Since Roland Wälzlein was six, he has been living on the edge of life. He had been through a serious heart surgery as a child and had some questions which we only get as adults. That weight is in all of his creations. You can hear it. Not in a manner that is acted or forced. Just present. As if they really mean it . From the very first note, you can feel the weight of his life and experiences. It’s quiet but present, like someone sharing truths they’ve truly lived, not just imagined or rehearsed.
His artist name is Fish And Scale and the music he creates under that name is a mix between folk and something else. The word independent is the right word. It genuinely is. The voice is strong, smoky and has a message. There is a hint of Mick Jagger in it, as you'll hear, critics have noted. It has a rawness that is earned.
The world's most popular hymn about love is the subject of Letter from Paulus. This is a big undertaking. But he does it with real feeling and real care. In some parts of the melody it is rather complicated, but never loses its simplicity. In the best way, the song structure is unusual. It is appropriate to the emotional content of the words, but never clever for the sake of being clever.
Wälzlein's question in all of his work is what is really important. Compassion over achievement. Presence over noise. This is something that was deeply influenced by silent retreats, and it is palpable in the music. Once a film director has said that people who hear his music are touched. It's a mild expression. Letter from Paulus does not just touch. It becomes part of you and remains.
