Interview with Stefan Dresler
1. Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from a small town in Austria called Bad Radkersburg. It’s located in the south of the country, just a few minutes from the Slovenian border. It’s a very quiet rural area with beautiful landscapes all around.
2. Can you give us a little background on how you first got interested in music? Does it run in the family?
I got into music very early in life. Both of my parents were music lovers and my mom even led a small choir. I started playing the saxophone when I was six, and my older brother, who is ten years older and a musician himself, had a big influence on my musical taste and perspective. Throughout my childhood and teenage years I just kept sticking with music as it intrigued me like nothing else did.
3. Do you play other instruments besides bass? It sounds amazing in the songs I listened to.
Thank you so much! That really means a lot. I dabble in guitar and piano, but I’ve been lucky enough to consistently play bass with other musicians. I actually skipped over guitar entirely and went straight to bass, which tends to confuse people since many start on guitar and switch to bass later. I did play 10 years of saxophone but stopped and never touched it again when I was 16.
4. At what age did you realize you wanted to make a career out of music?
That’s an interesting question because, for me, it was always clear. I watched my brother make music professionally and was mesmerized by live performances in general. After seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ concert at Slane Castle, I knew I wanted to be on a stage like that one day. Still working toward that size haha! But truly, nothing fulfills me like playing and listening to music. It creates this feeling that runs through my whole body whenever I play.
5. Most musicians I know never got the opportunity to attend Berklee College of Music. Can you tell us about your experience and how it helped your career?
It was a real privilege to attend Berklee. I made some of my best memories and closest friends there. It’s an amazing school with tons of resources, but like anything, you only get out of it what you put in. I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship, which allowed me to move to the U.S. and pursue music in the places I had always dreamed of. Berklee helped me improve as a musician and gave me a strong creative community that takes their craft seriously.
6. What do you really love about music, and why is it important to you?
Music has the unique power to make millions of people buy a ticket and travel just to watch someone play songs for 90 minutes. It’s incredible! Only sports can really compare. We associate songs with specific memories and times in our lives. When someone pours their heart into a song, we feel it, and that emotional connection is what makes music so important to me.
7. What is your favorite genre to play bass in?
I grew up on the music from the Soulquarian era, meaning artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, J Dilla, and The Roots, thanks to my brother’s influence. I still love playing that style. Recently, I’ve been listening to Chaka Khan’s What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me, Saya Gray’s SAYA, and Daryl Johns’ self-titled album. I really enjoy playing R&B, soul, rock, and fusion—those artists represent the kinds of styles I gravitate towards.
8. How have you perfected your craft over the years? What’s been the most important element in getting better?
The most important thing has been playing with other musicians regularly. I’ve learned the most from my peer! Teachers can guide you only for so long, but your community of fellow musicians keeps pushing you forward. I hope to keep growing with them, both musically and personally. I was lucky to have a number of incredible teachers such as Chris Loftlin, Mike Pope, Matt Stevens, John Patitucci as well as Billy Kilson, just to name a few. They shaped me as a person and musician and I am very grateful for the time I got to spend with them.
9. Which artists inspire your own creative process?
Right now, I’m inspired by artists like Mk.gee, Louis Cole, and A. G. Cook. Their songwriting and soundscapes are incredibly creative. I love when music makes me wonder, “How was this made?”, when it brings a fresh perspective that still somehow feels familiar. That’s the kind of art that really intrigues me.
10. What’s a project you’ve been a part of recently?
I’ve had the chance to work on some exciting things lately. I performed on the soundtrack for a seasonal event in Fortnite, and worked on music for ads for the Müller company and the Berentzen Group. I also contributed to the soundtrack for the theatre play Die Unendliche Geschichte, which premiered at the Luisenburg Festspiele in Germany this year. On top of that, I’ve been writing and producing for a band I’m in called Vesuvio, and I played on trumpet player Joey DuBois’ latest self-titled album.
11. Is it more difficult to make a career in music these days? What advice would you give to others trying to do the same?
Making a career in music today is very different from 20 years ago. The industry has changed a lot, some things for better, some for worse. Musicianship is at an all-time high, but pay hasn’t kept up. Many gigs still pay the same as they did decades ago, even though the cost of living has skyrocketed. On the bright side, artists now have more power thanks to the internet. Audiences have a huge say in what gets attention, which means independent artists can build careers without relying solely on big labels.
12. What are your plans for 2026?
In 2026, I plan to release more of my own music and continue collaborating with others. I’m working on a joint project with my friend and drummer Willem Jochems that we hope to finish next year. There are also more commercial music projects on the horizon, as well as another album with an Austrian artist I’m working with named Sladoled Lovekomet. I am also going on a tour with a number of bands and artists in the upcoming years which I am really excited for! I love traveling to new places and getting to play for a different crowd every night!
13. How can people listen to or purchase your music?
You can find me on all major platforms under my name, Stefan Dresler, or stefdresler. On Instagram, my handle is @dr.esler. I also put together a Spotify playlist with all the tracks I’ve played on – it’s just under my name!
Images provided by Stefan Dresler. Other images might be provided with permission by their respective copyright holders.
