Biography

Synth Noir for the Faint of Heart: Sidetrack Walker delivers hauntingly human gut punches.

I am Dominik Sonders, a singer, songwriter, musician and producer from Kiel, Germany. In 2015, I started Sidetrack Walker as my main creative outlet. My music conveys a deep-felt sense of melancholy and authenticity, but also aims at capturing the sheer fun of working with audio. In terms of style, change is the only constant for Sidetrack Walker. My main stylistic influences at the moment are Synth Pop, Prog Rock, Trip Hop and Drum’n’Bass.

For me, music and lyrics are the most immediate and authentic forms of communication: they can convey profound experiences and offer fresh perspectives where mere words fail miserably. By confronting dark themes head-on, I strive to provide a therapeutic sense of catharsis. In the words of Tom Slater (Withered Hands Podcast): “You don’t see it coming.”

The situation of minorities – especially neurodiverse people – is of particular concern to me both as an artist, and as a person with autism. You will find these concerns represented in my songs through a mixture of melancholic introspection and tongue-in-cheek social commentary.

Reviews

“[Deprivation] has a subtlety to it that gently builds and weaves its story both in and around you with its calming, almost funk like grooves”

“Undeniably, Sidetrack Walker […] has a knack for composing soft and atmospheric melodies that are easily accessible.”

“a magnificent album in its contrasts”

“Sidetrack Walker offers us intimate compositions, the reflections of an artist who does not feign his emotions”

“an incredible mix of dark psychedelic jazz and trip-hop, which could work well as the soundtrack for surreal horror”

“It’s wonderful to immerse yourself in the various songs, soak up their energy and let it recharge your batteries.”

“abundant with dark, sparkling jewels of Chamber Pop“

“[W]hat blew me away the most about Will to Leave was the sheer distinction. Sidetrack Walker’s tendency to pull from a myriad of genres […] allowed their sound to spill an alchemic amount of atmospheric intensity.”

“Soft guitar timbres meet piano notes, sometimes challenging, sometimes soothing. They combine with the powerful and emotional vocals to form outstanding arrangements which will draw you deeper and deeper into the darkly romantic world of Sidetrack Walker.”

“The album’s strongest suit must be the arrangements with their delicate balance of piano, guitars, voice and a mostly gentle rhythm section. All of this combines to form a variant of singer-songwriter Art-Rock that is sometimes folky, sometimes influenced by Art-Pop or Alternative Rock. […] All you’ll need is to establish, or to find within yourself, the focus and relaxation necessary to properly savour the delicate music on ‘Come What May’ […].”

“[T]he album begins with the stark, plaintive notes of ‘Behind the Scenes’; a brooding proggy number loaded with elegant misery. Folky acoustic guitar, sorrowful vocals and sparse piano create a lush soundscape that gets the album off to a promising start.”

“We will fall under the haunting charm of the little miracles of ‘Savour’ and ‘Ghost Stories’. Dominik’s main quality is to infuse his compositions with musical structures of impressive effectiveness. The development initiated at the beginning of the melody transforms and blossoms with its abundance of harmonies and superb instrumental parts […].”