With their new single “Faraway,” German alt rock band Stigma step beyond the boundaries of genre into something far more intimate.

It’s not just a single — it’s a statement: raw, atmospheric and charged. And, as the first offering from their upcoming debut album Second Chance, “Faraway” sets the tone for a record that promises to be as personal as it is powerful.

Listen in here:

From the opening moments, “Faraway” draws you in with a moody, almost fragile atmosphere. Gently plucked guitar, reverb-soaked spaces and narrative vocals that feel whispered straight from the edge of a dream.

It’s a sound of someone reaching through fog, memory or time. But this isn’t a ballad in the traditional sense. itis more of a slow build that leads to something anthemic, a cry from within a prison, both in the literal and emotional sense.

The lyrics were inspired by Gorgona, one of the last active prison islands in Europe — located off the coast of Italy, not far from where the band recorded the album. That real world symbolism fuels the song’s themes of confinement, and longing for freedom. Gerald Zinnegger’s vocals channel the voice of someone trapped, not only behind walls, but behind the weight of their own past.

When the chorus hits, it erupts forwards with distorted guitars, full-throttle drums and a tidal wave of sound that mirrors the emotional intensity of the lyrics.

Markus Mantau’s guitar work is particularly sharp here. The contrast between the reflective verses and the soaring chorus marking the song’s emotional architecture.

One of the most striking elements is the song’s use of repetition. The word “faraway” closes every line of the chorus — a conscious decision that emerged during writing. Initially challenged by the repetition, Gerald doubled down on it, restructuring the hook so that the word became a kind of emotional mantra.

That choice provides the anchor for the entire track and reinforces the central theme that no matter how unreachable something feels, it remains present and echoing.

“Faraway” is produced with lots of clarity and space. Recorded at LeSonn Studio with producer Matze, the song benefits from a setting that took the band out of their Nuremberg comfort zone and immersed them in something new. That change of scenery, as captured in the studio video by filmmaker Mattia, is something you can feel.

Find out more about Stigma on their Website

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