Eunike Tanzil Records her DG Debut Album – The First of Everything
Recorded in Berlin with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, the album is conducted by
Anna Handler and features both Eunike Tanzil (piano) and Sophie Kauer (cello) as soloists
The First of Everything is released on 12 September 2025
The album’s 12 tracks trace a journey of memorable personal firsts
in the life of this exciting young composer and creative
Listen to “Remembering” here
“This debut album is a soundtrack to my life”
Eunike Tanzil
In April last year Eunike Tanzil signed to Deutsche Grammophon, becoming the first female Asian composer to join the Yellow Label. Now the LA‑based Indonesian composer-pianist-producer has recorded her debut album, The First of Everything. Musical snapshots of a series of significant firsts in her life, its 12 tracks reveal the gift for storytelling that is central to her work, whether she is writing for stage, screen or concert hall, or sharing her creativity and improvisational skills through her much-loved Hum Me A Melody series and other social media initiatives.
Working with orchestrator Max Knoth, Eunike recorded The First of Everything at Berlin’s Teldex Studios with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and conductor Anna Handler. She plays piano, celesta, bells and even snare drum herself, with fellow DG artist Sophie Kauer playing solo cello on two tracks.
The album will be released in all formats on 12 September 2025. A limited-edition LP version, on crystal-clear vinyl, includes a signed art-print poster featuring part of the score of “Opening” on one side and a photo of Eunike on the other. A second limited edition, available with either a CD or an LP, offers access to a 15-minute digital masterclass with the composer. A first single, “Remembering”, comes out digitally on 6 June. This will be followed by “Pink Sakura” on 11 July, then “Reverie” on 8 August – a week after Anna Handler conducts the LA Philharmonic in the world premiere of Eunike’s Ode to the City of Dreams at the Hollywood Bowl (31 July).
The First of Everything reflects the versatility, sense of freedom and spirit of adventure that are all part of Tanzil’s modern take on orchestral music. “There’s a story behind each track, and all the tracks are based on personal experiences, specifically first experiences – the key moments in my life that shaped me into who I am today,” she explains. “Once I found the flow and knew what the album was going to be about, it all came very naturally.” She tells her musical tales using great stylistic and instrumental variety, from more minimalistic pieces to sweeping, cinematic orchestral statements.
One of the latter is “Genesis”, a film soundtrack in miniature, written as a homage to the man who first inspired Eunike to compose: Hollywood legend John Williams. “When I was about 13 I heard his Jaws Fugue,” she recalls. “That’s when I first fell in love with the orchestra.” By contrast, the suitably dreamy “Reverie”, on which Eunike plays piano and celesta, stems from a tiny motif by Ravel – “He’s my biggest inspiration in terms of classical composers, so this is my tribute to him.”
A tribute of a different kind can be heard in “Remembering” which, together with “Requiem”, distils Eunike’s memories of her first experience of grief. “This piece holds a very special place in my heart because it’s about my grandmother,” says the composer. “I wrote the melody when I was 16, right after she passed away. I’ve kept it to myself for 10 years and I’m so grateful that we’re finally sending this piece out into the world.”
Cellist Sophie Kauer appears on “Aria” and “Metamorphosis”. “Both tracks are about someone evolving and growing,” notes Eunike, “so I’m giving Sophie all the freedom to be herself.” As for Kauer, she found it fascinating to work so closely with a composer. “It’s amazing to see her whole vision coming to life,” she observes. “Eunike’s music really engages a lot of people who maybe wouldn’t normally listen to classical music, which is what I’m all about too.”
Summing up the experience of recording The First of Everything with Eunike, conductor Anna Handler says, “I admire her discipline, her vision, her precision. She always tries to improve and search for her own musical language and it’s just wonderful to work with her.”
“It was my childhood dream to have my debut album recorded by a large orchestra,” says Eunike in response. “I feel very grateful and honoured that I’m part of this incredible project with so many great musicians."
