On the long career path of a successful pop star, retrospectives are more than just an opportunity to relive the best musical moments of his or her career; they often serve as a break, a cut-off point before an artistic change of direction, or even a whole new start. Nothing could be truer in the case of the music phenomenon, Sandra. In the run-up to the release of her next studio album “The Art of Love” – produced this time by Jens Gad – “Reflections – The Reproduced Hits”, affords the artist, who has lived on Ibiza for many years, a chance to first of all look back at her impressive artistic career, or at least at all the great international hits which she released under her own name and which made her one of Germany’s most successful international pop singers. The fantastic thing about this compilation is that all of the greatest musical moments of her unparalleled career have been reproduced by first-class producer-teams to take on a new, contemporary sound.

Even before embarking on her solo career in the mid-80s, Sandra had already earned her laurels on the international stage. The child star who took her first steps as a singing prodigy at the age of twelve quickly grew into a teenager who was a smash hit mainly in the Far East. As the lead singer of the Arabesque girl trio, Sandra had a number of hits in Asia, especially Japan and Korea. Her big break as a solo artist came when she got to know – and later to love – musician and producer Michael Cretu. Curiously enough, Sandra’s first single was the only moderately successful “Big in Japan”, a cover version of the Alphaville hit. But with the mega Hit “Maria Magdalena” in 1985, the floodgates were opened. This superb song conquered the world and topped the charts in 21 countries. No less than five million copies were sold of this sensationally successful song, which occupied the number 1 slot for nine weeks in Germany alone. From then on, Sandra was a superstar. Whether gentle ballads or dance-floor pop, Sandra’s somewhat mystical-sounding songs and her impeccably produced albums won the hearts of millions the world over. Albums like “Mirrors” (1986), “Into a Secret Land” (1988), “Paintings in Yellow” and “Fading Shades” (1995) are milestones along the path of a singer who has sold more than 12 million CDs worldwide

“Reflections – The Reproduced Hits” is far more than just a collection of a dozen dazzling hits – these newly produced versions of Sandra’s pop classics have gained a new lease of life. Starting with her all-time great “Maria Magdalena” right through to the grand anthem “Hiroshima” of 1990, these massive hits, most from the 1980s, cogently demonstrate yet again why this decade continues to fascinate so many pop fans. Top 1980s dance-floor blockbusters such as “Hi! Hi! Hi!” and “In the Heat of the Night”, as well as stylish ballads such as Sandra’s heartfelt rendering of “Everlasting Love”, take on a fresh new sound and will delight her longstanding fans – and will certainly win her new ones too. Since she became the mother of twins in 1995, the gaps between albums have understandably become longer. But while “Reflections” sounds the superb final chord of her previous artistic life, a brand new chapter is opening in her glittering career with the upcoming release of her 9th studio album “The Art of Love”. We can give so much away right now – Sandra has never put so much of herself into any previous album project. “This is my baby”, she herself says. And it will soon grow into a giant – promise.