Sidetrack Walker
@sidetrackwalker.bsky.social
Synth Pop | Trip-Hop | DnB
Hauntingly human gut punches
🎤️ Singer, songwriter & producer
🎹 Synth & audio nerd
🎧 Mixing & mastering engineer
______
🔊 sidetrackwalker.bandcamp.com
🔊 sidetrackwalker.de
🔊 instagram.com/sidetrack_walker
Hauntingly human gut punches
🎤️ Singer, songwriter & producer
🎹 Synth & audio nerd
🎧 Mixing & mastering engineer
______
🔊 sidetrackwalker.bandcamp.com
🔊 sidetrackwalker.de
🔊 instagram.com/sidetrack_walker
Pinned
About time I introduced myself properly… 🤘
I am Dominik Sonders, a singer, songwriter, musician and producer from Kiel, Germany. My music conveys a deep-felt sense of melancholy and authenticity, but also aims at capturing the sheer fun of working with audio.
Prepare for emotional gut punches! 😎
I am Dominik Sonders, a singer, songwriter, musician and producer from Kiel, Germany. My music conveys a deep-felt sense of melancholy and authenticity, but also aims at capturing the sheer fun of working with audio.
Prepare for emotional gut punches! 😎
Alte weiße (und im Herzen braune) Männer wie Friedrich Merz sind die wahre Bedrohung für deutsche Töchter, seine Fresse ist der wahre Schandfleck im Stadtbild.
October 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Alte weiße (und im Herzen braune) Männer wie Friedrich Merz sind die wahre Bedrohung für deutsche Töchter, seine Fresse ist der wahre Schandfleck im Stadtbild.
New single out now!
Sorry for my long silence. A lot has been going on lately and some things are looking quite dark. But life has to go on, and so does music.
This is a tighter cut of a song off my upcoming album, Extinction Events. Enjoy!
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#synthpop #synthwave #retro #80s #bskymusic
Sorry for my long silence. A lot has been going on lately and some things are looking quite dark. But life has to go on, and so does music.
This is a tighter cut of a song off my upcoming album, Extinction Events. Enjoy!
-
#synthpop #synthwave #retro #80s #bskymusic
The Devil's Craft (Single Cut)
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker - Topic
youtu.be
October 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
New single out now!
Sorry for my long silence. A lot has been going on lately and some things are looking quite dark. But life has to go on, and so does music.
This is a tighter cut of a song off my upcoming album, Extinction Events. Enjoy!
-
#synthpop #synthwave #retro #80s #bskymusic
Sorry for my long silence. A lot has been going on lately and some things are looking quite dark. But life has to go on, and so does music.
This is a tighter cut of a song off my upcoming album, Extinction Events. Enjoy!
-
#synthpop #synthwave #retro #80s #bskymusic
Suffice to say the response to my latest releases has been... well, pretty much nonexistent. Same old, same old. Will it never end? Why am I even releasing music? Heck knows. 🤷♂️🙃
July 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Suffice to say the response to my latest releases has been... well, pretty much nonexistent. Same old, same old. Will it never end? Why am I even releasing music? Heck knows. 🤷♂️🙃
I'm amazed at the degree of demonisation of any kind of AI assistance for artworks. While I get the main arguments, people seem to utterly over-simplify and over-generalise this topic while it's, in fact, far less clear-cut. AI is a tool among many, the question (as always) is what we do with it.
July 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I'm amazed at the degree of demonisation of any kind of AI assistance for artworks. While I get the main arguments, people seem to utterly over-simplify and over-generalise this topic while it's, in fact, far less clear-cut. AI is a tool among many, the question (as always) is what we do with it.
Any recommendation for great, melancholic, genuinely heartfelt music based mostly around synths and/or sampling? Both with and without vocals welcome.
July 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Any recommendation for great, melancholic, genuinely heartfelt music based mostly around synths and/or sampling? Both with and without vocals welcome.
🔊 Out now: Waves 2084, the new Sidetrack Walker single
23 years in the making, now finally available on all platforms. Bandcamp purchase includes two older versions as bonus tracks!
