Schritt für Schritt () is the debut solo album by German recording artist Nadja Benaissa. It was released by Universal Music Urban on February 24, 2006 in German-speaking Europe. Her first solo effort following the disbandment of her former band, No Angels, it signaled a breakaway from the group's Europop sound in favor of a more soul-influenced pop album with German lyrics. Benaissa co-wrote the whole album, which features production by Tino Oac and Giuseppe Porrello, with additional credits from DJ Release, Audiotreats and Fairtone. Upon its release, Schritt für Schritt underperformed, debuting and peaking at number 71 on the German Albums Chart.
Critical reception
CDStarts editor Matthias Reichel noted that "unfortunately, both – lyrics and melodies – don't have the quality to support an entire album. Because what works wonderfully [on "Es ist Liebe" and "Ich hab dich"] seems a bit monotonous when put into a running time of 60 minutes. With her deep timbre, Nadja Benaissa, as the German answer to Sade, tries to give the titles emotions and depth. But with its simple, biographically influenced lyrics and too few top songs, Schritt für Schritt cannot break free from the lower average range." Michael Agricola, writing for Marburg extra, described the album as "slow soul with thoughtful lyrics, velvety ballads in the style of the "Mannheim School," somewhere between Edo Zanki and Xavier Naidoo, but without pathos and without "mission." The core phrase is the single's gentle refrain: "It's love, only love, that takes me further." With that, all has been said. Simply cozy."
Commercial performance Released on 24 February 2006, Schritt für Schritt debuted and peaked at number 71 on the German Albums Chart and fell off the chart in its second week. A deluxe edition of the album, released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Schritt für Schritt, was self-released by Benaissa on 13 February 2026. The edition features the single versions of "Es ist Liebe" and "Ich hab dich," along with the previously unreleased track "Familie," and new artwork.
Track listing
Notes denotes additional producer(s)
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Schritt für Schritt.
Performers and musicians
Susanne Bader – brass Loomis Green – bass guitar Jens Klingelhöfer – guitar Luniz – guitar Alex Nies – drums / percussion Andreas Neubauer – drums
Annabell Owusu-Ansah – viola Giuseppe Porrello – guitar Christoph Riebling – piano Wolf Schönecker – guitar Florian Sitzmann – organ / cello
Technical
Executive producers: Nadja Benaissa, Mengstu Zeleke Producer: Audiotreats, Fairtone, Tino Oac, Giuseppe Porrello, DJ Release Engineers: Nadja Benaissa, Loomis Green, Baba Omar Mixing: Ulf Hattwig, Wolfgang Manns, Toni Oac, Florian Sitzmann
Mastering: Ulf Hattwig Art Direction: Oliver Daxenbichler Photography & Design: Oliver Daxenbichler
Charts + Chart performance for Schritt für Schritt Chart (2006) Peakposition
Release history + Schritt für Schritt release history Region Date Edition(s) Format(s) Label Various 24 February 2006 Standard Universal Music Urban 13 February 2026 Deluxe Self-released
References
External links