about Soniq Theater (last updated january 2011):
Soniq Theater is a one-man project, presenting a blend of progressive styles,
mainly symphonic progressive rock with
elements of metal, ambient, electronic music, classical music and fusion.
The music is composed, performed, recorded and mixed by Alfred Mueller.
As it is a one-man-project, the music is not planned to be played live.
Nevertheless Soniq Theater is heard already by many people in about 80 radios,
on the Soniq Theater website, in Myspace and many other music portals.
Soniq Theater is recommended to all open-minded progressive rock-fans and is appreciated
as well by “normal people” with some musical education.
The most known
influences are:
- the great prog-bands of the 70’s like Yes, Genesis, Kansas, ELP, King Crimson, UK, Camel, Happy The Man, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
the progressive rock of the 80s: Saga, Marillion, IQ, Rush, It Bites
German progressive rock of Anyone’s Daughter and Eloy
- progmetal bands like Dream Theater, Enchant, Symphony X, Royal Hunt
new progbands of the 90s: Magellan, Cairo, Everon, Spock’s Beard, Glass Hammer, Ines
- electronic music of Tangerine Dream, Yanni, Chris Franke and Vangelis
Also, prog-related artists like: Rick Wakeman, Mike Oldfield, Alan Parsons Project,
Karl Jenkins (of Soft Machine and Adiemus), Rupert Hine, Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs),
David Arkenstone, Pat Metheny, Gandalf
- classical music: symphonies and baroque music
Equipement used :
Alfred uses a midi-system, contsisting of: Ensoniq TS10 as a masterkeyboard, Ensoniq EPS sampler, Yamaha SY85 Synthesizer, Roland JV1080 soundmodule, EMU Vintage Keys and
EMU Orbit soundmodules, Alesis DM5 drummodule.
Effectprocessors: Digitec Studioquad Multieffectprocessor, Alesis Microverb III,
Ibanez SDR1000 Digital Reverb and Deltalab Effectron I Digital Delay.
Tascam 788 8-track harddisc recorder
Mixing console: Behringer Eurorack MX2802
Sony DAT-Recorder
Biography of Alfred:
Born in 1962
Taking organ lessons since the age of 12
First synthesizer when he was 17
At the age of 18 he had his first band
Played in bands of different styles (see below history of bands and projects)
In 1992 he won the rock-contest HEADLINER in Germany with his band Rachel’s Birthday
In 1996 Rachel’s Birthday’s CD “an invitation to” was released
In 1998 he received the Award First Class from the Preston University for his compositions
1999 start of Soniq Theater
History of Bands and Projects:
1999 – now: SONIQ THEATER
1995 TIMELESS ( funk, soul jazz band)
1991 – 1997 RACHEL’S BIRTHDAY (progressive rock band)
1992 Joerg Weigand (he accompanied the folk guitarist Joerg Weigand in his ensemble)
1990 – 1991 FISCHER X ( rock-cover-band)
1987 – 1989 EMERALD (artrock band, pre-Rachel’s Birthday)
1986 – 1998 RED ELF (projectname for all solo-productions during that time)
1984 – 1986 QUENYA (artrock band)
1984 BAUMSTUMPF (band with different styles)
1983 – 1985 UTOPIA (later ON FUNCTION) (artrock-band)
1981 – 1983 SUNSET (jazzfusion-band)
1980 – 1982 DECAY OF INNOCENCE (rock’n roll and artrock band)
Alfred’s 10 favourite albums:
KANSAS – Leftoverture
YES – 90125
GENESIS – Selling England by the pound
DREAM THEATER – Images and Words
ENCHANT – A Blueprint of the World
BRUFORD – One of a Kind
TANGERINE DREAM - Optical Race
YANNI – Keys to Imagination
INES – Hunting the Fox
UK – Danger Money
MAGELLAN - Impending Ascension