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#bskymusic #musicsky #synthpop #synthwave #80sretro #newwave #retro
23 years in the making, now finally available on all platforms. Bandcamp purchase includes two older versions as bonus tracks!
_
#bskymusic #musicsky #synthpop #synthwave #80sretro #newwave #retro
Waves 2084, by Sidetrack Walker
3 track album
sidetrackwalker.bandcamp.com
July 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
🔊 Out now: Waves 2084, the new Sidetrack Walker single
23 years in the making, now finally available on all platforms. Bandcamp purchase includes two older versions as bonus tracks!
_
#bskymusic #musicsky #synthpop #synthwave #80sretro #newwave #retro
23 years in the making, now finally available on all platforms. Bandcamp purchase includes two older versions as bonus tracks!
_
#bskymusic #musicsky #synthpop #synthwave #80sretro #newwave #retro
🔊 Today I am launching an all-new project!
DAS TROSTLOS focuses on a more immediate approach to songwriting and production.
Same darkness, different language: all lyrics are in German.
🕳️ Abgrund mit guter Akustik.
_
#musicsky #bskymusic #darkwave #newwave #singersongwriter #newmusicrelease
DAS TROSTLOS focuses on a more immediate approach to songwriting and production.
Same darkness, different language: all lyrics are in German.
🕳️ Abgrund mit guter Akustik.
_
#musicsky #bskymusic #darkwave #newwave #singersongwriter #newmusicrelease
Trostpreis, by Das Trostlos
2 track album
sidetrackwalker.bandcamp.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
🔊 Today I am launching an all-new project!
DAS TROSTLOS focuses on a more immediate approach to songwriting and production.
Same darkness, different language: all lyrics are in German.
🕳️ Abgrund mit guter Akustik.
_
#musicsky #bskymusic #darkwave #newwave #singersongwriter #newmusicrelease
DAS TROSTLOS focuses on a more immediate approach to songwriting and production.
Same darkness, different language: all lyrics are in German.
🕳️ Abgrund mit guter Akustik.
_
#musicsky #bskymusic #darkwave #newwave #singersongwriter #newmusicrelease
Reposted by Sidetrack Walker
Call for Songs:
“The Weapon and the Shield”
A Protest Music Compilation
I am curating a compilation titled “The Weapon and the Shield,” celebrating music as a force of resistance and protection...
“The Weapon and the Shield”
A Protest Music Compilation
I am curating a compilation titled “The Weapon and the Shield,” celebrating music as a force of resistance and protection...
July 9, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Call for Songs:
“The Weapon and the Shield”
A Protest Music Compilation
I am curating a compilation titled “The Weapon and the Shield,” celebrating music as a force of resistance and protection...
“The Weapon and the Shield”
A Protest Music Compilation
I am curating a compilation titled “The Weapon and the Shield,” celebrating music as a force of resistance and protection...
📣 The Waves Diaries #1 | Out Now!
📽️ In this series, I take you behind the music to share the strange and personal story of a song that refused to die.
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#WavesDiaries #MusicSky #SynthSky #SynthPop #SynthWave #RetroWave #80s #Songwriting #IndieMusic
📽️ In this series, I take you behind the music to share the strange and personal story of a song that refused to die.
_
#WavesDiaries #MusicSky #SynthSky #SynthPop #SynthWave #RetroWave #80s #Songwriting #IndieMusic
Waves Diaries #1 – The Song That Refused to Die | Synth-Pop Origin Story
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker
youtu.be
June 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
📣 The Waves Diaries #1 | Out Now!
📽️ In this series, I take you behind the music to share the strange and personal story of a song that refused to die.
_
#WavesDiaries #MusicSky #SynthSky #SynthPop #SynthWave #RetroWave #80s #Songwriting #IndieMusic
📽️ In this series, I take you behind the music to share the strange and personal story of a song that refused to die.
_
#WavesDiaries #MusicSky #SynthSky #SynthPop #SynthWave #RetroWave #80s #Songwriting #IndieMusic
Currently I work 4 hours a day for my regular job and spend at least that amount of time (usually more) afterwards working on cover art, videos, release plans etc. There's no energy & time left for actual music making. This can't be the way forward. One burn-out was enough.
