Upon entering the musical spotlight in 2016, nobody would have guessed that Pizzera & Jaus would join the ranks of those considered the best Austropop artists of all time.

Starting out with individual careers in cabaret, Paul Pizzera and Otto Jaus formed their musical duo in 2015 after meeting each other during a cigarette break at a comedy event. This meeting in retrospect couldn’t have been more fitting to their personas.

The duo’s breakthrough came in 2016 with the release of the song “Jedermann” – the title being a German word that is even less commonly used than its English translation “all and sundry.” Since then, Pizzera & Jaus have released more than 20 songs of which 18 have stayed in the Austrian top 40 for several weeks.

All of their songs can be best categorized under the genre of Austropop. Austropop is a genre of music that mostly incorporates elements of pop and rock. Added to this are more traditional folk elements such as the occasional yodeling as well as lyrics in different Austrian dialects that touch upon all kinds of different topics but mainly focus on the artists’ experiences with their home country.

In true Austropop style, Pizzera & Jaus’ lyrics most often poke fun at Austrian society, its contemporary culture, and its political faux pas. The music duo’s most recent song “Die Gedanken san frei/Thoughts are free” throws a sarcastic punch at the recent political scandals of Austria’s governing party which have threatened the expression of freedom and the press.

Songs like “Tuansackl/Hipster Gym Bag” make fun of modern trends among the younger generations such as fake eyeglasses and hipster gym bags while others like “Dialekts mi” remind the listener to cherish their unique dialects.

When they are not mocking failed political figures, the duo’s lyrics either celebrate the Austrian way of life or bring across the joy, sadness, and anger that are part of relationships and human connection. Most of the songs turn out melancholic, but the lyrics always include a healthy measure of realism to which most Austrians can deeply relate with their own life experiences.

What sets Pizzera & Jaus apart from other Austrian artists is that all of their songs share a unique kind of energy. If the songs are sad, they are so in a deep, moving way. If they are intended to be funny, dialect and wordplay unite in a way that makes the songs small pieces of cabaret themselves. And if they are supposed to be motivational, their lyrics, beats, and melodies hold the power to make the listener feel like they can achieve anything.

While there are clear themes determinable in regard to lyrics, the same is not the case regarding their music itself. Pizzera & Jaus draw their melodies from a variety of genres. From pop, over blues, to rap and a-cappella, the duo has experimented with many different musical elements and instruments. As a result, until the listener starts the song, the musical genre of Pizzera & Jaus’ newly released music usually remains a mystery.

Arguably, the quality of singing back in 2016 was an aspect of the duo’s career that they could improve on. As their most recent a-cappella renditions of their songs show, however, Pizzera & Jaus have taken advantage of the past six years and learned a thing or two about hitting high notes.

The result of these six years of experimenting and improvement: modern music that Austrians proudly call Austropop and can relate to in every instance of their lives.