MONDTRÄUME in an interview

It’s easy to enjoy Mondträume’s third album “Mind Games” – which will be released on June 26, 2026 – but not every game is fair …

Emotional journey

“The album revolves around the constant battle between what we feel and what we think”, as Pikotto sums up. “Each song represents a small inner conflict: desire vs. fear, memory vs. reality, hope vs. self-destruction.” The album takes space to honestly explore all these layers. For Nicky, the title stands for “a mind game.” Life “is characterized by numerous contradictions, and you often ask yourself, what if…? Would it have been better if I had done things differently?” Orientation can come from art. Identity and self-knowledge are also recurring themes on “Mind Games”, and Pikotto reflects on this in relation to making music, for example: “It forces you to really listen to yourself.” For him, this is one of the greatest gifts of music: “It not only allows you to express who you are, but also helps you discover who you can become.”

Alive & not alone

When “Still Alive” says “it’s like a game”, it’s about a psychological game “where the rules change, where sometimes you gain clarity and sometimes you get even further lost”, Pikotto explains. It reflects modern emotional life: “intense, contradictory, addictive and sometimes even cruel. This is exactly what the album explores: how the mind can be both a refuge and a prison at the same time.” Nicky also talks about attempts to escape in connection with “Still Alive”. “But the ups and downs are actually what keep us alive, because there’s always a new day.” Pikotto is aware that music also offers comfort, strength and understanding.

Worthy voices!

After the highly esteemed vocalist Damasius Venys (Mental Exile, Future Lied to Us) and Mondträume parted ways, Pikotto turned his attention to collaborations, which proved to be enriching in many ways: for example, the whole process made it clear once again “that music is not just about making songs, but also about connecting with people and sharing experiences.” In Nicky, the ideal line-up was found, both personally and musically. “Mind Games” is the first album with the new singer.

Martina Wutscher

Line-up:
Pikotto (Jose Ignacio Castaño Marquinez) – keyboards, synthesizer
Nicky Schulschenk – vocals, lyrics

Watch the video for “Day after Day” feat. Madil Hardis: