Help Us Press Our Debut Album Memories in Exile on Vinyl!

Hi, we're BIGGER PICTURE - a contemporary jazz duo founded by Tobias Bech Lauesen (trumpet, composition) and Laurie Rich (piano, composition).

We met in Berlin in 2024.

What started as late-night sessions and long conversations between two friends became something bigger: a shared musical language.

Now, we're ready to release our debut album!

Memories in Exile

And we need your support to bring it out into the world on vinyl! 

About the Album

Memories in Exile is a melodic contemporary jazz record shaped by freedom, silence, and storytelling.

The music is inspired by the sonic landscapes of Scandinavian ECM Records, the melancholic intimacy of Adrianne Lenker, and other artists such as Jakob Bro, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Philip Dizack.

It's music about something bigger than ourselves - our purpose and aspirations, the pain of leaving something behind to make space for something new.

About building a home in a new city.

About friendship, love.

About longing and belonging.

Recorded at Hansa Studios

We recorded the album at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin - a place with an extraordinary musical history.

The recording and mixing were done by acclaimed engineer Nanni Johansson, with mastering by Frieda Claes Johansson.

The album also features the incredible Swedish vocalist Irma Neumüller on several tracks, adding a deeply human and lyrical dimension to the music.

This release marks our debut album with Zennez Records, and we couldn't be more excited to share this journey with you all!

Why We're Raising Funds

The album is finished and the release schedule is underway. Now we want to press it on vinyl - this is where we need your support!

Vinyl feels right for this music - it invites listening from beginning to end. It creates space. It makes the music and the stories tangible.

We're aiming to raise €5,000, which would help cover:

• Vinyl pressing (production, test pressings, packaging).

• Artwork printing.

• Shipping and distribution costs.

Realistically, even €2,000 would allow us to move forward with a smaller vinyl run - our main goal is simply to make the physical release possible.

Why This Matters to Us

This project grew out of friendship.

Two musicians who met in Berlin and found a shared voice.

We’ve grown a lot since then, but this record serves as a time-capsule for us and our time getting to know each other in Berlin. Memories in Exile captures a moment in time for us - the vulnerability of starting something new in a foreign city, the quiet intensity of collaboration, and the trust that music can build between people.

Independent jazz survives because of community.

If this music has moved you, inspired you, or if you simply believe in supporting independent art - your contribution helps us continue!

Even the smallest amount makes a real difference <3

And if you can't donate, sharing this campaign means just as much!

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Thank you for believing in us and in the bigger picture.

With gratitude, Tobias & Laurie

BIGGER PICTURE