Hailing from Vienna, Wagner The Band could be described as a force for good, a talented musical outfit packed with limitless rock energy and eclectic flair. Driven by frontman and visionary Rainer Wagner, the group enjoys fuzzy guitar distortions and uplifting drum grooves, often blending the two in an unapologetic display of musicianship and lyrical euphoria.
‘Don’t Stop Moving’ is exactly that; Wagner’s latest effort, the track is as hypnotic and motivational as it could be, delivering an all-out anthemic cut that seeks to inspire listeners to commit to their dreams and goals. Written by Rainer after a setback that left him drained and unmotivated, ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ will likely appeal to everyone’s inner fighting spirit; if you ever feel tired and confused, this song may well be for you.
Intrigued by Wagner The Band, we caught up with the Austrian project (Rainer in particular) to learn more about their artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hi Rainer! Thanks for chatting with us! Looking forward to delving deeper into your artistry and the new single, but first, I’d love to discuss the project’s tagline, which eloquently goes “100% raw, analog – NO Bullsh*t”. It’s quite an old-school ethos, if you will; does that mean that you refuse to use electronics in your records?
Well, no — it’s not about refusing electronics altogether. It’s more of a statement in the direction of not using any A.I., backing tracks, or autotune in our recordings and live shows. What you hear is what you get, both live and on record. It’s about keeping it authentic, raw, and human.
You partly already answered, but I’d be curious to know what you think about AI; do you see it as a threat to the music industry?
AI is a tool — and like any tool, we should use it to make our lives better, not the other way around. For me, it can definitely be helpful in the creative process, for example, as an inspiration or writing aid. But when people let AI generate entire albums and just copy-paste them onto streaming platforms, that’s not art anymore — that’s garbage.
That said, let’s dive into ‘Don’t Stop Movin’, your latest single. Compared to your previous release, there’s a touch of uplifting and chaotic allure to it; almost resembling a live recording… is that just an artistic choice? Are you proud of how the records turned out?
I treat every record with a different approach. If I feel a song needs more of that raw, live energy, I’ll lean into it — and if it calls for something more polished, I’ll go that way. I don’t want to limit myself creatively. That said, I’ve always had a love for old-school music and the live sound of the ’60s and ’70s, and that definitely played a big role in shaping Don’t Stop Movin’.
Still focusing on the new track: ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ is a tad less funky and a tad more rock than the usual, truly euphoric and fast-paced. Is there a particular message you’d like to send with it?
I actually wrote Don’t Stop Movin’ after a tough period. I had an accident on the playground while playing with my son that left me with serious back pain for a long time. At one point, while playing some open mics in London, the pain was so bad I even thought about giving up. But then I came across a motivational speech by Arnold Schwarzenegger and also read a quote from Lemmy Kilmister: ‘If you think you’re too old to rock ’n’ roll, then you are!’ That really gave me the kick I needed — and it sparked the idea for this song.
Your upcoming album is set to arrive in the near future; is ‘Don’t Stop Moving’ a faithful preview of what’s to come?
Well, the album is definitely a mix — some tracks lean more into soul and funk, while others push harder into rock. In that sense, it’s quite similar to my debut Awkward Hearts. I love playing with different genres and melting them together into something bigger. These days, I like to call it Soul Rock ’n’ Roll.” The Album will be out on November 14.
Can you describe the creative process behind Wagner The Band? Do you write collectively, or is it more of a solitary process?
Usually, I come up with the initial idea for a song — most of the time it starts with a chord progression, a riff, or a couple of phrases and a general sense of the story I want to tell. From there, I bring it to my producer, Gregor Huber, and we shape it further together. For my second album, I also had the chance to work a lot with a wonderful singer-songwriter named Rhayn, who mainly helped me with lyrics whenever I felt stuck. So while the spark usually starts with me, it definitely grows into something collaborative along the way.
Rainer, I have noticed that you are not just a musician but also a promoter and an activist, fighting for more Austrian records on local radio and organising open mics. Could you tell us more about your life outside of the band?
I started organising my own open mic session, Your Stage – the open mic night, in my hometown of Wiener Neustadt, when I realised there were hardly any venues left where young artists could perform for free and share their own music. I wanted to create a safe space where musicians can try out new material in an intimate, supportive atmosphere.
Over the years, as a musician, I also realised how difficult it is to get played on Austrian radio, even if you have a high-quality song. Around 90% of the airplay here goes to international pop and rock hits. That creates a real system failure: Austrian bands get no visibility, and on top of that, a lot of money generated through radio royalties flows abroad instead of strengthening the Austrian economy. That’s why I fight for a quota of at least 30% Austrian-made music on local radio — to give artists here the visibility they deserve and the chance to build sustainable careers.
Finally, are there any live shows coming up? What can we expect from it?
Yes! We’re really excited for our album release show at the Lucia Club in Vienna on November 12. We’ll be playing all the songs from the new album — and more. You can expect a real Soul Rock ’n’ Roll experience: 100% raw, analog, and no bullsh*t. And of course, we’ve got a few surprises in store for the night — it’s going to be one to remember.
