Markus Kienzl

Markus Kienzl (born 16 March 1973) is an Austrian musician and composer. He lives and works in Vienna. He is best known as a founding member of the Austrian band Sofa Surfers. In 1999, Kienzl released his first solo EP "TILT" on the Vienna label Klein Records. In 2005, his debut album "Product" was released, and the single "Dundy Lion feat Paul St. Hilaire" from that album was licensed as the main title for the Rockstar game Midnight Club: Los Angeles. The following year, Kienzl also produced the music for the film "Dad's Dead" by Christopher Schier and David Schalko. In 2009, he worked as a producer for Tania Saedi's debut album "Exhale" and released his second solo album "Density". In 2010, he received a nomination for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award, his first as a solo artist after three previous nominations with his band Sofa Surfers. His collaboration with Richard Dorfmeister on the Remix "The Stoppa" (Richard Dorfmeister Meets Markus Kienzl Remix) for the Jamaican dancehall singer Cutty Ranks earned him a nomination at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2015 for Best Rap Song, as Drake used a sample from the track in his song "Energy".

Markus Kienzl is a member of the Austrian Film Academy. Together with Wolfgang Frisch, Kienzl was nominated for the Austrian Film Award 2016 in the category of "Best Film Score" for the film "Das ewige Leben". Since 2017, Kienzl has increasingly dedicated himself to his work as a film score composer. From 2017 to 2021, Kienzl produced the soundtracks for four episodes of the crime series "Tatort" commissioned by ORF and Bavarian Broadcasting. Commissioned by ZDF, Kienzl produced the music for the TV-series "Dead End". For Sky, Kienzl produced the music for the miniseries "Die Ibiza Affäre" and the third season of the series "Der Pass". In 2024, he produced the soundtrack for the Arte series "Metrocosmos", using mostly instrumental versions of tracks from his album "THREE," released the same year.

Discography

Albums 2005: Product, Klein Records 2009: Density, Klein Records 2024: THREE, Monoscope Audio

EPs 1999: Tilt EP, Klein Records 2001: Sincerely Yours Part Two Of 5 (as "Senior Piccolino"), Klein Records 2005: Markus Kienzl On Ear, Olliwood Records, On Ear 2014: For God's Sake EP, Fabrique Records

Singles 2005: Dundy Lion, Klein Records 2013: Terror, Fabrique Records 2014: Well, Fabrique Records

Filmography (selection)

1995: Wirehead (short film by Timo Novotny and Norbert Pfaffenbichler 1997: Daydream Nation (documentary by Ebba Sinzinger 2000: Komm süßer Tod 2002: Nogo 2003: The Poet 2004: Silentium 2006: Life in Loops 2006: Dad's Dead 2009: Der Knochenmann 2012: Trains of Thoughts 2012: Void 2014: Menschen am Sonntag 2015: Das Ewige Leben 2017: Tatort: Wehrlos (TV series) 2018: Tatort: Die Faust (TV series) 2019: Dead End (TV series) (6 episodes) 2019: Cops (2018) 2019: Todesfrist – Nemez und Sneijder ermitteln (TV series) 2019: Glück gehabt (TV film) 2020: Tatort: Lass den Mond am Himmel stehn (TV series) 2021: Tatort: Die Amme (TV series) 2021: Die Ibiza Affäre (TV series, a Sky Original) 2021: Todesurteil – Nemez und Sneijder ermitteln (TV series) 2023: Der Pass (TV series, 8 episodes) 2024: Metrokosmos (TV Documentary Series, 5 Episodes) 2025: Die Affäre Cum-Ex (Other People’s Money) (TV Series, 8 Episodes)

Awards and nominations Awards Amadeus Austrian Music Award Best Album Electronic/Dance 2010 – with Sofa Surfers Best Album Alternative 2013 – with Sofa Surfers

Romy Best Feature Film 2016 – Das ewige Leben (film) – with Wolfgang Frisch Best TV/Streaming Series 2022 – Die Ibiza Affäre Best TV/Streaming Series 2023 – Der Pass

Nominations Amadeus Austrian Music Award Radio FM4 Award 2010 for "Density"

Austrian Film Award Best Film Score for "Das Ewige Leben" 2016 – with Wolfgang Frisch Best Film Score for "Cops" 2018 – with Wolfgang Frisch

Grammy Awards Best Rap Song 2016