Life” (2009), “Hey Dude” (2010), “The Road Sessions” (2011), “Kinda Wild” (2013), “Hädidadiwari” (2014), “Zeitmaschin’” (2015), “Kettnkarussell” (2016), “Tanzcafé Memory” (2018), “Homeoffice” (2020), “Homeoffice 2” (2020), “Blus’n EP” (2021), “Bay. Hitz mit Witz” (with d’BavaResi, 2022), “Dark Side Of The Hawara” (2022), “Bavarian Recordings Vol. 1” (2023), “Pflanzerl” (2023), “Bavarian Recordings Vol. 2” (2024). This body of work is complemented by “The Live Sessions” (2011), “Gsungene Gschichtn – Live” (2016), and “No Sleep til’ Ingolstadt” (2023) as well as singles from “Bees in My Head” (2009) to “Da Doktor sogt” (2023). The latest single “A Johr (feat. Vito C.)” (2024) continues the trend.

Music press and venues highlight his stage power: the ability to place melancholic songs alongside groovy blues numbers, countering them with short absurd stories to build a memorable evening. At the core of this dramaturgy lies a key aspect of his expertise: music as a narrated experience, as a sequence of emotional light changes – always close to the audience, never banal.

Style and signature: Between folk, pop, and blues – always narrative

As a singer, Kellner relies on timbre and articulation rather than mere volume. His singing phrases textual lines with tasteful restraint while guitar voicings – often open-string shimmer, occasionally bluesy bends, sparse licks – define the space. Compositionally, clear structural elements dominate (verse, chorus, often a bridge with harmonic uplift), with arrangement development following a dramatic crescendo: increased harmonic density, variation in rhythmic work, pointed backing figures.

The dialect here is not a folklore ingredient but a compositional tool. It determines syllable length, rhyme structure, and internal rhymes, opens humorous double meanings, and allows everyday language without losing poetry. Thus, songs emerge that transport both regional identity and universal storytelling.

Cultural influence and awards

Kellner's work extends beyond the music industry: as a catalyst for the visibility of the Bavarian language in modern pop, as an example of independent production outside major industry networks, and as a bridge-builder between songwriting, cabaret, and film/TV. His awards – from the Youth Culture Promotion Award of the District of Upper Palatinate (2007, special award) to the Kleine Passauer Scharfrichterbeil (2019) and the Bavarian Dialect Prize (2024) – recognize artistic quality as well as his commitment to regional culture.

His artistic development shows that continuity in pop history often arises from authenticity: those who find and nurture their own voice ultimately shape a genre – or at least its regional expression – in the long term.

Voices of the fans

The fans' reactions clearly show: Mathias Kellner delights people worldwide. On Facebook, one can read comments after concerts like: “This voice embraces you – thank you for an unforgettable evening!” On YouTube, a listener raves: “Bavarian, but so universal – goosebumps from the first chorus!” And about his dialect covers, it is said: “This is what home sounds like in 2026: respectful, modern, with lots of emotion.”

Conclusion: Why you should experience Mathias Kellner

For those wanting to know what contemporary singer-songwriter music sounds like when composition, arrangement, and language are on an equal footing, Mathias Kellner offers an unmistakable voice. His concerts are carefully curated evenings – sometimes quiet, sometimes driving, always close to the audience. The discography documents a consistent artistic development that views dialect as an opportunity: for nuances, humor, and emotional precision. In short: Kellner makes audible how music tells stories – and how stories become music. Recommended: experience it live, close up, preferably in a space that lets his voice breathe.

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