June 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Currently I work 4 hours a day for my regular job and spend at least that amount of time (usually more) afterwards working on cover art, videos, release plans etc. There's no energy & time left for actual music making. This can't be the way forward. One burn-out was enough.
New TEO-5 synth jam out on YouTube! 🎹🤓
Would love to hear some opinions on this! Sorry for the lighting.
I'm having the arp play percussive FM sounds randomised per step by a S&H LFO. Endless delay feedback later on for an ambient twist.
_
#SynthJam #AudioSky #SynthSky #SoundDesign #Ambient
Would love to hear some opinions on this! Sorry for the lighting.
I'm having the arp play percussive FM sounds randomised per step by a S&H LFO. Endless delay feedback later on for an ambient twist.
_
#SynthJam #AudioSky #SynthSky #SoundDesign #Ambient
Oberheim TEO-5 Synth Jam | Percussive FM Arp & Ambient Textures
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker
www.youtube.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
New TEO-5 synth jam out on YouTube! 🎹🤓
Would love to hear some opinions on this! Sorry for the lighting.
I'm having the arp play percussive FM sounds randomised per step by a S&H LFO. Endless delay feedback later on for an ambient twist.
_
#SynthJam #AudioSky #SynthSky #SoundDesign #Ambient
Would love to hear some opinions on this! Sorry for the lighting.
I'm having the arp play percussive FM sounds randomised per step by a S&H LFO. Endless delay feedback later on for an ambient twist.
_
#SynthJam #AudioSky #SynthSky #SoundDesign #Ambient
Anyone here with deeper insights into the hardware FX market? 🤔 I need a simple, affordable delay/rvb combo (preferably w/ stereo in and as one device) for my analogue synths, nothing too fancy or overly expensive. Any pointers?
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#gearsky #synthsky #fxpedal #sounddesign #audiosky
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#gearsky #synthsky #fxpedal #sounddesign #audiosky
June 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Anyone here with deeper insights into the hardware FX market? 🤔 I need a simple, affordable delay/rvb combo (preferably w/ stereo in and as one device) for my analogue synths, nothing too fancy or overly expensive. Any pointers?
_
#gearsky #synthsky #fxpedal #sounddesign #audiosky
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#gearsky #synthsky #fxpedal #sounddesign #audiosky
It's that time of severe and all-encompassing self doubt again when, working on a new song, I feel like a total amateur and nothing seems to work. Oh well, it comes and goes as it pleases... 😅🤷♂️
June 8, 2025 at 6:18 PM
It's that time of severe and all-encompassing self doubt again when, working on a new song, I feel like a total amateur and nothing seems to work. Oh well, it comes and goes as it pleases... 😅🤷♂️
Cancel out your low end – on purpose!? 🤯
📽️ First synth tutorial out on YT: a quick Oberheim TEO-5 tip for cleaner pads using phase cancellation.
🎧 Use headphones to hear the difference.
I'd love to hear some opinions! The voice-over isn't ideal yet, I know…
_
#synthsky #synthtutorial #sounddesign
📽️ First synth tutorial out on YT: a quick Oberheim TEO-5 tip for cleaner pads using phase cancellation.
🎧 Use headphones to hear the difference.
I'd love to hear some opinions! The voice-over isn't ideal yet, I know…
_
#synthsky #synthtutorial #sounddesign
Oberheim TEO-5 Bass Tip | Cancel Out Your Low End for Clean Pads!
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker
www.youtube.com
June 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Cancel out your low end – on purpose!? 🤯
📽️ First synth tutorial out on YT: a quick Oberheim TEO-5 tip for cleaner pads using phase cancellation.
🎧 Use headphones to hear the difference.
I'd love to hear some opinions! The voice-over isn't ideal yet, I know…
_
#synthsky #synthtutorial #sounddesign
📽️ First synth tutorial out on YT: a quick Oberheim TEO-5 tip for cleaner pads using phase cancellation.
🎧 Use headphones to hear the difference.
