dark chamber pop for the faint of heart
Part 2 of the Withered Hands interview is out now, and you’re in for a few surprises. Most importantly, this show will feature two exclusive previews of new, as-yet unreleased tracks from The Real Redeemer, my electronic project! And that’s not all: I had the honour of editing the audio for this one and try to give it a slightly different feel and polish. This has turned into a full-blown collaboration and, as such, a really rewarding experience. Enjoy!
Back in August, I had a very long and open talk with Tom at Withered Hands Podcast, touching on a wide variety of subjects. Today, part 1 of the show is finally out. Sidetrack Walker fans are in for a treat, so be sure to check it out and let me know what you think! Also keep an eye out for part two, which will follow shortly. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to Tom for taking so much time and being incredibly open-minded and kind.
While you’re here, why not drop by the press section to see the reactions to The Art of Starvation so far?
The new Sidetrack Walker album, ‘The Art of Starvation’, is now available from all music services. Be sure to get the limited CD, too (100 pieces)!
Special thanks go out to the State Capital of Kiel for being kind enough to sponsor this project financially.
First press reactions:
“abundant with dark, sparkling jewels of Chamber Pop“
Kai-Peter Boysen (Kieler Nachrichten), 20.05.2020. Read the full article (German)
“[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.”
Amelia Vandergast (A&R Factory), 15.05.2020. Read the full review
‘The Art of Starvation’ is now live on Bandcamp. As previously announced, the album download will be free of charge for a limited period of time. You can also pre-order your copy of the CD edition now. It will be limited to 100 hand-numbered copies, so don’t hesitate too long.
The regular release date for other platforms as well as for the CDs has been set to May 22. Remember, however, that I can give no guarantees regarding the CD shipping date; pressing is still delayed due to conditions beyond my control.
I sincerely hope the new album can offer some distraction, comfort or inspiration to some of you during these uncertain times.
Due to the pandemic, I have decided to forego the usual promotional phase preceding the album release. As soon as the final masters are done, the new album will be made available for digital streaming and download (free of charge) through Bandcamp. With so many of you adapting to a secluded life at home, now is not the time for additional, avoidable delays. CD pre-orders will commence at the same time, and I will ship those as soon as I receive the CDs from the pressing plant. Services such as Spotify will still require a regular release date, however.
The album artwork will be revealed on Instagram in nine parts, one per day. Naturally, you will also know the album title when the mosaic is complete. The individual images will be accompanied by one track title each. Follow Sidetrack Walker on Instagram now to keep track!
Time to embrace the haunting: the new single is out now! You can expect an equally haunting new full-length early next year. Reason enough to look forward to 2020! Until then, I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy listening to “The Host” as much as I enjoyed making it. And do check out the amazing remix by Strukt. Best wishes to everyone from the Sidetrack Walker camp!
December 27 will see the release of a new Sidetrack Walker single, “The Host”. It is a sign of things to come for 2020: the song will re-appear on the upcoming full-length early next year with a slightly updated mix. Apart from a full version and a radio edit of “The Host”, the single will also contain a remix by Strukt, an electronic project by none other than Andre Jonas. He was the mixing engineer for “Come What May” and also mastered the single. Prepare for some surprises in what is clearly the darkest Sidetrack Walker material to date!
The current issue of Orkus, one of the most prominent German independent music magazines, is now available. Check it out to find an interview with Sidetrack Walker as well as an extremely flattering review of Come What May! The album is even featured as their monthly special music pick. Thanks so much to Claudia Zinn-Zinnenburg and Manuela Ausserhofer!
Einsam ist der Sidetrack Walker, der sich abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade auf dem Abstellgleis bewegt. Diese Einsamkeit vermittelt er in Come What May mit einem natürlichen Hang zur Melancholie, die sich bittersüß über Dich ergießt. Sanfte Gitarrenklänge treffen auf mal fordernde, mal einlullende Klaviertöne, die in Kombination mit dem kraft- und gefühlvollen Gesang herausragende Arrangements kreieren und Dich immer tiefer in die düster-romantische Welt des Sidetrack Walker ziehen. Es ist eine äußerst persönliche Welt, in der er seinen tiefsten Emotionen Gestalt in Form von nachdenklichen Texten und wunderschönen Klängen verleiht. Etwas progressiv, ein bisschen klassisch, vor allem aber mit offenem Herzen und wachen Augen. Einerseits mit Gespür für Dramatik und viel Wissen um Soundkreationen, andererseits auf das Wesentliche konzentriert ohne unnötigen Schnörkel folgen wir dem Sidetrack Walker Behind the Scenes, erfahren Good News, hören Ghost Stories und erleben das Erwachen und Ende des Mais – vielleicht als Sinnbild des Frühlings, des Erblühens? Raum für eigene Gedanken bleibt in jeder der elf Kompositionen. Also: Come What May …
Claudia Zinn-Zinnenburg (Orkus), 26.04.2019