For Tonic Walter, success didn’t come from chasing the biggest music cities—it came from returning home. The German electronic duo, made up of lifelong friends Maximilian Nestmann and Marcel Vckov, have spent years crafting a cinematic sound that’s as emotional as it is dancefloor-ready. Following the release of their debut album, It All Comes Together, and a string of sold-out headline shows across Europe, the pair sat down with BeatRoute to talk about their creative process, bringing their music to life on stage, and what comes next.

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You’ve been friends since childhood and started out playing in a band together. How did that eventually evolve into Tonic Walter?

Max: We’ve been making music together for as long as I can remember, really since we first started learning instruments as kids. Back then, there were a few more friends involved, and we all played together in different bands and projects. Over time, it became clear that Marcel and I were the two who wanted to keep pushing it further. We were the ones who spent countless hours writing, producing, and constantly thinking about music, while the others gradually moved on to different things. We kept creating together for a few more years, and eventually decided to take our music in a completely new direction. That was the moment Tonic Walter was born.

After spending time in Munich and Berlin, you both returned to your hometown of Altenstadt. What inspired that move, and how has it influenced your music?

Marcel: We both moved to different cities for university, but by the time we finished our studies, we knew we wanted to give music our full attention. In the end, returning to Altenstadt simply gave us the best conditions to do that. We had the space to build our own studio and create an environment that was completely focused on making music. Looking back, it turned out to be the perfect decision. We spend so much time traveling and playing in cities around the world that it’s incredibly refreshing to come home during the week, be surrounded by nature, and have the peace and space to create. For us, that’s where we do our best work.

Do you think growing up outside of a major music city has given you a different perspective as artists?

Max: I definitely think it shaped us as artists. Growing up in a small town meant there weren’t endless distractions, so we naturally spent a lot of our free time making music. We’d meet up, rehearse with our band, write songs, and experiment with new ideas. Looking back, I think having that space and time allowed us to develop creatively much earlier than we otherwise might have.

Marcel: I also think the calm environment makes a huge difference. Living outside a big city gives us the chance to really focus without constantly feeling like we’re missing the next event or trend. We can fully immerse ourselves in the creative process, and I believe that sense of peace has become an important part of how we make music today.

How would you describe the Tonic Walter sound to someone who’s hearing your music for the first time?

Max: I’d describe our sound as organic, cinematic, and full of contrast. We love creating music that feels dynamic, moving between intimate, emotional moments and bigger, more euphoric sections. If I had to put it into a genre, I’d say it sits somewhere between melodic deep house and techno, but with a strong focus on organic textures and cinematic atmospheres. Our goal is always to create music that feels both powerful and deeply human.

What does your songwriting and production process usually look like? Does one of you typically start an idea, or is it always collaborative?

Marcel: It’s completely different every time we write music, and I think that’s one of the things we enjoy most about the process. Sometimes I bring in the initial idea, sometimes Max does, and other times we start from scratch together in the studio. An idea might begin as a voice memo, a synth loop on a laptop, or even while we’re on tour. One tradition we’ve built over the years is doing a songwriting retreat once a year. We usually spend two to four weeks somewhere away from home with the sole purpose of writing new music. Changing our surroundings always inspires us in different ways, so every song ends up having its own unique story.

Is there a particular track in your catalogue that best represents who Tonic Walter is today?

Max: I think it’s actually quite difficult to point to a single song that defines Tonic Walter today. Our music covers a fairly wide spectrum, and we never want to limit ourselves to one particular sound or formula. Every track represents a different side of who we are as artists, and that’s something we really enjoy. Whether it’s the atmosphere of “Hope,” the energy of “Breathe,” or the emotional journey of”Falling,” each song highlights a different aspect of our sound. Rather than being defined by one track, I think it’s the combination of cinematic textures, organic elements, and emotional storytelling that truly represents Tonic Walter today.

Congratulations on your debut album, It All Comes Together. What did releasing that first full-length record mean to you?

Max: Releasing our first full-length album was incredibly rewarding, but it was also by far the biggest project we’d ever taken on. We handle almost everything ourselves—from songwriting and production to mixing, and even releasing the music through our own label.Putting together an album that feels coherent from beginning to end takes a completely different level of commitment than releasing individual singles.

Marcel: What made it so special was the opportunity to tell one complete story across an entire album. Instead of thinking about one song at a time, we could create a journey with a clear beginning, middle, and end—both musically and visually. Even the square that represented It All Comes Together became part of the whole concept, appearing not only throughout the artwork but also in our live shows. Having every creative element connected to the same idea made the project feel incredibly meaningful.

Was there a song on the album that challenged you the most during the writing or production process?

Marcel: I wouldn’t say there was one song that was incredibly challenging to finish, but “Hope” definitely required the most careful decisions. The track features a spoken-word recording by Dr. Jane Goodall, and for us it was important to give her voice the space it deserved. We wanted the message to remain the emotional centerpiece of the song while still feeling naturally connected to the music around it. Finding that balance took time, but looking back, I think we managed to create something that lets both the music and her words complement each other in a meaningful way.

