Fencah Shines With a Gracefully Unfiltered Debut, Delivering Pure Emotion and Brilliance on “One Last Time”
- STAFF
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
By: Staff
An unforgettable triumph of heart, craft, and clarity—fencah stuns with aching intimacy and rare control.
The intriguing and creative Austrian artist fencah brings forward a deeply emotional and breathtaking debut that transcends with a gracefully unfiltered method. With his background as a drummer in some of Austria’s more energetic rock outfits, his transition to such an intimate, vocal-forward project feels surprising in the best possible way. There's a rare kind of sincerity here. No gloss, no posturing. Just raw, real artistry coming through every second of this track.
“One Last Time” begins with a snapshot, a gentle vision of fencah’s grandmother, and immediately establishes its emotional weight. The soft strums of his customized baritone ukulele open the track with a fragile tenderness, inviting listeners into a personal world. His vocals enter delicately, drenched in reverence and warmth, crafting a space that feels sacred. And what also elevates this experience is the accompanying video made from archival family footage, filmed by his grandfather. That visual element turns the track into something even more moving: not just a song, but a living, breathing memory. The piece quietly swells.
Following that moment, a new energy enters; the rhythm shifts. The arrangement thickens, the vocals grow bolder, more impassioned. It’s a sonic turning point that still retains the song’s bittersweet core. There’s a triumphant quality to this evolution. It doesn't distract from the grief but uplifts it. fencah’s voice grows clearer and more resonant, and the instrumentation builds subtly around it. We, as listeners, come away not with heaviness but with gratitude, for this person we never knew, for the joy she clearly brought, and for the way she continues to live on in her grandson’s art. Her spirit is painted vividly through his words, and when he sings about asking her,
“Could you do everything you wanted to?”
we feel the answer reverberate. The smiles, the children, the laughter, this song becomes a celebration of all of that.
The emotional gravity of “One Last Time” is anchored in the lyrics and vocals, but also the masterful use of instrumentation, each part played in a way that enhances effortlessly. The soft, steady strumming of the baritone ukulele provides an intimate foundation, inviting a sense of closeness. It’s the emotional core of the arrangement, gentle but unshakeable. The guitar, performed by Gabriel Denk, offers subtle flourishes that shimmer just under the surface, supporting fencah’s vocals with quiet assurance. Michael Stöger’s bass hums beneath it all with a rich, grounding tone that adds warmth and depth. When Jon Graboff’s pedal steel enters, its mournful glide brings an otherworldly, bittersweet texture that elevates the whole arrangement. The synths are layered with care, present but never overpowering, offering soft textures that breathe and stretch as the song expands. Every instrument feels like a memory being handled gently, and together they form a beautifully restrained yet powerful sonic landscape.
This track really has an incredible emotional impact on the audience.
We also heard “I Need Space,” the second song on this double single, which shows a completely different side of fencah. With a brighter tone and more playful energy, he embraces an upbeat groove while still weaving in the emotional undercurrent of a breakup. It’s catchy, but not shallow. The lyrics hold weight, and what’s fascinating is how he balances the feel-good aesthetic with something real and poignant. The drums are lightly held back, just enough to keep the pace driving without losing the breezy mood. That contrast between emotional seriousness and sonic uplift is where the song shines.
fencah’s talent lies not only in his ability to craft songs with emotional gravity, but in how he channels those emotions with precision and purpose. His technical control over his voice, his instrumentation, and the storytelling aspects of his music is striking. Whether he's pulling us into grief or guiding us toward release, there’s never a moment that has meaning.
It’s rare to find an artist who can manipulate mood with such elegance while keeping the truth of the song untouched. In a crowded landscape, fencah breaks through. Not by being loud, but by being deeply, quietly impactful.
If you’re drawn to music that not only stirs your emotions but stays with you long after it ends, then don’t miss out on fencah.
“One Last Time” by fencah is a breathtaking masterclass in emotional storytelling and sonic elegance.
While fencah might be stepping into the solo spotlight for the first time, he’s hardly a newcomer. Known offstage as Max Zauner, his earlier years were spent behind the drumkit for well-known Austrian acts like Kitty in a Casket, ELSA, and Greyshadow. The transition to songwriting and self-producing came out of necessity and reflection during the lockdown. That pause allowed him to step into his own voice. His creative process is rooted in authenticity: recording out of his home studio in Lower Austria, building tracks around the unique tone of his customized baritone ukulele, and collaborating with musicians from across his journey, including Georg Buxhofer, Caroline Loibersbeck, and David Mandlburger.
His music blends indie-folk and bedroom pop sensibilities with a storyteller’s sensitivity, creating a sound that feels both current and timeless.
We're so excited to have found fencah and can’t wait to hear more from him!
Be sure to stream, playlist, and share “One Last Time” by fencah—this is a debut that demands to be heard.
