Tripendicular – “Moonlight Mysteries”: A Kaleidoscopic Journey Through Sound and Collaboration

Tripendicular (pronounced trippin- DIH - Q - lurr) is the mostly solo project of U.S. multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Todd Groemling (pronounced GREMM - Ling). Although it is his own project at its core, it has grown into something more collaborative over the past two years.

Groemling has described this period as a “mini mission to shine a light on extremely talented musicians that aren't being seen or heard.” As a result, he has been working with a range of artists and treating collaboration as a central part of the Tripendicular identity. Sometimes he takes a step back and simply adds a vocal melody, lyrics, or his voice. Other times, he reworks the structure of a track, adds new sections, and layers in additional instruments. He has said that this process allows him to “flex different musical muscles, which expand my range and musical diversity.”

Because of this approach, he refers to the Tripendicular sound as “kaleidoscope.” The idea reflects how varied the music is from one track to the next. Synthesisers are often a key feature, but they are not used coldly or mechanically. Instead, they sit alongside acoustic instruments such as bells, strings, flute and trumpet, as well as electric guitar, electric bass and live drums. The combination creates a layered and shifting sound that does not stay in one place for long.

Groemling believes this comes from his approach as a “servant to the song.” By this he means “doing what a song wants, instead of trying to dictate what happens.” It is a way of working that treats each track as its own space with its own needs, rather than forcing a fixed style onto everything.

No matter the arrangement, Tripendicular songs are anchored by Groemling’s vocal style, which can often be soft and whisper-like. His lyrics focus on what he describes as “the inner monologue,” exploring the thoughts people carry but do not always say out loud.

Over the past two years, Tripendicular has released around two dozen songs, with roughly half created entirely by Groemling on his own. He has also shared short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram, often designed as small visual stories. These clips give the music a cinematic feel, as if each song is part of a scene from a larger film.

The single Moonlight Mysteries fits firmly within this world. It is a slow-burning, mid-tempo rock track built around electric guitar, electric bass, live drums and a light use of synth. The song gradually builds towards anthemic choruses that feel direct and emotionally open. The lyrics focus on simple but universal questions that come to the surface at night, including “I don't wanna be alone” and “Do you wanna be alone?”

In many ways, Moonlight Mysteries captures what Tripendicular tends to do best. It takes familiar rock elements and shapes them into something more fluid and reflective. The result is a track that feels both grounded and expansive, carrying listeners through a slow emotional rise that lingers after it ends.