living your dreams. freedom. just hitting the road. being independent.
many people dream of these things – kai sonnhalter has done them.
in his mid-thirties, the engineer quits his job, lifts his head into the clouds, and sets off with a backpack and guitar. he wants to finally make his own music again – his own songs, his own lyrics. where the journey takes him is secondary, because the journey itself is the reward. along the way, he gathers ideas and inspiration – whether at the north cape or in the peruvian andes.
this is how kai’s debut ep “the journey is the reward” came to life, released in 2015 under the artist name SONNHALTER.
Award winning songwriter, touring artist
after winning the international songwriter award “prix des aralunaires” at luxembourg’s festival saveurs culturelles du monde, SONNHALTER has played support shows for pur, jupiter jones, and nico santos.
in 2020, he released the ep “home”. his upcoming full-length album “change” is scheduled for release in march 2026, preceded by the first singles “butterfly” and “you’re not alone” in the fall of 2025.
SONNHALTER’s songs tell stories of his encounters and experiences.
traces of SONNHALTER’s now 30-year musical journey, but above all a great deal of honesty, can be found in his music. somewhere between singer-songwriter and guitar-driven rock, the singer and guitarist builds a bridge – both lyrically and musically – between the lightness of being and the bittersweet irony of life.
while SONNHALTER’s sound today is more earthy and rock-oriented, his message and writing style have hardly changed: melancholic yet hopeful, he delivers catchy pop songs with strong hooks and memorable melodies, which, upon closer listening, reveal an authentic depth in both composition and lyrics.
Awards
festival saveurs culturelles du monde
at his very first appearance on international ground, SONNHALTER made an immediate impact: at the 2013 festival saveurs culturelles du monde in mondorf-les-bains, luxembourg, he was honored with the international songwriter award prix des aralunaires.
prix des aralunaires
as part of the award, he performed at the 2014 festival les aralunaires in arlon, belgium.
tv appearances
long before youtube, there was this thing called tv. ask your parents.
swr television
live appearance in the television program “kaffee oder tee?” on swr television, 2013
balcony tv vienna
live performance for vienna’s balcony tv on the rooftop of the 25hours hotel, 2014
saarland broadcasting
“kai sonnhalter – musician with passion” – tv feature on sr television, 2022
saar rock history
tv documentary about the saarland music scene on sr television, 2025