A train ride through a snowy landscape, the destination this time: Otterndorf. I’m here to meet Tidauhimović, whom I met 14 years ago after a gig of Angels & Airwaves at Hamburgs central station. Two years later we went to see blink-182 together and that was it. Well, that’s life. Yeah, we talked from time to time, but nothing concrete turned out of it. Now, twelye years later, I’m getting off the train to visit Tarek in his cozy hometown, to talk about his upcoming solo record Whispered Wants And Soft Goodbyes.
Tarek, the man behind Tidauhimović, might be unknown to most of you, but in fact he’s an old dog in the local music scene. But why am I still talking? You already know how we met, you know the music we listened to back then (and still do), so maybe you get the clues. Let’s get this one started!
The Beginning
In 2024, you released your EP To Me 19 Years Ago.
What made you decide to step out on your own as a solo artist?
Tidauhimović: Well, up until then I’d only really been active in local bands – and that actually goes all the way back to when I finished school. It worked well for years. Of course, like it often goes, bands changed over time. Sometimes it was the same people, sometimes new ones. At some point though, I just felt the need to sit down at home and start making demos for myself. Mostly to be able to show people, “Hey, I’ve got song ideas” – and not just a guitar riff, but an actual rough structure of a full song. Something that shows how I imagine it could come together.
Then when I turned 30, I hit that moment where you start looking back a little. Wondering if you should’ve done things differently, what you’ve achieved, what you haven’t. Right before a trip – during which I turned 31 – I told myself: there’s one thing you still want to do before leaving your 30th year behind, and that’s to release your own music again.
That probably explains the title a bit as well. I didn’t really tell anyone about it – maybe my girlfriend – but that was it. It was something I wanted to do for myself. I just wanted to prove to myself that within that phase of my life, I could still put something out. I already had a few songs as demos – and honestly, they still are demos to this day. Nothing on that release is mixed or mastered. I just put it out as it was. And that’s basically the whole story behind it.
You highlighted your song Berlin in an Apple Music questionnaire.
What’s the story behind that track?
Tidauhimović: Yeah, that’s actually the only song I really finished specifically for the EP. The idea for it had been around for years – it was always kind of there, just sitting on my fingers. The song is about a really close friend who moved away. And of course you kind of know that things are going to change when that happens. It’s about dealing with the fact that it’s not just physical distance, but that the connection itself slowly fades as well.
And that wasn’t just any friend – it meant a lot. I think as a musician, the best way to express yourself is through music. So all those thoughts and feelings turned into that song. It’s really just processing the loss of a close friend.
Is that still the case, or are you back in touch?
Tidauhimović: No, unfortunately not. Not so far. I don’t know what the future holds, but as of now, nothing’s changed since the song came out.
Your EP was a gift to your 19-year-old self.
Who is your upcoming album Whispered Wants and Soft Goodbyes for?
Tidauhimović: It’s for everyone – including myself – who’s fighting battles they don’t talk about and have to go through on their own. I want to give people the feeling that maybe they’re not as alone as they think.
Because the things these songs are about – the reasons they exist in the first place – that’s not something only “certain people” go through. If you were sitting in a subway and counted the people around you – say there are 50 – I’d bet that 45 of them are dealing with something similar. All the fears, thoughts, dreams – whatever it may be.
So in short, it’s for anyone going through something they don’t really talk about.
And also as a reminder that sometimes, that’s just part of life. Nobody chooses it, nobody wishes for it. But it’s important to understand that you weren’t singled out to prove something. Things just happen. In whatever form – physical struggles, mental struggles, financial struggles – it doesn’t have to be one specific category.
It can even be something small. Like, I don’t know – your car won’t start, or your food always tastes terrible (smiles). That might seem like a small thing, but if it’s something that occupies your mind and affects you, then it can have a much bigger impact than it might look like from the outside.
You put that really well – no one is “chosen” to suffer. But it can feel that way sometimes.
Tidauhimović: Yeah, some people use that idea as motivation. Like seeing it as a challenge that’s been given to them – whether by something higher or whatever they believe in.
But in the end, the path is just there. With all its obstacles – stones, cliffs, valleys, peaks. And you just try to keep moving forward. If you need a break, you take one. Everyone at their own pace.
Whispered Wants and Soft Goodbyes
Whispered Wants And Soft Goodbyes
Now jumping from the EP to the album – what was different this time?
What made you go from “this was for me” to “okay, now let’s really go for it”?
Tidauhimović: Honestly, it just happened pretty naturally. I’m always sitting in my little place in my free time, working on demos anyway. And I had some health-related stuff going on, which gave me more time to focus on that.
Working on music really helped me get through that time. And as more songs started to come together, I realized they could actually work as an album. At first, it was just a thought in the back of my mind – that the things I’m actively working on right now could eventually become an album. And over time, that idea became more and more concrete.
At some point I just said: Alright, let’s make it an album. I’ll take as long as I need. And that’s really how it came together – having more time for myself and finally adding that missing piece to my journey.
Why Whispered Wants and Soft Goodbyes as the title?