I'd love to hear some opinions! The voice-over isn't ideal yet, I know…
_
#synthsky #synthtutorial #sounddesign
Reposted by Sidetrack Walker
Starting the fifty-eighth Starter Pack with all the bands, orchestras, independent labels, and musicians I can find on Blue Sky!
Please have a look, follow some or all of them, and share this pack here and in other places!
This is a work in progress and will be updated!
go.bsky.app/Bkp5Xs8
Please have a look, follow some or all of them, and share this pack here and in other places!
This is a work in progress and will be updated!
go.bsky.app/Bkp5Xs8
May 31, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Starting the fifty-eighth Starter Pack with all the bands, orchestras, independent labels, and musicians I can find on Blue Sky!
Please have a look, follow some or all of them, and share this pack here and in other places!
This is a work in progress and will be updated!
go.bsky.app/Bkp5Xs8
Please have a look, follow some or all of them, and share this pack here and in other places!
This is a work in progress and will be updated!
go.bsky.app/Bkp5Xs8
Fellow musicians and producers! I want to pay more attention to artists on BSky. So I invite you all to send me your music by the end of this week. I am challenging myself to provide honest, constructive feedback on everything you submit. Please limit yourself to ONE track and choose it wisely. 😎
June 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fellow musicians and producers! I want to pay more attention to artists on BSky. So I invite you all to send me your music by the end of this week. I am challenging myself to provide honest, constructive feedback on everything you submit. Please limit yourself to ONE track and choose it wisely. 😎
I made a clip for YT shorts to promote my latest synth jam and am slightly shocked to see it has >1000 views already. 😱 That's astronomical by my modest standards. The identical Instagram reel has <300 views (still solid).
Quite a strong hint as to what platform to prioritise, right?
Quite a strong hint as to what platform to prioritise, right?
Oberheim TEO-5 | No-Talk Synth Jam | Tutorial & Sound Demo (Teaser)
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker
www.youtube.com
May 31, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I made a clip for YT shorts to promote my latest synth jam and am slightly shocked to see it has >1000 views already. 😱 That's astronomical by my modest standards. The identical Instagram reel has <300 views (still solid).
Quite a strong hint as to what platform to prioritise, right?
Quite a strong hint as to what platform to prioritise, right?
🎹 New synth video out on YT!
Equal parts live performance and basic tutorial, this no-talk Oberheim TEO-5 jam blends musical flow with a hands-on, captioned overview of the synth’s most compelling features. Enjoy!
_
#SynthJam #SynthSky #SoundDesign #OberheimTEO5 #Synthesizer
Equal parts live performance and basic tutorial, this no-talk Oberheim TEO-5 jam blends musical flow with a hands-on, captioned overview of the synth’s most compelling features. Enjoy!
_
#SynthJam #SynthSky #SoundDesign #OberheimTEO5 #Synthesizer
Oberheim TEO-5 | No-Talk Synth Jam & Feature Rundown & Sound Demo
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker
youtu.be
May 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🎹 New synth video out on YT!
Equal parts live performance and basic tutorial, this no-talk Oberheim TEO-5 jam blends musical flow with a hands-on, captioned overview of the synth’s most compelling features. Enjoy!
_
#SynthJam #SynthSky #SoundDesign #OberheimTEO5 #Synthesizer
Equal parts live performance and basic tutorial, this no-talk Oberheim TEO-5 jam blends musical flow with a hands-on, captioned overview of the synth’s most compelling features. Enjoy!
_
#SynthJam #SynthSky #SoundDesign #OberheimTEO5 #Synthesizer
Four years ago today, my single "Deprivation" was released. I would do many things differently today, the climax in particular feels very messy. But the song marked an important change in direction and was my first foray into Trip-Hop and DnB. Still like the vibe!
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#triphop #musicrelease #retro
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#triphop #musicrelease #retro
Deprivation
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker - Topic
www.youtube.com
May 28, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Four years ago today, my single "Deprivation" was released. I would do many things differently today, the climax in particular feels very messy. But the song marked an important change in direction and was my first foray into Trip-Hop and DnB. Still like the vibe!
_
#triphop #musicrelease #retro
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#triphop #musicrelease #retro
📣 Didn’t want to pay the Bandcamp price? Fair enough. “Paraphonic” is now mercifully free on your favourite app.
