These are songs that relax me. And relaxation is important. Very important.

Relaxing

Sittin’ on my blue couch, sinking in my golden cage,
Staring at the TV, but it's showing empty space.
Politics are drowning, in a sea of lost regrets,
And my boyfriend? Oh, he’d forget my name, I bet.
The world spins ‘round, but I stand still,
Everything’s a rerun, nothing left to thrill.

Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Stuck inside a world that don’t know what to do.
Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Stuck inside a world that don’t know what to do.

Flipping through the channels, every story sounds the same,
Rain is tapping on the window, but I don’t wanna play.
Books are full of wisdom that I’m way too tired to read,
And bedtime’s far away, but there’s nowhere else to be.
The world moves fast, but I just stare,
Waiting for a moment, that was never there.

Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Stuck inside a world that don’t know what to do.

The world spins ‘round, but I stand still,
Everything’s a rerun, nothing left to thrill.

Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Stuck inside a world that don’t know what to do.
Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Stuck inside a world that don’t know what to do.

Maybe I should call him, ask him where the hell he’s been,
But I know he’d make excuses, then he’d just forget again.
Maybe I should step outside and let the raindrops win,
But I’ll probably just sit right here, and let the night begin.

The world spins ‘round, but I stand still,
Everything’s a rerun, nothing left to do.

Nothing left to do, nothing left to say,
Guess I'll sit and watch the minutes fade away.
Nothing left to lose, nothing feels so new,
Guess I'm just a shadow in a world without a clue.

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

Stasis

Love is more than holding hands,
More than words in wedding bands.
It’s every voice that dares to speak,
And every soul that helps the weak.
Love is work and love is rest,
The fire that drives us to our best.
It’s waking up and choosing light,
Even when the world wants night.

Love is what we choose,
In the silence and the news.
It’s in freedom, it’s in truth,
In the dreams we chase in youth.
It’s the hand we reach across,
When there’s nothing left but loss.
Love is what we choose.

Love is peace and marching feet,
Fighting hate with no retreat.
It’s the builder with a plan,
The open heart, the working hand.
Love is freedom’s sacred thread,
Where no one begs for daily bread.
Where you can rise through sweat and will,
And still be kind and human still.

Love is what we choose,
In the silence and the news.
It’s in freedom, it’s in truth,
In the dreams we chase in youth.
It’s the hand we reach across,
When there’s nothing left but loss.
Love is what we choose.

It’s in every tear we hide,
And every time we stand with pride.
In every law that keeps us free,
And every voice that says, “let’s be.”

Love is what we choose,
Not a gift we ever lose.
It’s the anthem in our days,
The quiet hope that stays.
It’s the light we’re walking toward,
It’s what makes us something more.
Love is what we choose.
Love is what we choose.

--
Arrangement and vocals: Volker Redder, Udio, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Sound Studio, GarageBand
Lyrics: Volker Redder, translated with the help of Google Translate
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, FLUXpro, Apple's Keynote

Love Is What We Choose

Elevator music for your personal climacophobia. ;-)

Adrenaline

Ich komm aus’m Dorf, den Kopf voller Songs,
Wollt ein bisschen Fame, ein bisschen Glanz,
Die Dorfband war geil, die Bühne zu klein,
Ich wollt nach Berlin, da muss ich sein!
Der süße Paul mit sexy Charme, ganz klar,
Sprach: „Baby, ich mach dich zum Star!“
So verließ ich die Berge, verließ meinen Ort,
Mit Paul nach Berlin, für immer fort!

Männer, Musik und Moneten –
Ich wollte alles, wollt alles erleben.
Doch was blieb, war ein schlüpfriges Kleid,
Ein Kind auf’m Arm und ’ne beschissene Zeit.
Männer, Musik und Moneten –
Oder gleich auf den Mond mit Raketen
Ich wollt alles, wollt’ alles bei mir,
Und jetzt tanz und sing ich hier.

Die Szene in Berlin ist kalt, das Pflaster hart,
Die Tür’n verschlossen für’s Dorfkind, sehr smart.
Und während ich noch die coolsten Texte schrieb,
Klaut Paul all mein Geld, dieser kleine Dieb!
Er leert mein Konto, versetzt Klavier und das Mikro,
Beklaut mich total bis auf die Socken, dieser scheiß Ego!
Als er mich verlässt, hat er noch ein schönes Andenken für mich:
Ich bin nämlich schwanger! Das gibt’s doch nicht!

