IMC Listening guide

Best weather to enjoy this song

Sunny day

Best time to listen

Dusk reflections

Best place to listen

On the road, Out in nature

Does this song haunt the silence?

Impossible to forget

Goosebumps scale

Maximum goosebumps

Our thoughts

Some artists create an instant connection in just three seconds through their music. That was exactly the case with Timbreroots. We had never heard of this band before, never even seen their name, and yet within three seconds of their new single, Different Light, we were hooked.

Then, as we went through their submission, another instant favorite: the visuals. Yes, their photos are professional. Then another one: the band's personality. These five friends are engaged and outspoken, which you can see in a short Instagram reel where they call out Trump for claiming that global warming is a hoax. These guys come from a remote area already feeling the full force of climate change: South Tyrol. Just on the Austrian side of the mountain range, the economic impact of rising temperatures is already over two billion euros per year. Only 52% of the ski areas remain. In just 45 years, all of Tyrol’s glaciers will be gone. But hey, everything’s fine, right, Donald? Just a hoax.

Timbreroots are from South Tyrol, which means they live in Italy. Their everyday language is German. And the language they sing in is English. Still following? This can only mean one thing: they are culturally open-minded, and you can feel it in their music, which radiates warmth and a sense of togetherness. Yet, Different Light tells the story of a man spiraling downward, losing faith in himself, seeing only dark clouds instead of the white ones that signal the sun is coming. But he finds the strength to stand up and keep going. The song was inspired by the personal story of frontman and singer Benedikt (call him Bene), who, despite describing it as a hard time, mostly remembers it as an "instructive" time. And isn’t that what matters most? We all learn from our mistakes, and in the end, they are what keep us moving forward.

With an incredibly professional production, perfectly crafted vocal harmonies, and a melody that sticks with you for weeks (trust us on this one), this song has everything it takes to become a classic, worthy of standing alongside Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.

But Timbreroots wouldn’t be the same without Simon, Sebastian, Thomas, and Philipp, each bringing their own essential touch to the band’s balance, giving their music that unique and brotherly sound. Speaking of brotherhood, did I mention that Philipp is Benedikt’s brother? Fraternal, joyful, and filled with genuine human warmth, Different Light almost makes you want to drop everything and move to South Tyrol, to be around people who, despite living in isolation, are far more connected to what truly matters: sharing. And for that alone, they deserve this well-earned spot on IMC.

Timbreroots's take on "Different Light"

"We jammed this new song in a rehearsal during the time I was separated from my girlfriend. After a hard period of self-discovery, we met and found each other again after realising that we couldn't and wouldn't live without each other. This hard but important and instructive time inspired me to write this lyric for the song we jammed then". Bene.

A bit more about Timbreroots

Timbreroots – this is the name of one of the most promising local bands of today. With their multi-part vocal harmonies and the assemblage of a variety of influences, they build a bridge between yesterday and today." The unique Timbreroots sound emerges from a fusion of ambient indie folk, alternative rock, Britpop, and Americana. Epic vocal harmonies of up to five voices, accompanied by guitars, banjo, piano, keyboard sounds, percussion, and the powerful marimba, merge into a one-of-a-kind musical experience. "I have never experienced a singer live who is so musical and has such great vocal control" (Vocal coach at the Mozarteum University).

Another defining element of their sound is the distinctive voice of lead singer Benedikt Sanoll, which spans an impressive range of three octaves and allows him to create various vocal colors and sounds. "He uses his voice like an instrument that can produce different tones." (Student at the Pop Academy Baden-Württemberg).

Listeners familiar with their music may recognize similarities to Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, John Butler, Bon Iver, The Lumineers, Ben Howard, Hollow Coves, Jacob Collier, or even contemporary composers like Eric Whitacre. Indeed, these are some of the band's primary influences. However, the individual members bring a wide range of personal inspirations, from classical music to jazz, which is no surprise considering that all of them have completed formal music studies at university.

Reach out to Timbreroots

Lyrics

I fell down deep, where the daylight dies,
A heavy heart, under darkened skies,
But each inch up, I found my spine,
In the scars I bear, a stronger line.

It’s the climb from dark to dawn,
It’s the beauty of what's gone,
In an empty place, a seed was sown,
In the barest heart, a strong power has grown.

Sometimes you lose what you hold too tight,
and then you find it in a different light,
Through empty hands, I start to see,
What all those losses gave to me.

For in this light, with those I love,
I’ve found my home, that’s more than enough.

Sometimes you lose what you hold too tight,
and then you find it in a different light,
Through empty hands, I start to see,
What all those losses gave to me.

Now I’m by the fire
with my truest friends, the love of my life,
laughing, singing, and the simplest fare,
What more could life give than this, right here?

Sometimes you lose what you hold too tight,
and then you find it in a different light,
Through empty hands, I start to see,
What all those losses gave to me.

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