Fish And Scale – Holy Man (2026)
A relatively regular musician to come across our virtual desks and find his place on our virtual pages, Fish And Scale piques not only our musical preference but also offers profound, poignant, weighty themes that leave a lasting impact. The solo project of German singer-songwriter Roland Wälzlein, Fish And Scale wanders through the realms of folk, indie and a splash of pop in his eclectic sound. Our last vibe from Fish And Scale came in his song, ‘Letter From Paulus’, and today we skip into his new single, ‘Holy Man’. Join us, won’t you?
Self-composed, recorded, produced and performed by Wälzlein, ‘Holy Man’ retains the intimacy of songs like ‘Tapestry’ and ‘Letter From Paulus’ in a piano-and-vocals ballad. The simplicity enhances the stark, stripped-back honesty, but there is a strange intricacy that breathes a sort of large sonic bubble of life into the minimalist soundscape. It’s as if the track is weighty and full-bodied while still offering a fragile core in its simplest figure.
One aspect I find particularly intriguing is how the melody perfectly aligns with the profound theme. Almost speaking from the soul – like a child telling a tale to a loving mother – ‘Holy Man’ is soft and gentle, but with a tender ache that only comes from raw, honest, sincere earnestness. The thing is, while the gentleness of Fish And Scale’s lyrics is eloquently executed with melancholy and vulnerability, ‘Holy Man’ is actually a song of self-empowerment, faith, optimism and resounding hope. Wälzein explains that it is, “A dialogue between the mind and an all-knowing inner entity (Holy Man). We are all connected inside to this infinitely wise version of ourselves.”
In addition to his single, Fish And Scale releases a music video for ‘Holy Man’. You can view the video below and/or on his YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Fish And Scale on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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