"The Waiting Room" is a poignant exploration of the unexpected emotional landscape that emerges after a long battle with depression and anxiety. This introspective indie-folk piece delves into the complex reality of mental health recovery, challenging the common misconception that happiness automatically follows the lifting of depression.  

Xak takes us on a journey through years of struggle, the transformative experience of ketamine therapy, and the unfamiliar territory of a mind free from the weight of mental illness, yet still searching for joy. With evocative lyrics like "I'm in the waiting room of my own life / No more pain, but joy hasn't arrived," the song captures the liminal space between healing and flourishing.  

"The Waiting Room" offers a raw and honest perspective on the recovery process, acknowledging the disorientation and sense of limbo that can come with significant personal growth. It's a testament to the ongoing nature of healing and the patience required as one learns to navigate a new emotional reality.  

This track resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between chapters of their life, especially those who have undergone mental health treatment. It's a reminder that healing is not always linear and that the absence of pain doesn't automatically equate to the presence of happiness. Ultimately, "The Waiting Room" is an anthem for those in transition, offering solace and understanding to listeners who find themselves in their own periods of waiting and personal discovery.

Lyrics:

Years of darkness, storms inside my mind
Therapists and pills, searching hard to find
A way to lift the veil, to see the light of day
Now the clouds have parted, but the sky's still gray

I'm in the waiting room of my own life
No more pain, but joy hasn't arrived
They said depression's end would be my start
But I'm stuck here in between, with a quiet heart

Ketamine dreams showed me a new way
Anxiety's gone, depression's kept at bay
But happiness hasn't rushed in to fill the space
I'm in limbo now, at this unfamiliar place

I'm in the waiting room of my own life
No more pain, but joy hasn't arrived
They said depression's end would be my start
But I'm stuck here in between, with a quiet heart

I'm in the waiting room of my own life
No more pain, but joy hasn't arrived
They said depression's end would be my start
But I'm stuck here in between, with a quiet heart

I'm in the waiting room of my own life
No more pain, but joy hasn't arrived
They said depression's end would be my start
But I'm stuck here in between, with a quiet heart

In this waiting room, I'll learn to breathe
Maybe happiness is something I can weave
From threads of peace, from moments calm and still
In this space between, I'll find my will

The Waiting Room

Molly's Straitjacket

London’s Song 1 couldn’t care less about being original. Or about what you think. Their music? A shameless tribute to everything they’ve ever loved — from 90s alt-rock to 00s indie anthems and back again. They’re not copying, they’re honouring. Not stealing, but levelling up. Not reinventing the wheel, just flooring the gas pedal.

Rooms Without Names kicks off with a deliciously groovy bassline and an off-kilter drumbeat that fits the track like a glove. The vocals are given all the space they deserve, while the guitars weave in and out, keeping everything wide open and full of air.

And then there’s the chorus — so catchy it feels instantly familiar, like a song you've known for years. Before you know it, you’re singing along.

Halfway through, the track builds into a bold bridge that hits with the kind of impact you’ve come to expect from Song 1’s previous two singles — only to seamlessly slide right back into the vibe laid out from the very first notes.

Not curious yet? Hit play. You’ll get it the moment you hear it.

Song 1 - Rooms Without Names

I was up before dawn

Neon

novem noctis de doloribus in alice springs susurrant
noli eo ire
noli eo ire

novem noctis de doloribus in alice springs susurrant
noli eo ire
noli eo ire

mors exspectat
mors exspectat
amplexus

angeli mortis
exspectat

angeli mortis
exspectat

exspectat

novem noctis de doloribus in alice springs susurrant
noli eo ire
noli eo ire

mors exspectat
mors exspectat
amplexus

angeli mortis
exspectat

angeli mortis

exspectat


TRANSLATION 

nine nights of sorrow in alice springs whisper
don't go there
don't go there

nine nights of sorrow in alice springs whisper
don't go there
don't go there

death awaits
death awaits
embrace

the angel of death
awaits

the angel of death
awaits
awaits

nine nights of sorrow in alice springs whisper
don't go there
don't go there

death awaits
death awaits
embrace

the angel of death
awaits

the angel of death
awaits

alice springs

Fading into Silence explores the slow dissolution of memory through a cinematic trip-hop ambiance. Driven by hazy textures, whispered vocals, and post-rock harmonies, the song evokes silence as the ultimate truth—a sweet goodbye suspended in time.
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Fading into Silence explore la lente dissolution de la mémoire à travers une ambiance trip-hop cinématographique. Portée par des textures vaporeuses, des voix murmurées et des harmonies post-rock, la chanson évoque le silence comme la vérité ultime – un doux adieu suspendu dans le temps.
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Fading into Silence erforscht die langsame Auflösung der Erinnerung anhand einer filmischen Trip-Hop-Atmosphäre. Angetrieben von verschwommenen Texturen, geflüstertem Gesang und Post-Rock-Harmonien beschwört der Song die Stille als die ultimative Wahrheit herauf – einen süßen Abschied, der in der Zeit anhält.

Fading into Silence

How many tears before we learn

Russian Drive-By Vol. 3 (Letting You Go Preview) [Русский Драйв-Би]

Ferris

A train wreck

Xak Stahl: Alchemist of Sound, Architect of Emotion

Xak Stahl is a genre-blurring music artist, sonic storyteller, and relentless experimenter. Every track he creates is a new world—a kaleidoscope of indie folk, alt-pop, electronica, and global flavors—infused with raw emotion and boundless curiosity. Xak’s music isn’t just heard; it’s felt.

From Shadow to Spotlight

For Xak, music is metamorphosis. His journey began in the shadows, transmuting heartbreak and struggle into songs that glow with hope. Early anthems like “Neon Dreams” and “Rising Through the Darkness” invite listeners to find their own light. His newest project, Major Arcana, channels the mysteries of the Tarot—each song an archetype, each lyric a step along the path from the Fool’s first leap to the wisdom of The World.

More Than Music: A Multisensory Universe

But Xak isn’t confined to sound. As a visual artist and writer, he crafts immersive stories that spill across genres and languages—sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always honest. Whether he’s conjuring lush soundscapes, weaving bilingual lyrics, or creating striking visuals, Xak’s art dares you to feel deeper and dream wilder.

An Invitation to Transformation

Join Xak Stahl on a sonic odyssey that blurs borders—between genres, between artforms, between you and the music. Each release is an invitation to explore, to heal, to become. For Xak, every song is a spell, every album a universe. The only question is: are you ready to step inside?

The Waiting Room

XAK STAHL

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