Bitter regret wrapped in analogue warmth and 90s #triphop vibes.
What line hits you hardest? Drop it below, no therapy bills required.
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#MusicSky #ElectronicMusic #SynthSky #DarkWave
Bitter regret wrapped in analogue warmth and 90s #triphop vibes.
What line hits you hardest? Drop it below, no therapy bills required.
_
#MusicSky #ElectronicMusic #SynthSky #DarkWave
Paraphonic
YouTube video by Sidetrack Walker - Topic
youtu.be
May 23, 2025 at 4:22 PM
📣 Didn’t want to pay the Bandcamp price? Fair enough. “Paraphonic” is now mercifully free on your favourite app.
Bitter regret wrapped in analogue warmth and 90s #triphop vibes.
What line hits you hardest? Drop it below, no therapy bills required.
_
#MusicSky #ElectronicMusic #SynthSky #DarkWave
Bitter regret wrapped in analogue warmth and 90s #triphop vibes.
What line hits you hardest? Drop it below, no therapy bills required.
_
#MusicSky #ElectronicMusic #SynthSky #DarkWave
Studio remodelling day 2. Heavy lifting and rewiring mostly done. What's left is some cable management and fine tuning. Starting to look really cool and much tidier, and my CD collection is no longer blocked from view by the massive synth stand. 😅
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#synthsky #gearsky #musicproducer #homestudio
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#synthsky #gearsky #musicproducer #homestudio
May 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Studio remodelling day 2. Heavy lifting and rewiring mostly done. What's left is some cable management and fine tuning. Starting to look really cool and much tidier, and my CD collection is no longer blocked from view by the massive synth stand. 😅
_
#synthsky #gearsky #musicproducer #homestudio
_
#synthsky #gearsky #musicproducer #homestudio
Started remodelling my studio today. It's still pretty chaotic, but the improvements are slowly taking shape... Can't wait to create some new tunes when all is set up!
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#synthsky #gearsky #homestudio #electronicmusic #synthesizer #musicianfeed
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#synthsky #gearsky #homestudio #electronicmusic #synthesizer #musicianfeed
May 17, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Started remodelling my studio today. It's still pretty chaotic, but the improvements are slowly taking shape... Can't wait to create some new tunes when all is set up!
_
#synthsky #gearsky #homestudio #electronicmusic #synthesizer #musicianfeed
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#synthsky #gearsky #homestudio #electronicmusic #synthesizer #musicianfeed
Some more #Superbooth impressions. Missing it already! Being back home feels so odd, wrong even. More synth community vibes, please!
Also, is there a way to change the image thumbnails here? They tend to cut off my head, and I prefer non-lethal takedowns most of the time.
Also, is there a way to change the image thumbnails here? They tend to cut off my head, and I prefer non-lethal takedowns most of the time.
May 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Some more #Superbooth impressions. Missing it already! Being back home feels so odd, wrong even. More synth community vibes, please!
Also, is there a way to change the image thumbnails here? They tend to cut off my head, and I prefer non-lethal takedowns most of the time.
Also, is there a way to change the image thumbnails here? They tend to cut off my head, and I prefer non-lethal takedowns most of the time.
One thing that surprised me about #Superbooth is that there seemed to be significantly fewer people than last year. Any ideas as to why? Maybe something to do with the date?
May 12, 2025 at 6:44 AM
One thing that surprised me about #Superbooth is that there seemed to be significantly fewer people than last year. Any ideas as to why? Maybe something to do with the date?
One of the overall #Superbooth highlights was the Melancholytron by Allard Krijger aka Fraknoise. It's a unique sample-based synth specialising on melancholic sounds (in other words, made specifically for me 😂). Kept coming back to it. Lovely guy, too, he put 10 years of his life into this project.
May 11, 2025 at 9:59 AM
One of the overall #Superbooth highlights was the Melancholytron by Allard Krijger aka Fraknoise. It's a unique sample-based synth specialising on melancholic sounds (in other words, made specifically for me 😂). Kept coming back to it. Lovely guy, too, he put 10 years of his life into this project.