The world's a trap, the danger's near
You run and hide, consumed by fear
I see the cat, the claw, the paw
But I obey a higher law
They call it Strategy, I call it Zen
I’ll teach you all, the where and when
To cross the room without a doubt
And what your Inner Mentor shouts.

I stepped right on the furry beast
My survival chances just increased.
I told the cat, "Get off the floor!"
And then... the dog broke through the door!

They call it Luck
I call it Skill
I pay no Dues
I get the Thrills
I see the Traps
I know the Game
I am the Mouse
That you can't tame!

I went for crumbs of vintage cheese
Ignored the pressure, felt the breeze
The floor was clean, a shining threat
But still, I got the job done, yet
The Accidentals pile up fast
The danger always soon has passed
I've got a System, quite profound
It keeps me safe and on the ground.

I told the snake, "You're moving slow!"
And then the rain began to blow
The water pushed the snake away
I said, "Just as I planned today!"

They call it Luck
I call it Skill
I pay no Dues
I get the Thrills
I see the Traps
I know the Game
I am the Mouse
That you can't tame!

Listen, fellow mice, listen to your mentor:
The world is not out to get you. 
It's too busy getting distracted by its own absurdity. 
You just have to be there, slightly confused, but with an iron will. 
I've survived a fall from a shelf because a slice of old toast caught me. 
I've survived a sudden flood because a discarded soup can was my rescue. 
The Key is Preparation!

They call it Luck
I call it Skill
I pay no Dues
I get the Thrills
I see the Traps
I know the Game
I am the Mouse
That you can't tame!

Oh, wait, this trap worked too well!
...but that was also part of this seminar...

Remember: Preparation is the Key!

Homo Animalis

The Overconfident Mouse

"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?