Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Rupert Träxler

Rupert Träxler - The Journey

"The Journey" by Rupert Träxler is not just a song but an immersive experience that transports listeners to a realm of introspection and contemplation. Through a fusion of spoken word poetry and ethereal melodies, Träxler weaves a sonic tapestry that resonates with themes of longing, imagination, and self-discovery. Recorded in his home studio, this release stands out for its innovative approach, blending Träxler's own vocals with AI voice-over recordings to create a mesmerizing soundscape. With its dream-inducing quality, "The Journey" promises to be a significant addition to the music landscape, offering a moment of tranquility and reflection in a fast-paced world. https://artists.landr.com/057829643819

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Interview with Rupert Träxler

(•)> What inspired you to create “The Journey”?

First, there was the 8-string guitar, and the first chords shot through my head.

It was all very dreamy but not boring in its own way, hence the lyric idea. And everything would develop further in the second part...

(•)> How did the idea of mixing spoken word and melody come about?

There's a slight misunderstanding: there's no spoken word, although the text might suggest that.

The difference lies in the division of the first and second halves of the piece. A quiet, melancholic chant at the beginning, followed by a response from female and male voices in the latter part.

(•)> What role does introspection play in your songwriting?

Maybe less, maybe more, I don't know. Ultimately, what's going on inside always comes out, I think. That's why I didn't want to stick to just one style, but rather release different songs to give the listener, as well as myself, a broader sound spectrum. The next song in December will be something different again 😊

(•)> How did you use AI voiceovers to shape the atmosphere?

It's important to me to emphasize that AI isn't part of the composition, and I don't intend to use it in it. The voiceovers only work because I sang everything exactly as I intended, and the extensions of the AI voices enable a range of sounds I can't achieve with my voice alone: e.g., female vocals, a mix of female and male choir, or the adaptation of the lead vocals from a male and female voice.

(•)> What does “The Journey” represent to you personally?

Thoughtfulness, imagination, hope and departure

(•)> How do your influences, like Lady Gaga and guitar pop, show up here?

It's the first chords that reveal this connection to Lady Gaga. The calm guitar remains in the first half of the song, and that's how it's meant to stay. Unlike Lady Gaga and "Shallow," "The Journey" isn't a duet, but rather a development of the original first voice into the new colors of the subsequent vocals.

(•)> What was it like recording and producing in your home studio?

I love it, as long as I have time and don't have a thousand other things to do. The tracking process is usually the easier part, but editing, mixing, and mastering afterwards is the real work. But once you get into the actual mixing, that's when I really love it, because you can see how it will sound.

So the best parts are recording (especially at home, because no one can interfere) and the final mix.

(•)> How do you hope listeners feel when they hear this track?

You should just be able to listen and enjoy it, that's what I wanted to achieve with the song.

(•)> What do you think makes this release stand out from your past work?

Difficult question—you kind of like every one of his songs—but then you don't: It's just a nice pop-rock song that I wanted to make. Nothing wild, no excessive solos or complicated arrangements. Simple and beautiful.

(•)> What’s next on your creative path after “The Journey”?

As mentioned earlier, the instrumental song "Atmospheres" will be released in December under my name, Rupert Träxler, and in Novembe,r there will also be a digital release by my fusion band "quadrant4" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album.

And something wild is planned again for 2026 😊

(•)> What's your Hot Take — your most controversial music opinion?

It's a shame that musicians aren't truly protected like other professional groups. Musicians' compensation is never adequately adjusted to prevailing market conditions, let alone inflation.

While the decline of the record/label industry offered advantages for individual musicians to market themselves, it's the streaming platforms that have captured the majority of the market share and are once again failing to adequately compensate musicians.

It can't work without both sides; the exchange would have to take place on equal terms. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

(•)> That's all Folks! Check out Rupert Träxler on the Pigeon Spins Playlist