DCSC: Timothy Sonder

Timothy Sonder – instrumental guitar atmospherics

Timothy Sonder’s long-form instrumental guitar works explore the space between classical, global folk, and minimalist traditions. His compositions meld Bach’s mathematical precision, American Primitive guitar’s earthiness, and the patient unfolding of ambient electronic music. Each piece starts from a simple seed and grows organically, creating acoustic soundscapes where time can stretch and compress as the listener’s mind sees fit. Sonder’s music follows Brian Eno’s philosophy to be as “as ignorable as it is interesting” and Erik Satie’s musique d’ameublement – furniture music – to create sounds that fill a space without demanding attention. Yet it rewards deep listening with complex rhythmic overlays, subtle harmonies, and thematic circularities. Sonder’s music has been described as “meditative,” but not in the sense of passive background fodder. The essence of meditation is being attentive to the shifting climates of an internal atmosphere. Sonder’s music is both an escape and an invitation to that sort of meditative attentiveness.