The duo „wehnermehner“ came together in 2019 at the Folkwang University in Essen, where Raissa Mehner studied guitar with Frank Wichmann and Max Wehner studied jazz trombone with Ansgar Striepens.

The two musicians describe themselves as a nucleus or experimental laboratory for unconventional or initially unwieldy seeming ideas. They explore and play with these ideas via their collaboration, juggling and refining them to explore the next steps. In other words, a reversal of the usual practice: the concept here develops from the interplay, and soloistic contributions do not result from a predetermined structure. Or as they describe it: "Nevertheless, our concert programs focus on the musical experience and not on the previously established process. We want to approach our interplay in a new and experimental way, emotionally, accessibly and clearly".

wehnermehner's selection of pieces is based on their broad musical past of classical studies, electronic music, pop projects, progressive rock, Dub, experimental and groove music. Imperceptibly shifting between improvisation and composition, the duo often deliberately leaves the audience in the dark about the method of interaction, thus creating an intensive field of tension and a skillful narrative dramaturgy.

Raissa Mehner works alongside wehnermehner with her quintet "Raissa Mehner Deviation" and is also a member of the ensemble of Cologne vocalist Elke Bartholomäus (JHM 308). Max Wehner tours with his projects "Botticelli Baby" and "Bonecrusher". Both musicians are mem- bers of the Ruhr area project "The Dorf".