We drew the sun with charcoal lines,
Built dreams in code, and silent signs.
We were the quiet, we were the choir —
Our Whispers turn the world to fire.
Whispers turn to fire.

We met at night in broken rooms,
With candles lit and quiet tunes.
A whispered word, a sketched-out thought,
The truths they feared, the ones we sought.
I never knew the stars had names,
Or how the body hides its pain.
They fed us dust and called it grace,
But knowledge burns behind the face.
Whispers lit the fire.

We passed the pictures hand to hand,
A secret map, a rebel’s plan.
The world outside began to shake,
When minds awake, the walls will break.
They tried to keep our thoughts on chains,
But seeds will grow in spite of rain.
And every page we dared to show
Lit up a thousand hearts below.

We drew the sun with charcoal lines,
Built dreams in code, and silent signs.
We were the quiet, we were the choir —
Our Whispers turn the world to fire.
Whispers turn to fire.

Whispers turn to fire.

I was nothing but a number.
Now I carry a name.
I was told I’d never matter.
Now I’m part of the flame.
Whispers turn to fire.

I was nothing but a number.
Now I carry a name.
I was told I’d never matter.
Now I’m part of the flame.
Whispers turn to fire.

We drew the sun with charcoal lines,
Built dreams in code, and silent signs.
We were the quiet, we were the choir —
Our Whispers turn the world to fire.
Whispers turn to fire.

We see a world we’ve never known,
Where minds are free and seeds are sown.
Where every child can rise and dream,
And every voice becomes a stream.
We sketch tomorrow on the walls,
No kings, no chains, no silenced calls.

We drew the sun with charcoal lines,
Wrote futures in the darkest times.
We were the quiet, now we’re the choir —
Our Whispers turn the world to fire.
We were the quiet, now we’re the choir —
Our Whispers turn the world to fire.

Whispers turn to fire!

Whispers turn to fire!

--
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

Whispers Turn To Fire

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?