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

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?

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.