The Story Behind "Project One"

How It All Began

Project One

picture:Thomas Buchta †

Project One, released on December 14, 2018, was the very first album of Riven Earth. The title was chosen quite naturally, because at that time nobody knew where this musical journey would lead. It was simply the first project of three musicians who wanted to create music together again. What began as a small studio project soon became something much more:

Riven Earth   was born.

The Themes Behind The Album

From the very beginning, Riven Earth was never just about melodies and arrangements. The songs on "Project One" deal with themes that are still relevant today: war, injustice, abuse, fanaticism and the question whether mankind really learns from history. The opening song Darkness is one of the most important songs on the album. It addresses abuse within institutions, the horrors of war and the sad realization that people often repeat the same mistakes over and over again. The song originally dates back to the SINS era but was completely reworked for Riven Earth.
Two songs written by Uli Krücken deal with humanitarian and political issues.

  • "History Has Taught Them Nothing" was inspired by the war in Syria and asks a painful question: Why does mankind continue to repeat the tragedies of the past?
  • "Boatpeople" focuses on the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. It tells the story of people leaving everything behind in search of safety and a better future.

Other songs explore different themes and moods.
Stop! is a powerful song about the need to take a stand against injustice and abuse. Till The Last Curtain Falls is a melancholic ballad about the inevitability of change and the passage of time.
Mad Man Moon deals with the mysterious influence the moon has always had on human beings and their emotions. Three songs on the album actually have their roots in the SINS years:

  • Darkness
  • Stop!
  • Till The Last Curtain Falls

However, all of them were substantially rearranged and developed further, becoming true Riven Earth songs.

The Cover Artwork

The cover artwork of Project One was created by the late photographic artist Thomas Buchta.
It shows a stylized Earth from which famous buildings rise far above the planet's surface. Among them are the burning Twin Towers – an unmistakable reminder of September 11, 2001 and of the conflicts that continue to shape our world.
The artwork perfectly reflects the spirit of the album.
It shows a world capable of incredible achievements, yet still struggling with war, violence and intolerance.

Looking Back

"Looking back today, "Project One" was much more than just a debut album.
It was the beginning of a new chapter for Wolfgang Beckers, Günter Schlünkes and Uli Krücken.

  • None of them planned to found a band.
  • It was the beginning of a new chapter for Wolfgang Beckers, Günter Schlünkes and Uli Krücken
  • None of them expected that this first project would lead to several albums and many years of musical collaboration.

They simply rediscovered something they had always loved:

The joy of making music together.

And this joy continues to shape Riven Earth to this day.