From his base in Dornburg, Germany, Kirk Monteux Mysoftmusic crafts ambient new-age compositions that seamlessly blend electronic and acoustic elements. His music represents a fascinating hybrid approach, combining analog and digital synthesis with an array of traditional instruments including Native American flute, pandrum, duduk, shruti box, koshi, guitarlele, bass ukulele, rainstick, and Tibetan singing bowls.
Musical Roots and Evolution
Monteux's musical journey began early, growing up in a family of musicians. "I of course sat at the piano as a five-year-old and then trained as a classical guitarist," he recalls. His foundation was built on classical guitar, with explorations into flamenco, jazz, and improvisation.
A pivotal moment came through a friendship that would reshape his artistic direction. A friend working as a sound engineer at the Tangerine Dream studio invited Monteux to record in his private home studio. Using one of the first Akai samplers—likely an S600—they captured small phrases from his guitar playing, later manipulating them with Steinberg 24 into various clips. This early exposure to sampling technology sparked his evolution toward electronic-acoustic fusion.
Creative Philosophy
Monteux maintains a distinctly human approach to composition, emphasizing that his process starts "100% without freaking AI." His creative method begins with improvisation, searching for that spark of inspiration. "It starts mostly with improvisation until a point where I think I have found something to stick on it. After this point the hard work starts to put the idea into something listeners can understand right away."
This commitment to organic creativity, combined with his embrace of "happy mistakes" during recording, gives his work an authentic, exploratory quality that distinguishes it in the ambient genre.
Latest Release: Total Tranquility
His current release, Total Tranquility, exemplifies his therapeutic approach to ambient music. The album is specifically designed for listeners seeking stress relief, relaxation, escape, healing, or peaceful moments of conscious listening. Whether used for napping, meditation, or simply unwinding, the compositions provide a sonic sanctuary for finding one's center.
Technical Evolution
Monteux continues to push his technical boundaries, recently upgrading his studio with Dolby Atmos capabilities for fully immersive production. This advancement allows him to create even more enveloping soundscapes that can transport listeners deeper into states of tranquility and reflection.
Connection and Community
While primarily engaging with his audience online, Monteux also maintains connections through local radio stations and publications. He approaches promotion with an experimental mindset, trying various strategies rather than relying on a single approach. For him, each project represents a complete journey: "The process from start to finish, every time it feels like a baby is new born."
Kirk Monteux Mysoftmusic continues to explore the intersection of technology and traditional instruments, creating ambient compositions that serve both as artistic expression and healing soundscapes. His work stands as a testament to the power of combining organic creativity with modern production techniques.
Connect with Kirk Monteux through his website, Instagram, or explore his music on Bandcamp.
