Dear All,

As I reflect on this year, I see a chapter full of unusual yet incredibly exciting moments. It was a year less in the spotlight – instead, I focused on conceptual and creative work. Guided less by obligations and more by passions, I shaped my projects to integrate harmoniously into my life as a co-owner of a café, a musician, and a writer. This balance is something I aim to continue, as it has proven to be both fulfilling and creatively inspiring.

The Year in a Nutshell

The Radio Play: My year began with a radio play for Swiss Radio SRF2 Kultur, in which I was significantly involved. It aired right after my birthday in February – a beautiful moment and a great joy, marking the beginning of a collaboration with Martin Engler, a German actor.

HAL Feature: Another highlight was having my music featured in the in-flight entertainment system of Hawaiian Airlines for another season. I’m certain my artist name played a helpful role in catching attention here ;-)

Etappe – A Plugin Dream Come True: In April, I had the chance to realize a long-held dream. As part of my third collaboration with Puremagnetik, “Etappe | Geometric Delay Console” came to life. This unique delay plugin is based on the Golden Ratio series, creating intricate echo complexities and mathematically beautiful reflections. “Etappe” is the “Big Sister” of “Stages | Dual Golden Ratio Multitap Delay” and is specifically designed for complex, geometric soundscapes. Together with my friend and mentor Uwe Zahn, aka Arovane, we created a feature for it. I plan to publish a comprehensive article in 2025 about the creation of the plugin and highlight additional artist features that incorporate it.

Another delay plugin in my extensive collection, or so I thought initially. However, upon closer inspection, a different picture emerges! – Arovane (Musician, Sound Designer)

Artist Residency in Tenna: In October, I spent several days in Tenna for an artist residency alongside my partner-in crime and pianist Nicolas Streichenberg, aka Yes, it’s Ananias. Having previously collaborated on the album “Fluxus Verve,” we worked on ideas for a potential new album during this inspiring time.

Darker Trilogy and Darker Memoria: Throughout the year, I released the successful “Darker Trilogy” and its follow-up, “Darker Memoria.” This Valhalla Delay Experimental Sound Design Preset Collection delivers stunning and experimental echoes, reverbs, and feedbacks – perfect for captivating and destructive soundscapes. Both collections are available on Bandcamp and Ko-fi and have received wonderful feedback.

Dominik, you are a Valhalla Delay wizard! – Chris, S1gns Of L1fe (Music Producer, Content Creator)

Sound and Poetry in Hertenstein: The project that touched my heart the most this year was “Hertenstein – Audiowalk mit Klang und Lyrik,” commissioned by Lucerne Tourism. From initial concept to final production, I was able to do everything myself: writing, scripting, composition, production, and sound design. This project gave me immense creative freedom and the opportunity to craft a unique connection between sound and nature. I’ve shared more about this in a previous post, which you can find here.

The original version of the audio walk was released in German on December 27, available on major streaming platforms such as Spotify. It will officially be available for exploring the Hertenstein Peninsula in spring 2025 on the Lucerne Tourism website and its accompanying app. This gives you the opportunity to listen to the audio walk in advance from the comfort of your sofa before heading out to explore the peninsula in spring!

Looking Ahead

Well, this year has shown me the value of focusing on what truly drives me. By working more out of passion than obligation — and as long as I am not forced to do this for a living — I’ve been able to deepen my projects and rediscover the joy in my work. I look forward to continuing this approach in the coming year.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

With love from Zürich and best wishes for an inspiring start to the new year,

An Moku (Dominik)