“Under the Masquerade” is a gently flowing ballad about the allure of the night, the dance of hidden faces, and the fragile beauty of a fleeting connection. Wrapped in shimmering harmonies and smooth, understated rhythms, the song captures the moment when truth and illusion blur beneath the moonlight.

It tells the story of two souls meeting behind their masks — drawn together by desire, separated by uncertainty. The mood is cinematic yet intimate, blending Smooth Jazz sophistication with elegant pop poetry. Subtle chords and velvet textures evoke the timeless aura of Sade, Basia, and Swing Out Sister.

“Under the Masquerade” is not a conventional love song. It’s a dream suspended between dusk and dawn — a meditation on what we reveal, what we conceal, and what remains when the night fades away.

... and here are the lyrics:

[Verse 1]
Under the moon — a shadow’s grace,
A silver gleam on your hidden face.
The night’s a waltz, a grand charade,
Where hearts draw close — then drift, afraid.

[Chorus]
Moonlight whispers, softly fade,
Through this sweet, velvet parade.
One fleeting glance, love’s sweet cascade,
Lost in the spell of the masquerade.

[Verse 2]
A hand extended, steps align,
Your laughter falls — it echoes mine.
The air is thick with words unsaid,
A fragile dream, the path we tread.

[Chorus]
Moonlight whispers, softly fade,
Through this sweet, velvet parade.
One fleeting glance, love’s sweet cascade,
Lost in the spell of the masquerade.

[Bridge]
Do you see me, do you care?
Beneath this mask, am I laid bare?
Or just a ghost we chase away,
When dawn dissolves the night’s ballet?

[Final Chorus]
Moonlight whispers, hearts betrayed,
Through this soft, velvet parade.
One fleeting glance, love’s masquerade,
Fades with the dawn — yet still we stayed.

[Outro]
The masks fall quiet, stars decay,
The moon retreats — the dream gives way.
But in my heart, your shadow stays...
Forever lost — under the masquerade.

Masquerade

octave plateau – music by Gerhard Andreas Schreiber

Gerhard Andreas Schreiber. Since the 1980s,  composing and producing music under the name octave plateau. What began in the shadowed clubs of the post-punk era and the neon-lit pulse of the Neue Deutsche Welle has grown into a lifelong journey through diverse soundscapes and emotions.

Back then, working with artists like Markus, capturing the spirit of a generation in transition – between analog grit and melodic futurism. But the musical path didn’t stop there.

Today, octave plateau bridges four distinct yet emotionally intertwined genres:

Smooth Jazz – music like warm light on late-night streets; gentle grooves, atmospheric chords, and melodies that breathe and linger. It’s the sound of reflection and release, crafted with subtlety and soul.

New Wave – shimmering synths, melancholic harmonies, and rhythm-driven storytelling. A style rooted in the 80s, but constantly reinterpreted to reflect the tension and beauty of the now.

Deutscher Schlager – emotional, melodic, and lyrical. I approach this genre with both respect and reinvention – drawing from its traditions while reshaping its form for contemporary ears.

Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW) – raw, ironic, and rhythmic. NDW has always been the rebellious heart of octave plateau, combining German lyrics with electronic textures, punk aesthetics, and a dose of playful absurdity.

In 2024, these songs – some newly written, others rediscovered and reimagined – are being produced in the octave plateau studio in Berlin. Here, the past and the present meet in harmony and friction. Analog synthesizers hum alongside digital clarity. Stories unfold in every track – sometimes with a wink, sometimes with a sigh.

octave plateau is not just a musical alias. It’s a lifelong project, a personal archive, and a sonic playground. Welcome to a place where genres speak to one another – and where every note has a memory.