HISTORY

In 2015, composers Joanna Bates and Sylvio Pretsch met for the first time. Joanna was looking for someone whose heart also beats for pop music, to collaborate creatively. They immediately connected and began working together.

Joanna composed, among other works, the film score for the documentary Bear Sanctuary for the Discovery Channel and collaborated with orchestras in Moscow, the Czech Republic, and Poland. In 2005, she wrote the musical drama CELT, which was performed at the Brecon Theatre and recognised as a finalist in the “Best Song” category of The Musical Of The Year Competition in 1996.

Sylvio produced numerous remixes for international bands and artists, including Satellite Empire feat. Hans Zimmer, Jaël Malli, Dronningen, I am Harlequin, and Unique. In 2016 and 2017, he handled the audio post-production and reproduction of the albums by the Parisian singer-songwriters Fleur “Offwood” Dupleich (Bouquet) and Elo is Lola (Cheval de Quatre). Fleur Dupleich’s album Bouquet was released in 2017 by Warner Chappell Production Music, and several tracks were featured in various TV productions. Sylvio also wrote demo tracks for Tone2 Synthesizers, a well-known VST instrument manufacturer.

Joanna and Sylvio collaborated on several music productions, including work for Bigpoint, one of the world’s leading online game developers. From 2020 to 2022, the world experienced one of the most severe crises of recent history due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the media and many other industries to a halt.

Saltman Audio Lab emerged at the end of 2024 as an international creative collective of songwriters, composers and music producers. Joanna Bates rejoined the team. At the beginning of 2025, composer Chris Bauer became part of Saltman Audio Lab. In mid-2025, Sylvio met songwriter Lilith Diringer at an event; she had been awarded the Lamont Composers Concert Award.

At a music event in March 2025, Sylvio met organiser Sascha Hilliger, who mentioned that he was planning an exclusive networking event for the year and wanted a special musical programme. He told Sylvio about soprano Vilma Remezaite, for whose performance he wished an original soundtrack to be composed specifically for her and the event. Sascha Hilliger facilitated the introduction, and a few days later Vilma Remezaite and Sylvio Pretsch met, exchanging ideas and creative visions.

Back in the studio, the soundtrack Perpetual Flame (lyrics: Joanna Bates; composition: Joanna Bates, Sylvio Pretsch) took shape. At the same time, the Dream-Pop song Raise the Glass by Kate Maison was finalised in collaboration with Saltman Audio Lab. Both pieces premiered at the event on 6 October 2025 and were met with great applause from the audience.

Since mid-2025, Saltman Audio Lab has collaborated with Evelin Illenseer on creative works.