I was born in 1955, grew up with the music of the 60s, early 70s. Singer-songwriters, folk rock, folk, some rock, some blues, outlaw country. The words were always as important as the music.

The music – some songs recorded solo, some with my friends, singer and player Charlie Woodward, keyboard ace Rex DeLong and singer-songwriter Fred Grittner, lead guitars and mandolin, who also masters my albums. And there´s Tamara Friedrich from Germany, who sings like an angel.

We make transatlantic cyber music. But we have met in person and played and recorded together in the USA twice now.
Other friends and collaborators from the USA are songwriter Terry Lee Ransom, lyricist BradDeLong.

I have co-written many of my songs with Fred, Terry, Brad and Rex.

After many years of recording just for fun with my friends Charlie Woodward and Art Faller I founded my own record label Jan Hauenstein Music/Guitars Across The Water in 2009.

My favorite songwriters:

John Stewart, Warren Zevon, Townes Van Zandt, Gordon Bok, Harvey Andrews, Jez Lowe, Guy Clark, John Prine, Tom Rush…

Here is what people who have listened to my/our music have written: 

My heroes:

I loved the CD you guys made. Very Euro – East Coastal. -John Stewart

Thanks for your latest recording – another interesting & kaleidoscopic piece of work – totally unique. -Gordon Bok 

It has that rooted European depth that I like. Well done! Cheers, –Harvey Andrews

Songwriting:

You write in such a different manner than I’ve ever attempted. I’m very intrigued and touched especially by The Dead Heroes of Ergoldsbach – and the story behind it. Same Yonder Comes Ahmed, Forgiveness, 1000 Dead People in Her Hair, and Children. -Rex DeLong

The Trembling: Scary song – you tell the story too well.
-Fred Mortensen 

Yonder Comes Ahmed I loved it. I had the temerity to show it to a friend who is also a musician. He said, ‘It’s haunting!’ Extremely sensitive and BRILLIANT! -Susan Winstead

The Dead Heroes of Ergoldsbach This is wonderful and so sad. Your voice when you sing Bavarian sky sends chills. -Mary Mitchel

The voice

Your voice wrapped round me like a warm blanket…. an auditory opiate, if you will. -Jody Lucas

I love your voice (deep and sexy) and the rendition of the song. It brought tears to my eyes. -Ellen Rosenberg

The voice – the centerpiece to it all. Very distinct, bracing, makes the listener pay attention, like all the good distinct and unique voices. You never push the voice too far, but I think you can go farther with it. It is the strongest asset, the most tuned instrument, your “special effect”. -Scott Bradley

My wife says that your voice is the best of all the singers I listen to. -Mark Ecklund

This may be of interest:

Endorsement for the 2009 album ‘Late Bloomer’: efolkMusic Community News: New Music Issue A “curated MySpace” for folk and Americana musicians and music Oct 29 , 2009 Featured Album (Free Downloads): Late Bloomer by Jan Hauenstein

Two songs from the newer albums are on the latest efolkMusic sampler.

In 2012, the song ‘The Dead Heroes of Ergoldsbach’ was frequently played at an exhibition honoring Max Maurer who saved 13 Jews in the last days of World War II.