SUNYA BEAT (from the Sanskrit term for `the last inspiration`) comprises HARALD GROSSKOPF (drums, percussion) and AXEL MANRICO HEILHECKER (guitars) who founded the group in 1996. Since then two official albums “SUNYA BEAT” and “DELHI SLIDE”  (both on the `Think Progressive` Label have been released and defined the criteria for the project, mixing Trance, Techno, Rock and Ethno Music. A further album under the name 4x3 (on the `Manikin` label) adds a third member; STEVE BALTES (keyboard, programming) who joined two years later into the project that was originally meant to become HARALD GROSSKOPF`s new solo album. All the three musicians are well known in the German music landscape and have been involved in many high-profile projects.

HARALD GROSSKOPF was the first drummer/percussionist in the world of electronic music to perform with sequencers, first with Manuel Goettsching`s cult space-music band ASHRA (ASH RA TEMPEL) from the Seventieth, also drumming for WALLENSTEIN, THE COSMIC COURIERS and KLAUS SCHULZE. The rhythmic component of SUNYA BEAT, PHONOROID and N-TRIBE, he has also realeased three Solo albums Synthesist, Oceanheart and World of Quetzal, and his fourth album is currently been produced. 

AXEL MANRICO HEILHECKER made his name as a session guitarist and songwriter in the Eighties, his name constantly appearing in the upper ranks of the music polls. He took lessons with DON CHERRY, started a solo career with two albums and his third „Fishmoon“ has just been released. Guitarist for the HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, a German adaption of David Letterman`s US talk show, Axel set up the German-American folk-avantgarde band PHONOROID as well as SUNYA BEAT together with HARALD GROSSKOPF. He has also worked on diverse productions such as Germany`s first Surround-Pop production (for THOMAS KAGERMANN) which entered the international jazz charts.

STEVE BALTES has a background in Techno and other dancefloor music, has released two solo albums „Picture in Rhythm“ and „Rhythm of Life“, published numerous remixes and EP`s, recently had his first solo performance in the USA, and works musically in such diverse institutions as ASHRA (ASH RA TEMPEL), N-TRIBE and DAS ZEICHEN.

In SUNYA BEAT these three found a comfortable home, where the individuality of each is given full expression, notably in their spectacular live shows dominated by the trio`s joy and great talent in improvisation. With shades of Jimi Hendrix or Miles Davis, there are excursions into rock and even blue grass standards, but always dominated by pulsating sequencer beats and the spacey, technoid sound of the band. SUNYA BEAT has continuously developed ist music over the years, and after several live successes including one show for 30.000 spectators at the Burg-Herzberg Summer 2001 Festival, the trio are motivated to stay out of the studio for a while and concentrate on live work. Their motivation is best expressed by AXEL MANRICO HEILHECKER who says of the group,`nothing is bigger than friendship, and friends we are’.