“We live in a finite world, and every relationship, every life will eventually come to an end. Often, in the daily grind, we lose sight of what really matters.” This reflection by Saguru lingers like the fading light of day — honest, grounding, and quietly comforting. Saguru’s new single “Sunset” is a beautifully dreamy piece that lets you drift off for a moment — into thought, into memory. It makes you reflect, maybe even feel a quiet ache, but never in a way that pulls you down. Instead, it reminds you that in every ending lies the trace of a new beginning. That nothing is permanent — and that’s precisely what makes life so precious. Understanding that is sometimes the hardest part of life — just when you’ve settled into something, it begins to shift. Friends come and go, seasons change, dreams evolve, and even the way we see ourselves can transform. That’s the rhythm of life. Nothing stays the same forever — and maybe that’s what makes certain moments so meaningful. Everything keeps moving, gently reminding us to let go, to adapt, and to find beauty in the in-between.
Behind Saguru is Chris Rappel, a Munich-based musician who began writing music as a way to process the world around and within him. Influenced by artists like Bon Iver and Alex Turner, he founded the project in 2016 after his former band dissolved — a quiet shift that turned into something deeply personal. What began in solitude grew into a space for exploration, and today, Saguru represents not only his creative home, but a gentle return to self.
With “Sunset”, the first single from his upcoming EP Inevitable (due out this fall), Saguru offers an intimate look into the moments when joy feels distant, yet not lost. “The song is like a conversation with that younger version of myself,” he shares, “trying to understand how things got to this point, and how I ended up in this moment after the sunset.”
In our interview, we talked about emotional numbness, creative rituals, the beauty of vulnerability, and how music can become a form of therapy. “Don’t forget to have fun,” Saguru reminds us — a simple truth that carries through his music and his way of being. Take a quiet moment, press play, and let Sunset carry you somewhere soft and true. Because sometimes, what feels like an ending… is just the sky making space for morning — and maybe even for a little joy.
photography by Thess Riva
Chriz, I’m happy to have you back here. Our last conversation was about a year ago. How have you been — and how are you celebrating the release? (smiles)
Thanks for having me back – it’s such a pleasure! (smiles) I’ve had a fantastic year, full of live shows and experiences that helped me grow not just as an artist, but also as a person. I haven’t planned anything specific to celebrate, but a release is always a good moment to pause and appreciate the privilege of being able to follow my dreams.
Let’s dive right into your new single Sunset. I really like the inspiration behind it — it touched me, because it feels familiar. There are moments when we lose our joy for life, caught up in the daily grind and all the little things that slowly wear us down. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
Music has been the center of my life ever since I was a child. But a few years ago, the fire that had always driven me suddenly disappeared and I didn’t understand why. Over time, I realized that this sense of numbness and inertia had spread into every part of my life: my hobbies, my relationships, my everyday routine.
Then I stumbled upon an old video of myself as a child, so happy, full of life. And it really hit me. The song is like a conversation with that younger version of myself trying to understand how things got to this point, and how I ended up in this moment after the sunset.
There’s a fragile honesty in the lyrics. Was this track difficult to write emotionally?
My songs are always somewhat autobiographical and help me process things — almost like a form of therapy. I try to fully surrender to the creative process, and often the lyrics just start to flow. Later, I’m sometimes surprised by how deeply they reflect what’s going on inside me. So no, it wasn’t difficult or emotionally overwhelming to write — quite the opposite, actually. It often helps me understand myself better.
“Once a song is out in the world, it starts to live its own life. And that’s beautiful.”
In our last interview, you told us: “I always start by playing the guitar and singing in a fantasy language.” Was that the case with Sunset as well?
Yes, that’s still my go-to way of starting a song (smiles). As I mentioned before, it’s really a process of shifting into a different state of mind. Singing in a fantasy language helps me let go of external expectations and just focus on what I’m feeling in the moment.
How does it feel to send something so personal and honest out into the world? Do you sometimes feel a little scared?
Absolutely — for sure. When you share something that emotional and personal, you always make yourself a little vulnerable. But at some point, you have to learn to let go of that.
Making music is always an act of self-expression. And once a song is out in the world, it starts to live its own life. Maybe it gives someone exactly what they need in that moment — or they interpret it in a completely different way. And that’s beautiful.
Your new single is also the first glimpse into your upcoming EP Inevitable, which is set to release this fall. Why did you choose that as the title — and what does it mean to you in the context of this EP?
As I mentioned before, making music is also a kind of therapy for me, and recently, I’ve had to process a lot emotionally. I chose the title Inevitable because the songs all deal, in their own way, with themes that are unavoidable to think about: the meaning of life, the things we fill our days with, the end of relationships.
We live in a finite world, and every relationship, every life will eventually come to an end. Often, in the daily grind, we lose sight of what really matters.
“In the end, the present is the only thing that truly exists.”
Do you already have a favorite track from the EP? (smiles)
I like all the tracks in their own way and honestly can’t say which one is my favorite. Each song represents a different part of my journey, so they all hold a special place in my heart. (smiles)
You’ve described Saguru as finally finding its core sound. What changed — in you or around you — to make that clarity possible?
Saguru was born when I finished school and hoped to start something with my band. But since everyone went to different universities, things turned out very differently. The band broke up, and I was on my own. During that time, I spent a lot of time in my room and didn’t stop playing guitar. Sometimes I closed my eyes while playing and didn’t even notice how it got dark outside. In that period, I managed to really find my sound — and that was the birth of the project. Saguru is my happy place and a reminder that I can always manage to follow my creative path.
For the new EP, I took my live band into the studio for the first time. We have been playing together on stage since the beginning of last year, and I have to say, it really feels like coming home. We’ve become really good friends and just enjoy spending time together. Making music together is an absolute gift, and I am infinitely grateful for it every day. Our band motto is “Don’t forget to have fun,” because that’s truly what it’s all about in the end. The phrase has become like a mantra and can be applied to all areas of life.
Big love to the others — I can hardly wait to be back with the band in the rehearsal room or on stage again.
“Without the ability to feel deep emotions like sadness so intensely, I probably wouldn’t be able to write the kind of songs I do.”
What makes for a happy life, in your eyes? I mean, happiness isn’t really a constant state — maybe it’s more about contentment?
I definitely agree. “Don’t forget to have fun” and “Don’t take yourself too seriously” are two things I keep reminding myself of. You have to learn to accept yourself as you are. Sometimes it also helps to look at things from a different perspective. As an example, without the ability to feel deep emotions like sadness so intensely, I probably wouldn’t be able to write the kind of songs I do.
I also believe it’s important to live as much as possible in the moment — and not get too distracted by the past or future. In the end, the present is the only thing that truly exists. But ultimately, everyone has to find their own way, because every person is different and has their own needs.
What’s the last thing that made you laugh? (smiles)
Oh, there have been quite a few things lately — and, I’m really grateful for that. (smiles)
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