Männer, Musik und Moneten –
Ich wollte alles, wollt alles erleben.
Doch was blieb, war ein schlüpfriges Kleid,
Ein Kind auf’m Arm und ’ne beschissene Zeit.
Männer, Musik und Moneten –
Oder gleich auf den Mond mit Raketen
Ich wollt alles, wollt’ alles bei mir,
Und jetzt tanz und sing ich hier.

Ich sing’ heut’ in Bars, wo der Rauch mich umarmt,
Im Second-Hand-Glitzer, bin ziemlich verarmt.
Die Stütze kommt pünktlich, mein Stolz dann später,
Ich liebe meine Tochter, wir brauchen keine Väter!

Die Kleine malt Sonne und Mond auf die graue Tapete,
Fragt: „Wollten wir nicht zum Mond mit ’ner Rakete?“
Ich sag: „Ach, Kind, du bist das Tollste im Schlechten,
Und ja! Irgendwann fliegen wir weit weg von den Ungerechten.“

Männer, Musik und Moneten –
Kamen und gingen wie Sommerkometen.
Doch ich bleib hier, mit Keks und Kakao,
Und meiner süßen Kleinen. Wow!
Männer, Musik und Moneten?!
Nein! Ich brauch nur ihre Liebe –  
In klitzekleinen Paketen.

--
Arrangement and vocals: Volker Redder, Udio, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Auphonic, Sound Studio, GarageBand
Lyrics: Volker Redder
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, FLUXpro, Apple's Keynote

Die Moritat von Männern, Musik und Moneten

Die Moritat von Männern, Musik und Moneten

It’s been a while... but not too late.

Back then it was every second week,
Coffee cups, long talks, no need to speak.
You knew my silence, I knew your laugh,
The kind of bond time never halves.

Then came the job, the move, the miles,
Different skies, different dials.
We said we’d stay close, we really tried —
But distance wins when the days just fly.

Still got a light on, still got a key,
Still got your name in my melody.
Even through the pause and space in between,
You were always here in every dream.
Now you’re back — not just in mind —
Still got a light on, anytime.

You showed up last week at that old café,
And just like that, the years slipped away.
Same old rhythm, same inside jokes,
Same way your eyes still speak in strokes.

I didn’t know how much I missed
Those aimless walks, that silly list.
Now that you’re near, I finally see —
It wasn’t just time, it was a part of me.

Still got a light on, still got a key,
Still got your name in my melody.
Even through the pause and space in between,
You were always here in every dream.
Now you’re back — not just in mind —
Still got a light on, anytime.

Still got a light on, still got a chair,
Still got that spot, it’s always there.
Even when we wandered, even when apart,
You carried my voice, I carried your heart.
Now we’re back — right on time —
Still got a light on…
Still got the rhyme.

Come over soon...
The kettle’s on.
You know the way...
Still got a light on.
Still got a light on.

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

Still Got A Light On

En busca de la felicidad
(In search of happiness)

Instrumental

--
Arrangement: Volker Redder, Udio, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Sound Studio, Ozone 11, GarageBand
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, FLUXpro, Apple's Keynote

En busca de la felicidad

Relax, everything is fine.

Instrumental.

Relax

Woke up slow, the sky was gray,
Thought my smile had gone away.
But then I heard your voice so clear,
And all my doubts just disappeared.

You don’t need to say too much,
Just your laugh, your little touch—
It’s like the sun comes through the rain,
And I feel alright again.

You shine on me,
Like the morning light, easy and free.
You shine on me,
Like a melody that sets me free.
When the world’s too much to be,
You shine on me.

Traffic hums, the city’s loud,
People rushing in a crowd.
But you’re my calm, my steady beat,
You bring the rhythm to my feet.

Every time I lose my way,
You’re my compass, come what may.
In your eyes, I find my peace,
And all my troubles seem to cease.

You shine on me,
Like the morning light, easy and free.
You shine on me,
Like a melody that sets me free.
When the world’s too much to be,
You shine on me.

Every dark day, every long night,
You’re the spark that makes it right.
Don’t need much, just let it be—
As long as you’re next to me.

You shine on me,
Like the morning light, easy and free.
You shine on me,
Like a melody that sets me free.
When the world’s too much to be,
You shine on me.

You lift me high,
You lift me high,
When the shadows start to creep,
You lift me high.

—
Arrangement and vocals: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, Apple's GarageBand, Elevenlabs
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Sound Studio, GarageBand, Ozone 11
Lyrics: Volker Redder
Cover design: Volker Redder, Adobe Photoshop, FLUXpro, Apple's Keynote

You Shine On Me

"Insula Island" is a poetic play on the Latin word "insula", a real region deep within the human brain responsible for self-awareness, body perception, and emotional balance.
The title hints at a mental escape: a peaceful inner island where the mind can rest, reset, and resist the chaos of modern overload.
The cover art visualizes this concept literally, turning the brain’s insular cortex into a tropical island at sunset.
It’s both a place in your head and out of this world. A surreal refuge.
Because sometimes, survival means retreating, and not to run away, but to stay sane.

