Not everything can always be sunshine. We often have to go through the darkest valleys in order to see the light again. Those who walk in light alone will go blind. JUDI & COCHO incorporate insights like these into singles with the emotional impact of “Trotzdem” and “Selbstspüren” while skilfully avoiding any form of cliché. Quite the contrary: In lines full of pain and hope, of calm and outburst, this duo find a sound language that is currently unrivalled in the German-speaking music scene. There has been a lot of hype surrounding the much-lauded newcomers in recent years, with relevant radio stations singing their praises throughout the airwaves on a weekly basis. However, these two thoroughbred musicians can justifiably be described as a new level in terms of poetic pop music that translates difficult topics into catchy tunes with maximum impact – as in their new single, “Schäme mich”, which deals with sexualised violence. But as serious as Julian Deller and Johannes Winkler’s topics may be, in the end, it’s clear that there is hope between the lines.