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

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?