A gleam on glass, a promise lightly spoken,
The moments fall, a slow and silent crime.
I sit here on the edge of a day broken,
Lost from the fading traces of his time.
A glassy shrine within my frozen hand,
Where his reflection, mute and still, is held.
A strange and half-believéd, distant land,
That will not open, that remains unspelled.

Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
This echo in the chamber of the soul?
To lose and never have had all control?
Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
A phantom promise falling into dust,
A wilting leaf betrayed by autumn's rust.

The world spins on, indifferent and fast,
A play of faces I no longer see.
An angel, maybe, from a sky downcast,
Looks on and wonders what has captured me.
The irony in glances passing by,
They cannot see the chasm deep and wide.
They cannot grasp the reasons that I lie
In wait for something that has already died.

Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
This echo in the chamber of the soul?
To lose and never have had all control?
Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
A phantom promise falling into dust,
A wilting leaf betrayed by autumn's rust.

Perhaps the test was never him to find,
But just to be, the self I left behind.
The silence grows where promises were spoken,
A brand new world inside of me has woken.
The emptiness becomes an endless space,
And on its shore, I see another face.

Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
This echo in the chamber of the soul?
To lose and never have had all control?
Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
A phantom promise falling into dust,
A wilting leaf betrayed by autumn's rust.
Is it only waiting? Is it only waiting?
The phantom promise has returned to dust,
And on new ground, I find a different trust.

The screen goes dark. No echo. Not a trace.
I breathe me out. I breathe me in. This space.

—
Arrangement and vocals: Volker Redder, Udio, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Ozone 11, Sound Studio, VirtualDJ, GarageBand
Lyrics: Volker Redder, translated with the help of Google Translate
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, ChatGPT

Is It Only Waiting?

"Redder" is a palindrome. Like "racecar" or "level". These pieces of music ain't.

Hi, I’m Volker – or "docredder"/"redder" when it comes to music. My journey into sound started early: as a child I sang Bach in a boys’ church choir, and that’s when I discovered how music can feel like both mathematics and magic at the same time. Later in life, I studied science and technology, but music has always stayed with me, as a way to process emotions, ideas, and imagination.
I’m not a virtuoso on any instrument, just a little guitar and some keyboard, but that never stopped me. For me, music is not about technical perfection, it’s about creating moods, telling small stories, and experimenting with sounds. That’s why I produce everything myself: the writing, the arrangements, the vocals, the mixing, and even the cover artwork. It’s a DIY approach, but it allows me to keep every piece authentic.
My influences are eclectic. I’ve always admired the timeless soundscapes of Pink Floyd and Genesis, the storytelling of Supertramp, the bold arrangements of Yes, Electric Light Orchestra and Muse, and the free spirit of Miles Davis. From progressive rock and indie pop to touches of jazz, funk, or ambient - I enjoy blending different textures until something new emerges.
Over the past years I’ve released a wide range of tracks, from introspective ballads like "Lament of the Last Generation" and "The End of Our Human Days" to playful experiments such as "Anna Sutter" or "Das Sein im Tinder-Schein". Some songs are melancholic, others ironic, some are inspired by literature, history, or science fiction. What connects them all is that they come straight from the heart - and from curiosity.
Every song is a little adventure for me. Sometimes it begins with a lyric, sometimes with a guitar loop, sometimes just with a feeling. I use simple tools like GarageBand, samples, my own voice and AI voices, but I try to arrange and transform them in ways that keep the listener surprised. My hope is that, even if just for a few minutes, the music opens a window into a different perspective.
I’m grateful for everyone who listens, shares, or gives feedback. Music for me is about connection - and every play, every comment, every message makes this journey worthwhile. If you enjoy honest, handmade songs that mix styles and don’t always follow the rules, I’d love for you to join me on this path.

Ein- bis zweimal pro Monat reden hier zwei Klugscheißer (und manchmal auch alleine mit der KI oder mit Gästen), über Bremer und bundesrepublikanische Politik, und dokumentieren, wie wir unseren Alltag durch vermehrte Nutzung künstlicher Intelligenz versuchen zu verbessern. Und „was macht eigentlich die Politik?“ ist einer der roten Fäden, die sich durch diesen, nicht immer politisch-korrekten, Podcast durchziehen.