Tidauhimović: That’s a good question. As a listener, I’ve always liked when things just have a title that feels right – something that sparks your imagination. The title reflects what the album is about. I think it reads nicely and it sounds nice when you say it out loud.
I had a list of possible titles – that was actually one of the last things I worked on. I finished the songs first, then started thinking about what to call it. Whether to name it after one of the songs – which is common – or something completely different. In the end, I went with a line from one of the songs, because it stuck with me while writing. And I think those words are something people can relate to.
Sometimes you have desires or thoughts that you don’t say out loud. And at the same time, you have to quietly let go of things. That’s something the album deals with a lot. And yeah – I haven’t found another album with that title yet (both laugh). So at that point, it was a clear “go” for me.
The Elephant in the room
The elephant in the room – Tom DeLonge.
He kind of hovers over this whole thing, including your music.
What would you say to him?
Tidauhimović: Man… if I ever get the chance to meet him again – I once shook his hand at a signing – just imagining having five minutes with him…
I think I’d just thank him. For who he is, his influence, his music – and what it can do to you. It might sound cliché, like something out of movies or books, but it’s honestly true when I say that his music got me through some really, really tough times. Especially his Angels & Airwaves work. And beyond that, I’ve learned a lot from him – guitar-wise, sound-wise, everything. I’ve absorbed as much as I could from what he puts out there.
I wouldn’t be where I am musically without that influence. “Thank you” wouldn’t be enough – but it would be something.
Would you show him your record?
Tidauhimović: If he had the time – definitely (laughs). No hesitation. I’d just say: ‘Hey, your music helped shape this. Without that influence, it would sound different – or maybe wouldn’t exist at all. Give it a listen – what do you think?’ Not in a “what should I improve” kind of way, but just – what does it make you feel?
Take a look behind the Curtain
Back to your album – how did you actually work on it? It sounds like you did most of it on your own.
Tidauhimović: Yeah, that’s actually pretty quick to answer. I’ve got a small setup at home – monitor speakers, a laptop, an interface, a few amps, a few guitars. And when there’s material, I hit record and try to create something. That’s really it. Musically, I did pretty much everything myself – except for one track. Mixing and mastering I handed off, very intentionally, because I have no idea how to do that and I’m not going to pretend I do (laughs).
Fabian Schulz handled that, right?
Tidauhimović: Exactly – and huge shoutout to him! He mainly works on death metal and that kind of stuff. I think a lot of people might quickly put him in a certain box because of that, but he really lives it.
The fact that he even took on my music means a lot. It’s something completely different from what he usually works on – grindcore, black metal, speed metal, whatever else is usually in his studio. The fact that he spent hours working on my melancholic, theatrical stuff – seriously, massive shoutout for stepping out of his bubble to help me put out my first album.
I’ve got two lyric snippets here:
“It was always you”, “Insecurity crashing like a wave.”
I don’t want to overanalyze them – but how personal is your writing? Or do you also use fictional scenarios?
Tidauhimović: It’s actually both. Some songs – like Berlin – don’t get more personal than that. But I struggle a lot with writing lyrics. Music comes much easier to me – writing guitar parts, figuring out drums – but lyrics are definitely my weak point.
When I was working on the album, most tracks were already finished musically – they could’ve been mixed and mastered – but they had no lyrics or vocals yet. So I still had to write everything and come up with vocal melodies – which I’m even worse at (laughs). That part takes the longest for me.
Some songs are completely personal, like “It was always you.” But there are also songs where I leaned into fictional stories.
Do you have an example?
Tidauhimović: Yeah – Murder of Crows, the second track. That’s based entirely on a fictional story, inspired by two characters from a video game. It’s about having someone you can lean on. Someone to talk to when you need it, just to get through and keep going.
But then the last track on the album is 16 years old. It’s the very first song I ever wrote – with lyrics. I wrote it ten minutes after my first girlfriend broke up with me.
So yeah – from fictional video game characters to “my first love is gone” – that’s about as wide a range as it gets (laughs). Also, the first track on the album is actually the first song I ever wrote – but it didn’t have lyrics until I worked on the album. So some songs were written specifically for this, but a lot of them have been around for a long time.
What the future holds
Looking ahead – what do you want to achieve with this album?
Tidauhimović: I just want to put my music out there. I don’t want to keep it to myself anymore like I used to. If even one person somewhere in the world stumbles across one of these songs – through an algorithm or whatever – and it helps them, even just once, that’s already enough for me.
We all have songs we turn to depending on how we feel. And if one of mine can be that for someone – even for a moment – then that’s more than I could ever ask for.
I’ve heard you’d love to go on tour.
Tidauhimović: Yeah (laughs)!
Will you take me with you?
Tidauhimović: Of course!
Let’s see what the future holds. Congrats on your record!
Text, Interview & Polaroid pictures: René Biernath
Translation, studio impressions and cover designs by Tarek himself. Thx for helping me out!
Tidauhimović 2026.
Addendum dated May 14, 2026
Since May 1st the video clip for A Beginning is online. Enjoy it!
Whispered Wants And Soft Goodbyes – out tomorrow.
Source: YouTube, Tidauhimović
