New album “Faces of Night” – September 2025 on ACT Music
Dates on request 2026.
David Helbock piano
Julia Hofer electric bass, fretless bass, cello
Pianist David Helbock and bassist/cellist Julia Hofer have things in common: a playful curiosity combined with the urge to try out new things and to have fun. Both of these Austrians are also perfectionists…and natural communicators…and that’s why their musical combination works so well. “I was looking for a new duo partner,” says David Helbock, «because although I am completely passionate about my ‘Austrian Syndicate’ project, it’s a really tricky thing to put together, a large band…lots of keyboards.
Together with ACT CEO and producer Andreas Brandis, the idea of an acoustic duo reduced to its emotional essence was finally born – a format in which musical communication works more directly than in any other line-up. And I quickly came across Julia Hofer. What particularly attracted me to her was her versatility – and the wealth of possibilities that this opens up. I was immediately fascinated by her energy from the very first rehearsal. You can tell she enjoys the music from the very first note she plays and that motivated me enormously and is also very infectious.»
Photo: Severin Koller
Julia Hofer’s career as an artist has reversed the normal order of things. Musicians usually learn their craft, tour everywhere, maybe become well-known, and only then do they settle down and start teaching. Hofer was already making a series of teaching videos for the online music retailer Thomann while studying for her master’s degree at the Popakademie Mannheim – her first degree had been in Vienna. The videos had an impact and received millions of views. She now has teaching posts in Klagenfurt and Vienna, as well as being part of the team at the Vereinigte Bühnen in Vienna.
Hofer is a go-to bassist on the Austrian scene. From a musical family and classically trained as a cellist, what stands out above all is her stylistic versatility. Alongside poetic cello playing which can melt the heart, there is a wonderful ease and energy to her groove playing on the bass as well. She covers the whole gamut of pop, funk, and fusion, with repertoire all the way from Earth, Wind & Fire to Jamiroquai and the Yellowjackets. And her method of familiarizing herself with music has never been led by the convenience of sheet music: she listens meticulously, makes her own transcriptions. Her process gets her closer to the originals while simultaneously enabling her to make them truly her own.
https://www.actmusic.com/en/faces-of-night/ACT-8034