--
Arrangement: Volker Redder, Udio, GarageBand
Loops and samples: Volker Redder, GarageBand
Editing and sound design: Volker Redder, Sound Studio, Ozone 11, GarageBand
Cover design: Volker Redder, Photoshop, FLUXpro, Keynote

Insula Island

Instrumental.

dit – dit-dit-dit-dah – dit – dah-dit – dah // dit-dit-dit-dit – dah-dah-dah – dit-dah-dit – dit-dit – dah-dah-dit-dit – dah-dah-dah – dah-dit

Embrace the Cosmic Illusion past the Event Horizon

A Question Of Liberty

We're All Gonna Die

A Walk In The Park

The strings they gently sound,
An echo far and near,
The darkness all around
Becomes so wondrous clear.

On waves so soft and bright,
By ether gently borne,
A tender, fading light,
Dispels what once was torn.

Hear how the soul does sing,
All boundaries softly fall.
Eternity takes wing
And answers to their call.

What once as wall did stand,
Dissolves in melody,
The hearts, now hand in hand,
Find understanding, truly.

Hear how the soul does sing,
All boundaries softly fall.
Eternity takes wing
And answers to their call.

Each sound a beam of light,
That overcomes all walls,
Breaks through the ancient night,
And answers freedom's calls.

Hear how the soul does sing,
All boundaries softly fall.
Eternity takes wing
And answers to their call.

An angel gazes down,
Understands the silent plea,
Lifts gently ev'ry mound,
And sets the spirits free.

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

A Singing Soul

Three young boys, hidden in the shadows of an old cinema, wide-eyed and amazed, watching secretly a western on the big screen.

(Instrumental)

Psst, that's forbidden

Where Words Fall Short

Canyons of glass
World’s moving fast
Lost my own name
In the endless game
Was looking for a sign
A single silver line
A whisper in the roar
Something to adore

'Cause I found the green inside the city’s grey
Found a wooden bench and watched the world just fade away
Right here in the heart of all the noise and spin
My soul can finally breathe again, and let the light come in.

An old tree stands
With patient hands
The sun breaks through
A different blue
No need to run or hide
Just feeling what's inside
A quiet, gentle grace
In this forgotten space

'Cause I found the green inside the city’s grey
Found a wooden bench and watched the world just fade away
Right here in the heart of all the noise and spin
My soul can finally breathe again, and let the light come in.

Maybe you get lost just to be found
To feel your feet on sacred ground
The rushing river turns to a silent pool
And you become the exception to the rule.

Yes, I found the green inside the city’s grey!
Found my wooden bench and watched the world just fade away!
Right here in the heart of all the noise and spin
My soul can finally breathe again, and let the light come in!

Let the light come in…
Breathe it in…
In the green… in the grey…
Fade away…
Let the light come in…

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

Let The Light Come In

From silent rooms
And separate streets
The call goes out
For friends to meet
One single voice
Then two, then three
A different kind
Of gravity

The air begins to hum and feel
Like something turning, something real
Friendship is a living flame
Where truth can speak and feel no shame
A constellation in the dark
Every friend a burning spark
Friendship is a living flame

The old ideas
Begin to bend
A broken thought
A trusted friend
Can help it mend
With a new reply
Reflected in
A dozen eyes

The world outside just fades away
There's only what our friends all say
Friendship is a living flame
Where truth can speak and feel no shame
A constellation in the dark
Every friend a burning spark
Friendship is a living flame

And maybe there's a witness here
To the friendship that we're holding dear
A silent watcher, holding space
For the truth on every friendly face
A grace that we can't see or name
That feels us burn like one bright flame
There's only what our friends all say

Friendship is a living flame!
Where truth can speak and feel no shame!
A constellation in the dark!
Every friend a burning spark!
Friendship is a living flame!
A living flame!

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

A Living Flame

Stone and silence built this town
Mountain giants looking down
Holding me in place, you see
A pretty cage for what is me

Faces here are calm and deep
Secrets that their routines keep
But in my soul, a different light
A restless fire in the night

There has to be more to believe...
There has to be more to be...
And oh, the world is calling low
A whisper on the winds that blow
This quiet death, I have to leave
There's more to be, more to believe

I see an angel in the red
Of evening skies above my head
He paints the edge of all I know
With colors that command me: go.

