Rettward von Doernberg

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rettward von Doernberg, rvd@thecaravel.net, https://rettward.com

Rettward von Doernberg Releases New Single “Happy Now” — A Story With a Rare Happy Ending

Berlin, September 12, 2025 — Composer and producer Rettward von Doernberg today unveils his new single “Happy Now,” a bright, groove-driven pop-funk track that carries a surprisingly profound story beneath its easygoing surface. True to von Doernberg’s longstanding wish to hear “more songs that actually end well,” the piece tells of someone who managed to leave behind a life shaped by drugs, chaos, and hopelessness — and build something solid, joyful, and new.

What makes the song special is its perspective: the protagonist recounts his story casually, almost offhandedly, as if chatting with a close friend while driving. The tone feels light, even breezy — but between the lines, listeners can sense the weight of what he’s been through. “I wanted the pain to be there without spelling it out,” von Doernberg says. “It’s a conversation that sounds simple, but there’s a whole lifetime hidden underneath.”

A Pop-Funk Track With Hidden Layers

Musically, “Happy Now” works much the same way. At first it comes across as an easy, catchy, guitar-driven pop-funk tune — upbeat, groovy, syncopated. But a closer listen reveals subtle complexities woven into the arrangement. “The song starts out with fairly complex syncopations,” von Doernberg explains. “But as the track goes on, those rhythms settle down. It mirrors the story: a life that used to be completely out of control gradually finding clarity and calm.”

The electric guitar lines stay nimble and textured, the male vocal warm and close, and the overall sound radiates the kind of optimism that only comes from having survived something darker. “He knows how close he came to losing everything,” von Doernberg says. “Maybe even his life. That awareness is what makes the joy real.”

Creating With AI — A Tight Collaboration

“Happy Now” emerged once again through a collaboration with AI — but this time with a twist. Von Doernberg began by giving the system a set of unusually complex chord progressions and let the AI explore possibilities before shaping the final version together. “The chords set the emotional tone,” he explains. “But I wanted the text and music to be in perfect symbiosis. The lyrics are the foundation of the piece, and the music had to support every subtle shift in meaning.”

Both music and lyrics evolved through an iterative process with AI until the song felt complete. “It was important to me that every element pointed toward the same feeling,” he says. “Effort, recovery, gratitude — all wrapped in something that grooves.”

An Artist in High Gear

“Happy Now” continues a particularly active phase for von Doernberg. In recent months, he has been releasing a new track every week on his Bandcamp page — a pace that keeps his creative energy high and offers listeners an ongoing stream of fresh ideas. Over the years, his music has appeared on radio and television, in films and video games, and has been performed by ensembles of various sizes, giving him early conducting experience with his own works.

Von Doernberg studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also had the opportunity to learn from celebrated film composers and Academy Award winners such as James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, and Hans Zimmer — influences that continue to shape his craft across genres.

“Happy Now” is now available on Bandcamp.

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