Molecular Biologist from Zittau Wins Music Award in the U.S.

Patrick Schmitt, a molecular biologist living in Zittau, won an award at the InterContinental Music Awards (ICMA) in Los Angeles and now has new plans outside the realm of science. He won in the “European Rock” category with his project “Rockvyn” and the song “Different Different But Same.” The InterContinental Music Awards are an international music competition based in Los Angeles that honors independent and professional musicians, singers, and composers worldwide.

“For me, this award is above all an enormous validation. ‘Rockvyn’ is a project I built independently alongside my scientific work, without a major label or the structures of the professional music industry behind me,” Schmitt told the German Press Agency in Dresden. 

From Zittau to Hollywood: Song Makes a Splash in Los Angeles

When he started the project, he could hardly have imagined that a song created in Zittau would win over an international jury in Los Angeles. “I’m particularly pleased that apparently not only the music but also the message of ‘Different Different But Same’ has resonated: preserving one’s own identity in an increasingly digital and homogenized world.”

Scientist Plans to Expand His Musical Project

Schmitt sees the award less as an endpoint and more as an incentive to consistently further develop “Rockvyn.” “Next, I’d like to work on new music and further expand the project’s international reach. In doing so, ‘Rockvyn’ should remain true to its character: intelligent rock music with rough edges, combined with themes that go beyond mere entertainment.”

The scientist envisions that, as the international attention generates more opportunities in the future, the music could be featured in TV series, movies, video games, and live on stage. He emphasized that being selected from thousands of submissions felt like a great honor. “It shows that music can transcend global boundaries purely through its quality and message, even without a major label behind it.”

Schmitt’s music is created on a computer

Schmitt founded “Rockvyn” in 2024 as an alternative rock project. The word is a combination of “rock” and “vinyl,” referring to the music’s retro style. It is created on a computer and is a mix of elements from classic rock, blues, and psychedelic rock. In addition, the Mainz native aims to win over listeners with socially critical lyrics.