Looking back now, is there a track on the album that has taken on new meaning after performing it live?

Max: Definitely. I think “Breathe” has taken on a completely new meaning for us since we started performing it live. It wasn’t one of the biggest songs in terms of streaming or attention after the album came out, but on stage it’s become one of the defining moments of our set. The second drop, when the double-time kick comes in, creates an incredible amount of energy every single night. It’s one of those moments where you can really feel the audience reacting, and that has completely changed the way we look at the song. Sometimes a track finds its true identity only after you start playing it live, and “Breathe” is definitely one of those songs for us.

Your live show has become a big part of your identity. What can fans expect when they see Tonic Walter perform?

Max: We’ve been making music together for a long time, and I think that’s something you can really feel when we’re on stage. Performing live has always been an essential part of who we are, so we try to bring as much of the music to life as possible. We play our analog synthesizers live and recreate as many elements from the studio recordings as we can, because we want every show to feel like a real performance rather than just pressing play.

Marcel: Our headline shows are where we can really bring our full vision to life. We put a lot of thought into the overall production, make sure all of our instruments are part of the performance, and always play everything live. Having the freedom to design the lighting and visual production ourselves is just as important, because it allows us to create a complete experience that reflects the music.

How do you recreate the energy and detail of your studio recordings in a live setting?

Marcel: We actually start thinking about the live performance while we’re still producing a song. From the beginning, we decide which parts we want to play live and how we can recreate every element of the track on stage. The great thing is that there are no limits—we always look for ways to bring the recorded production to life.

Max: Playing our analog synthesizers adds a huge amount of energy to the performance, and interacting with the audience is just as important. In the end, it’s the crowd that makes every concert truly unforgettable.

Do you enjoy playing festivals or headline club shows more, and why?

Max: Festival shows and headline concerts both have their own unique atmosphere, so ideally we like having a mix of both throughout the year. If we had to choose, though, we’d probably go with our own headline shows.

Marcel: The connection with the audience at headline shows is simply much stronger. We also have more creative freedom to shape the entire event—from the stage setup to the lighting design—which makes every headline show feel especially rewarding.

Is there a live performance that stands out as a career highlight so far?

Marcel: The first show that comes to mind is our It All Comes Together Tour concert at Technikum in Munich in 2025. It was our biggest sold-out headline show at the time, and we recorded the entire performance and released it on YouTube. For that show, we expanded our stage production to make the evening even more special.

Max: What made it even more memorable was having so many friends and family there with us. It felt like the perfect way to wrap up a year full of amazing concerts and unforgettable moments.

You supported Tycho and Fritz Kalkbrenner on tour in 2025. What did you learn from those experiences?

Max: Touring with such an experienced crew and band is an incredible experience. You get a behind-the-scenes look at how large productions work, and you learn what it takes to perform in bigger venues for new audiences every night.

Marcel: We always felt that everyone communicated on equal terms, which made the collaboration both enjoyable and inspiring. We’d definitely recommend that artists who want to grow as live performers take every opportunity to play support shows—especially full tour runs, where you learn something new every single night.

You’ve sold out shows across Europe. Has there been a city or audience that surprised you the most?

Marcel: One of our biggest surprises was the final show of the It All Comes Together Tour at Tivoli Vredenburg in Utrecht in April 2026. Utrecht wasn’t a city where we expected such a strong response, since Amsterdam had been the only Dutch city where we’d previously played our own headline show.

Max: Selling that show out and playing to a sold-out crowd with such incredible energy completely exceeded our expectations. It turned into one of the highlights of the tour, and we’re incredibly grateful for that.

As you continue expanding internationally, which countries or cities are you most excited to visit?

Marcel: We recently announced our first shows in the United States, and they’re definitely among the concerts we’re looking forward to the most. For years, fans have been asking us to come to the US, so it’s exciting to finally make it happen.

Max: We’re also really happy to see a lot of listeners from South America reaching out and asking us to perform there as well. Being able to take our music to different continents is something we’re incredibly grateful for.

What are your biggest goals for Tonic Walter over the next year?

Marcel: Our goal is to continue expanding internationally by playing more festivals and bringing our headline shows to cities and countries where we haven’t performed yet. We’re always excited to reach new audiences while continuing to grow our live production.

Are you already working on new music, and can fans expect your sound to evolve in a new direction?

Max: Yes, we’re currently working on our second album, which will be released later this year. We’ve already shared three singles that give a first impression of what to expect. The new music keeps the elements and energy people know from us while also exploring fresh sounds and new creative directions.

Finally, if someone is discovering Tonic Walter for the first time today, which song would you tell them to start with, and why?

Marcel: We think “Into The Night” is the perfect introduction to our music. It captures both our musical identity and the way we perform live. The song builds through dynamic sections that create a strong sense of progression and emotion. One of its defining elements is the lead synthesizer, which serves both as the main melody during the drop and as a rhythmic motif throughout the track. Combined with warm synth pads, powerful drums, and driving percussion, it represents our sound and artistic philosophy better than any other song.

Head to AdmitONE to see Tonic Walter Live on July 25th.