Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview Gaupiano  

What is your earliest memory connected to music?  

My earliest memory connected to music isn’t a single moment, but a feeling.  

I remember sitting at a piano as a child, not really knowing what I was doing, just letting sounds happen.  There was something calming and familiar about it, like music already knew me before I understood it.  Even back then, music felt less like something I learned and more like something I remembered.  

How did your passion for creating music begin?  

My passion for creating music began when I realized that music was the one place where I could fully be  myself without explaining anything. I didn’t start with the intention of becoming a musician. I started  because creating sound helped me process emotions, thoughts, and inner worlds I couldn’t put into  words. Over time, it became clear that music wasn’t just an outlet, it was a language. A way to translate my  inner experience into something others could feel.  

What’s the story behind your current music project?  

My current music project, the album “Flugrausch” (“Flight Euphoria” – a German word describing the  euphoric state of inner freedom and elevation), is about inner and outer freedom. It reflects a phase of  deep transformation, of letting go of old identities, questioning systems, and trusting my own path. The  album captures moments of intensity, clarity, doubt, and elevation. It’s not about fitting into a genre, but  about expressing what it feels like to truly take off and follow your own inner truth.  

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?  I’d describe my sound as emotional and genre-fluid. It moves between rap, afrobeats, pop, melodic  elements, and atmospheric textures, always guided by feeling rather than rules. My music is introspective  but still accessible. Sometimes calm, sometimes intense. Meant to create space for reflection, freedom,  and inner movement.  

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?  I learned that authenticity is more powerful than perfection. Once I stopped trying to meet expectations,  my own or others, my music became more honest and alive. Trusting my intuition changed everything:  how I write, how I produce, and how I allow emotions to stay raw instead of polishing them away.  

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?  The piano is my main instrument – it’s where ideas start and emotions take shape. For production, I work  with Logic Pro, which allows me to move intuitively between composing, recording, and experimenting.  Beyond tools, silence, space and the right inner state are just as essential to my process.  

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?  

I’m inspired by independent artists who follow their own vision rather than trends. I really appreciate  artists like GReeeN for his authenticity and positive, conscious energy. I also value Alligatoah for his lyrical  depth and the way he challenges norms with intelligence and irony. Lately, I’ve also been listening a lot to  “Beautiful People” by Chike. A song that feels warm, soulful, and deeply human.  

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?  My personal experiences shape everything I create. Traveling, relationships, inner challenges, and  moments of clarity all flow directly into my music. I don’t separate life from art, because my songs are  reflections of what I live, question, and feel. That’s why my artistic vision keeps evolving as I do. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?  

I hope listeners feel understood and free. My music is meant to create space. For reflection, emotion, and  self-connection. If someone feels less alone, more honest with themselves, or simply lighter after listening,  then the music has done its job.  

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?  

Music taught me how to express myself without having to explain. It showed me how to accept what is  and pass it on through sound. For me, music is a channel and being able to use it to express myself is a  gift.  

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?  

In Germany, festivals like Splash! Festival or Openair Frauenfeld feel very aligned with my roots in rap and  conscious lyrics. Internationally, performing at Coachella or Glastonbury would be a dream, not just  because of their size, but because of their cultural impact and openness to artistic diversity.  

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?  I’d love to collaborate with Alligatoah because of his intelligence, honesty, and unique way of challenging  norms through lyrics. I’d also be excited to work with Lady Gaga for her artistic freedom, bold expression,  and ability to turn vulnerability into strength. In general, I’m open to connecting with artists where mutual  respect and creative exchange can lead to something real and unexpected.  

Where can listeners follow and support your music?  

Website: www.gaupiano.com 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1fSP3nJMeKR47RDe9OprmJ?si=mSapwZXgRwmryjQlYkYgHA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/gaupiano/1515545857 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaupiano 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/gaupiano  

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?  My dream for the next chapter is to bring my music fully onto the stage. I want to create shows people  remember – experiences that go beyond a concert. Sharing intense, honest moments with my audience  and creating something unique together, something that feels alive and has never existed in that way  before.  

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?  

I hope listeners discover that I’m a human in process, not a finished image. Someone who dares to be  honest, curious, and open to change. If people recognise parts of themselves in my journey and feel  encouraged to trust their own path, then that connection means everything to me.  

Youtube Video:  

Gaupiano – Zanzibar  

I chose the music video for my song “Zanzibar”, as it represents an important chapter of my journey. Four  years ago, I left my home country Austria and moved to Tanzania. Living there, connecting with people  and artists, and immersing myself in the local culture has deeply influenced both my life and my music.  That experience continues to shape my artistic perspective and sound.