We had a chat with Fallin’ Astronauts about their journey, excellent new single ‘Higher’ and the upcoming release of their debut EP MONO
Establishing themselves as an exciting rising indie pop duo with a thoughtful sound and a charming, likeable appeal, Austria’s Fallin’ Astronauts have spent the last few years developing a distinctive style that is packed full of engrossing moments and a catchy, laid-back disposition.
Their latest single ‘Higher’ is a track that does a great job of highlighting their appeal, making for a feel-good, blissed out listening experience that is packed full of nuance and charismatic appeal throughout. The relatable and uplifting nature of their writing and the authenticity that shines through everything that they do feels infectious throughout their work. Following the release of the track, we figured that it was the perfect time to get to know the duo a little better ahead of the release of their upcoming new EP MONO.
Who TF are Fallin’ Astronauts?
We are an indie-pop duo which creates weightless hymns and dreamlike indie-pop straight out of Vienna. Max carries the melodies on vocals, piano, and guitar, and Emil fuels the sound with soaring guitar lines, harmonies, and production craft. Our music lives somewhere between stadium-sized anthems and late-night dreams: bright guitars, layered vocals, atmospheric textures. The name comes from a piece of street art of an astronaut with shopping bags – a mix of the cosmic and the everyday. That’s exactly what we aim for: music that feels weightless, human, and a little surreal.
How long have you been making music?
Music was always part of our lives. We both grew up in Austria in families where music was always around, whether it was rehearsals, concerts, or just instruments lying around the house. Our upbringing was shaped by both discipline from classical training and freedom from exploring jazz and pop, which gave us the best of both worlds. We then decided to found our first band “Lonely Moon Bandits”, where we mainly played covers of Classical Rock bands and tried to write our first original songs. Unfortunately it didn’t work out due to musical differences, and we decided to create Fallin’ Astronauts.
Why do you make music?
Honestly, it never felt like a decision, it was just always there. Music shaped us so much that we can’t imagine a life without it. The way it connects people and creates lasting moments was our biggest inspiration. Music can be kind of a therapy and it can create and transport emotions in a unique way, and what could be greater than to be part of the soundtrack of someone’s life.
What are your biggest influences?
We draw a lot from Indie-Pop bands like Coldplay and Kodaline and we have a fable for bands from the 90s like Radiohead or U2. But we also get inspired a lot by contemporary Pop artists like Lauv or LANY and we admire the production style of K-Pop music. We love blending those pop influences with elements from Rock and other genres. We see ourselves as Indie-Pop Artists, but we don’t want to stick to the musical boundaries of just one genre, so we mix up elements from various genres to create our own sound.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
There are so many memories which are connected to different times in our lives but when it comes to our own music, then definitely playing our own songs live for the first time and hearing people sing along. That moment of connection, from something that started in our bedrooms turning into a shared experience, was unforgettable.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
We combine classic indie vibes with contemporary pop. Think Coldplay and Kodaline meeting Lauv, but with our own twist. Our sound is defined by bright guitars, atmospheric textures, and layered vocal harmonies. We also try to blend unexpected instruments and to mix up elements from various genres. We want to create music that feels like floating through a dream or like being weightless.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
For us, the real “we’ve made it” moment would be standing on stage at a stadium, hearing tens of thousands of people singing our songs back to us, just like we once sang along to our idols like Coldplay. Not because of the scale alone, but because it means our music has truly connected with people all over the world. That feeling of unity through music, of turning our personal stories into something universal, is what we’re dreaming of. Additionally, we always wanted to hold our own Album on Vinyl in our hands, because we think there is something even more artistic about Vinyls, but this dream could come true sooner than we thought.
We love your new single ‘Higher’, what more can you tell us about it?
Our entire EP is about life’s ups and downs. And with ‘Higher,’ we’re highlighting the ups. For example, after a breakup, we’re talking about how you can still gain your power back as an individual and see a brighter future. “Higher” is about holding onto the feeling of elevation – emotional or physical –even when reality pulls you down. It’s a celebration of youth, freedom, and the unbreakable spirit of those who dream beyond limits.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
We plan to go on tour in Europe and Asia in 2026, because we love being on stage and want to connect more with our fans. After the release of our EP in October, we will also be working on our next big project, our first full-length album, and plan to collaborate with other artists on individual singles. Our debut EP MONO will set the starting point for much more to come, and we certainly have enough songs in the pipeline.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Since this is our debut EP, we are still in the process of getting our music out there and to reach more people who connect with our music. We are grateful for our friends and family, who’ve believed in us from day one. But each new listener that connects with our sound is already a Fallin’ Astronaut at heart. That’s the kind of fanbase we want to grow: real people connecting with real music.
