Amazing party last night - thank you! Q&A Part One today - my musical background and philosophy
- quiet details
- Apr 4
- 5 min read
Hi friends - hope all good :)
Thanks for making the Listening Party last night so good!
I’ve hosted loads of them but this was my first for a quiet details album of my own, incredibly grateful to everyone for coming and all the wonderfully kind words about the album.
For all the back-story, the most important thing is always the music and it needs to stand on its own - very glad so many people connected with it deeply and it resonates with you.
Reached the number one bestselling electronic music release on Bandcamp, and sixth overall in any genre/format - some amazing releases out at the moment so thank you all so much!
CDs still left so if you want one they’re there for now.
Please do message me for the long-form if you bought the CD - I thought of the album as one long-form piece from the very beginning so really is the most complete way to experience the music.
I truly feel I’ve found the music I’m supposed to make and am completely free to explore it - it’s inspiring and cathartic and it’s an honour to share it with you.
What’s been really amazing that I didn’t expect, was so many people with similar experiences of being ill getting in touch and saying they can relate to the healing power of music - that’s truly wonderful and I’m so appreciative to know that x
So as always, here’s our regular questions answered :)
A bit about my background and history in music
I always loved music and started properly getting into it playing bass when I was in my early teens. Was in a few garage bands mostly playing heavy rock and metal, then was introduced to reggae and dub by a friend’s older brother - that was a big turning point and for a few years that was a huge amount of what I listened to, with a heavy dose of hip-hop/beats (UK and US) and The Beatles.
King Tubby and Scientist were and still are the pinnacle of dub to me: Tubby as the originator and master of the 70s roots sound; then Scientist with later early dancehall dubs - his classic run of albums soundtracked so many incredible times in my life.
In my late teens I was introduced to electronic music, first drum and bass/jungle then house and techno - experiences in clubs, free parties and afters were massive in shaping my musical tastes up to today. I spent many years buying records and DJ-ing, helping me really refine what I felt most connected to.
I’ve been making music for a long time, mostly dance-floor focused - but it was only when I started the fields we found project I felt I found my true direction. The music was free of any preconceptions and was so liberating - just making and seeing where my intuition took me.
This all evolved into where we are today. I had an idea for a label and wanted it to be fully formed before I started, I was lucky enough to have also met some incredible people during my time as fwf so from the very first release we had stunning music (thanks Craig x).
So grateful to all the artists that put their faith in quiet details, especially at the beginning when we had no history - it’s turned into something more that I could have imagined and I’m honoured to be a part of sharing these wonderful musicians’ art with you all.
Then there was last year. Being diagnosed with lymphoma was a hammer-blow - completely out of the blue and initially devastating, especially as I’m married and have two beautiful young daughters..
But I was in good hands - my family and friends were amazing and supportive, and the NHS (UK’s National Health Service) was next-level brilliant through everything.
I’ve written about this before so won’t go into detail here - but the whole experience changed how I perceive and experience everything, especially music.
I think about and hear it differently now, and I’m fully committed to making it - in your hands was the first step; the resolve / relate series is the direct continuation of these long-form, deep-listening pieces; and the rhythm structures series is me going back to beats with renewed freedom and energy, it’s a lot of fun and great to see it landing with so many of you!
Describe a bit about my general philosophy and process as an artist
Looking at the present time and speaking about music (my work as a visual artist is similar though) - I’ve become most interested in the elemental aspects of sound.
Fundamental frequency relationships and their evolution over time; multiple layers interacting with each other to bring out new overtones, harmonics and rhythms as the pieces evolve.
I use a modular system to give the most freedom and flexibility to explore this - analogue oscillators with access to the deepest parameters give so much scope to create these soundscapes. Cross-modulation, feedback paths and other techniques allow infinite variations - and controlling them by hand makes it deeply human.
Choosing frequencies by ear is essential - with so many interactions it means I can craft the tones with only my perception for guidance, opening up so many worlds and giving complete independence from musical convention.
All my music is recorded to 1/4” reel-to-reel tape, directly from the instruments in one take. This continues the intuitive freedom, performing the pieces live as musicians have done forever - and lets me use my instincts to arrange the tracks organically.
What does quiet details mean to me and how did I use that to approach this album
This goes back to why I called the label quiet details in the first place.
I’ve always been drawn to the fraying edges of music - ever-present in dub and much of the left-field electronic music I love. Sounds drifting off into the ether, electricity crackling overhead.
These always catch my attention and I love letting my focus move over to them, then shift elsewhere - so my favourite music is full of these subtleties.
So when making music I always do so with this at the forefront of my mind, and aim to create a deep and highly dimensional space - every element is equal and essential to the piece, even when it may be far away from the current consciousness.
I hope this means you discover more on every listen - it’s music to take your time with.
Much love friends, huge thanks again and have a great weekend x
Alex
quiet details studios - mastering and audio services
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