Goethe once wrote, "All vanishes into air, and so ends our brief life." This line has lingered in my mind as I’ve thought about the fleeting nature of existence and the question we all inevitably ask: What do we truly leave behind? Beyond names, dates, or photographs, what remains of us in the hearts of those we love?
When I composed I’m Still Here, I found myself reflecting on my children, Silja and Leo. What will they carry with them of me when I’m no longer here? Shared laughter? Quiet moments? Music?
I wanted this song to become more than just a melody. I wanted it to carry the feeling of tenderness and love, to be a source of comfort when the weight of longing feels too heavy. It’s a deeply personal offering—a way to ensure that some part of me remains close, even in absence.
There’s a detail in the song that feels especially intimate to me. For the first time, I recorded my own breath and wove it into the music. If you listen closely, with headphones, you’ll hear it at the very end. Why include something so small, so ordinary? Because breath is life. It’s the first thing we do when we’re born and the last when we leave. To me, it felt like a bridge—something that could remind my children, even if just for a moment, of closeness and connection.
Can something so simple—a recorded breath—bring comfort? Can it keep a memory alive? I don’t know for sure. But I do know that music has a unique ability to speak where words fail. It can carry emotions that are too complex or too fragile to put into language. I’m Still Here is my attempt to leave behind not just a song, but a piece of myself—a reminder of the love and warmth I hope my children associate with me.
Life is fleeting, but memories have the power to endure. When I think of my great-grandparents, I realize how much of their lives has faded into time. I don’t know their names, let alone their dreams or struggles. Yet I can feel their presence in the stories passed down or in the subtle ways their essence shaped my family. Music, I hope, can do something similar—it can keep us close to the ones we cherish, long after we’re gone.
What do you want to leave behind? How do you hope to be remembered? These are questions we all grapple with, and they carry different answers for each of us. For me, the answer is this: moments, feelings, and music.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I’m Still Here is more than just a song—it’s a way to keep love alive, even when time moves on. I’d love to hear how the song resonates with you and what it stirs in your heart.
Let’s cherish the memories we create today, for they are the footprints we leave behind tomorrow.
Merry Christmas time to you and your love ones. All the best,
Markus
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