This thirst for more, this holy need
To plant a new and foreign seed
And oh, the world is calling low
A whisper on the winds that blow
This quiet death, I have to leave
There's more to be, more to believe

The doorstep is a line of fear
But standing here, it's crystal clear
One self must end, so one can start
To find its own and greater part.

Oh yeah, the world is calling low
A whisper on the winds that blow
This quiet death, I have to leave
There's more to be, more to believe

The world is calling...
Calling low...
And I must go...
I must go...
Go...

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

More to Believe

On Titan's shore, the air is new
An atmosphere of silver-blue
The ground we shaped, a lonely stage
To turn a cosmic, final page

The king of rings begins to bow
I watch him sink, I don't know how
This broken heart of light and dust
Can fill my own with so much trust

If I cried out, a fragile plea...
Who in this void would answer me?
Oh, Saturn falling, falling down, down
A silent fire, a heavy crown
This awful beauty I have found
And I don't dare to make a sound

A beauty made of cosmic dust
A silent witness to my lust
For something real in this cold place
Reflected in my human face

Falling down, the light, the grace
Falling out of time and space
Oh, Saturn falling, falling down, down
A silent fire, a heavy crown
This awful beauty I have found
And I don't dare to make a sound

My name dissolves, my body breaks
For every breath the silence takes
I am the eye, I am the gleam
A waking part of this strange dream
Oh, Saturn falling, falling down, down
A silent fire, a heavy crown
This awful beauty I have found
And I don't dare to make a sound

Saturn Fall
Saturn Fall
Part of the fall...
Part of the light...
A fading whisper...
In the endless night...

Oh, Saturn falling, falling down, down
A silent fire, a heavy crown
This awful beauty I have found
And I don't dare to make a sound

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

Saturn Is Falling

I'm now taking a six-week digital detox vacation.
We'll see and hear from each other again in 2026!
Happy Holidays!

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

My name is Volker Redder, online I go by "docredder." It all came about because I studied biology and computer science for a long time and received my doctorate as the crowning achievement of my academic career.
As a child, I sang Bach in the church's „Knabenchor Unser Lieben Frauen“ because my mother thought it was good for my soul. And it was, until, thanks to an excellent teacher, I realized that music is like mathematics. After that, I loved not only music but also mathematics and all sciences based on mathematics: physics, biology, chemistry, computer science. So, I went straight into the natural sciences and engineering. Yes, I studied a lot. However, a university career wasn't for me. I wanted to monetize the findings of the various sciences (you can't live on air and love alone) and founded over a dozen companies. Because who wants life to follow a clear formula? I certainly didn't. In addition to adventurous entrepreneurship, the subsequent career in politics (German Bundestag), and a growing family, I was constantly picking up the guitar or keyboard, which is what you do when you want to escape the chaos of everyday life.
Should I say I'm a virtuoso? No. That would be a lie. I'm just too lazy for that. Laziness, or in modern parlance, "efficiency," is a principle for me. And so I founded my "own studio," consisting of a lot of electronics and software. The hipsters call it DIY. I call it "not wanting to act like a big shot and book expensive recording studios." I'm a one-man orchestra, a chef-d'oeuvre who spends all day producing pop, rock, indie, and ambient mishmash until he finally finds it he likes. My menu? Pink Floyd, Genesis, Supertramp, Muse, Zappa, Miles Davis, and many more. Yes, all at once. I told you: mishmash.
There are guys who write music to become famous. Then there's me. I write music to keep myself from going crazy. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes there's melancholy in it, sometimes it's stories from literature or something sci-fi. Or from Tinder dates my daughters have told me. I mean, who hasn't wondered what "being in Tinder light" is? Exactly. I wrote it down. I use everything I can get my hands on: GarageBand, samples, my voice, AI voices, Udio, VirtualDJ, everything! I don't care if purists say it's no longer art. It doesn't matter, the main thing is that my music feels like a window you can look out of and discover something new again and again.
Every song becomes a little adventure. Sometimes I start with a line, sometimes with a feeling I can't shake. It's like an escape from reality, except in the end, there's no escape. And that's a good thing. This is how I stay grounded. Okay, grounded isn't the right word either. Let me put it this way: I've stayed true to myself. And I'm grateful for everyone who listens, shares, or comments.
It makes me feel like I'm not completely alone in this madness. So if you also like songs that don't follow the rules, I'd be happy if you joined in. After all, the world is crazy enough.
You have to fight that with music. I mean, that's logical, right?