Experimentation is the main influence behind Alex Dolby‘s sound, as he has become firmly settled with creating expressive techno with analog sounds, rough textures, and tough rhythms — all of which are accompanied by dystopian aesthetics. With over 15 years of releasing music, Alex has landed on labels such as John Digweed’s Bedrock, Global Underground, Emmanuel’s ARTS, Developer’s Modularz, DJ Emerson’s Micro.fon, as well as many others. In 2012, Alex found his label Affekt Recordings in his Italian hometown, Frosinone. The label reflects the ethos of underground culture and musical standards and has also cataloged the likes of Pär Grindvik, Alex Bau, Mental Resonance, VSK, and MTD.
As of recent, Alex released his 8-track album Transition Era on EVOD Music on September 5th. The album takes on an introspective modular sound with Alex’s own style of underground flare. On the album, listeners can expect more than just analog sounds, but a variety of esoteric, hypnotic, gritty, and dystopian soundscapes that create an abstract and experimental environment. His full album Transition Era is now available for full purchase.
Welcome to 6AM Alex, we’re excited to talk about your latest album that was just released on EVOD. Tell us what’s been new with you and your label AFFEKT Recordings.
Hello, it’s a pleasure for me too to talk about this. This album, which I love a lot, is the consequence of established music and mental synergy with the guys at EVOD music. We also have other projects coming up for the future. I stopped a bit this summer with Affekt after some years of regular releases, but now I’m working again on the label and will share fresh music in the near future too.
Recently, you released your Transition Era album on September 5th. What drew you to the concepts of abstract, esoteric, and dystopia for this project?
Normally, when I do music I don’t think about the market or which method — I just start and record a live session. This summer, I was away from the actual club situation and this was just my imagination without any outside influence.
“When I do music, I don’t think about the market or which method — I just start and record a live session.”
Don’t force the flow — let the ideas come organically when it comes to creating music.
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Every DJ has their own sound, and with this album, it greatly showcases your love of analog sounds. What is it about modular techno that gets you amped? What drew you to it?
I was born with analog sounds in the late ’90s, during the years “digital” became massive. But the love…analog is impossible to recreate with other things, the irregular sync “ecc ecc” gives you the chance to make something incredible every time — it’s not easy to reproduce.
“I was born with analog sounds in the late ’90s, during the years “digital” became massive. Analog is impossible to recreate with other things, the irregular sync “ecc ecc” gives you the chance to make something incredible every time — it’s not easy to reproduce.”
The elements of analog leave so much room to create anything.
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When it comes to creating your music, where (or who) do you go to for inspiration? What’s a pro tip you’d recommend to a DJ that is looking for inspiration but doesn’t know the right places/people to find it?
Inspiration is the best part of this work — I can’t explain how you can get it; maybe at a party or listening to music a lot, but it depends on your mind, and when it arrives it’s magic.
“I can’t explain how you can get it; maybe at a party or listening to music a lot, but it depends on your mind, and when it arrives it’s magic.”
Inspiration can hit you when you least expect it.
For you personally, can you define what your own transition era is looking like right now, or what it will look like in the future?
Transition Era is my actual mood — I’m just waiting for the scene change mentality and then back to the serious underground stuff.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m also working on another project and hope to talk about it soon. Thanx for all.
Connect with Alex Dolby: SoundCloud丨Facebook丨Twitter丨Beatport丨Instagram
