If you are looking for immersive music, ‘The Journey’ will likely cater to your needs. An immersive, anthemic and evocative piece, the record is one of Rupert Träxler’s finest works, a slice of cinematic elegance, pop-rock allure and an overall experimental flair. Hailing from Vienna, Träxler makes good use of his enhanced guitar skills, penning a tune that’s intense and urgent, but also meditative and unique. There’s a brief AI component on the record, with Rupert using it to enhance his own vocals.
The resulting sonic material is quite hypnotic and epic, with collective, chorus-esque harmonies truly elevating the piece to soundtrack quality. Overall, ‘The Journey’ provides a welcome slice of escapism, a well-deserved break from the chaos of our modern reality. All guided by Rupert Träxler’s unique musicianship.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with the Austrian creative to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Rupert, thanks for chatting with us! How are you? It looks to me that you are using music as a way to process a harsh reality; do you think art can make our failing earth more bearable?
Haha, that’s a pretty intense start to the conversation, but I’m really looking forward to the questions. To answer your question: I should have written a different song than ‘The Journey’, or are there others of mine that would be more suited to this topic? But it’s certainly true that music can change a lot, for me during the creative process and hopefully also for the listener.
‘The Journey’ is your latest effort, a striking piece that gracefully oscillates between softness and fury, yet carries a great deal of luscious, elegant melodies. What does the song mean to you? Is this an accurate representation of your musical character?
I simply wanted to write a simple, beautiful, and straightforward pop-rock song. First, there was the 8-string guitar, then the first chords and a little bit of Lady Gaga with ‘Shallow’ in my head, and the rest just fell into place. I love the dreaminess of this song, the longing for other horizons and the ever-present potential for optimism. I would say it’s just one facet of my musical character…
You are obviously a talented guitarist. How important is your instrument in your songwriting process? Do you usually start on the guitar?
Thanks for the compliment. The guitar is my most important building block; it’s the voice with which I can express myself best, even though I’ve also learned piano and violin. The guitar has always been my favourite by far 😊
As a guitarist, you always tend to compose guitar parts first. Here, I tried to give the voice sufficient prominence and not let the guitarist take centre stage. It was also important to me to create an interplay between the vocal line and the guitar accompaniment.
From a production standpoint, how did you approach the single (‘The Journey’)? Is it a DIY effort?
I wanted everything released under my name, Rupert Träxler, to be created and produced by me. So yes, it’s a DIY project. There’s no outsourcing. Everything comes from my home studio. From guitar to vocals, it’s all me. And that’s where AI comes in. But only as an accompaniment, never as a creative generator. Because to create different voices, I have to sing everything, but I can later create male and female voices of my own singing using AI voiceovers. That’s really fun.
Widening the conversation, I’d love to know how Rupert Träxler came to love music; did you have a music education as a child/teenager? Are there any particular artists or bands that truly shaped your taste in music?
I had a classical education: piano at 6, guitar at 8, and violin at 10. That continued until I started playing in an orchestra as a teenager. But I always wanted to play the electric guitar. I bought one myself at 17 and later studied jazz guitar at the conservatory. Therefore, my musical tastes vary accordingly.
I have been getting a solid number of submissions from Vienna recently. Is the city pretty lively when it comes to music and art? Perhaps you play some gigs from time to time?
Vienna is a very contradictory place. On the one hand, old music is highly valued, but it’s just ‘dead’ music. Support for young or established artists isn’t very strong. In the popular music sector, I’d even go so far as to say that the way it’s treated is disastrous. Nevertheless, Vienna is a creative melting pot, and there are some musicians who are making their own way. It’s a shame; Vienna could truly be the music capital of modern pop and rock culture. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it isn’t.
I play a lot of concerts with my jazz band, Holy Moly Jazzband Deluxe, the other part of me that went to college. I love all of these facets, sometimes letting the rocker shine, sometimes the jazzer.
You obviously seems to like using AI creatively; what’s your opinion about Artificial Intelligence as a whole? Is it a force for good?
With the right use, AI can achieve remarkable things. However, if you know the history of humanity, the use of good new innovations often results in something foolish or even destructive, and this should be controlled accordingly. As mentioned earlier, I would like to use AI as an extended instrument of myself, just as I do with my voice.
What’s next for Rupert Träxler? Anything we should know about?
In December, the instrumental song ‘Atmospheres’ will be released under my name, Rupert Träxler. In November, 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 😊 Many gigs in between, you can find out more here!
By the way, thanks for the thoughtful questions!
