In anticipation of his upcoming release RAIS Series 1.1, Italian veteran Alex Dolby warms things up with an hour and twenty minutes of intelligent, ambient, dub-techno.
Alex Dolby has contributed to the Italian techno scene for over 20 years and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Throughout his career he has released on labels such as A.R.T.S, Modularz, and Teksupport, besides running his own labels Sequenzial and Affekt Recordings – which celebrated its 10th year in 2023.
Alex’s approach to music is to challenge himself and the status quo, and his upcoming release on Sequenzial, RAI Series 1.1 does just that. Created to explore the more minimal regions of the label, RAI will look to meander through slower BPMs, and offer a different experience to the labels usual output.
In the first edition of our new //SNCMIX series, Alex explores his current sonic aesthetic as he weaves through dark, cavernous soundscapes, driving basslines, and dubby chords in this atmospheric techno mix.
There seemed to have been a 2-year gap in releases at Sequenzial. Could you explain the reasoning for this? Why was 2023 the right time to start releasing again?
I started the label some time ago as an Affekt Recordings sub-label, but last summer, after the 10 years of Affekt Recordings’ release, I decided to stop the label and try to make something new. It needs some time, but this makes me feel very good.
The latest release on the label was from DIB. Including yourself, this brings the total number of artists on the label to three. You had previously stated that Sequenzial was something you intended to self-release.
Does this mean your thoughts have changed?
My thoughts haven’t changed, but to do this, I had to stop Affekt Recordings and focus totally on this label, or it wouldn’t make sense.
Tell us about RAI. Why did you decide to create this series, and what are you hoping to achieve with it?
The RAl series will be a minimal techno part of the label that tries to make music with lower BPMs than the market currently offers. For the regular releases I’m going to make ambient sounds and textures primarily with my modular system.
Can you share your creative process for the EP? Were there any pieces of equipment or software that you used during production to create those soundscapes?
My creative processing starts every time with my modular system. Most of the time, I do a jam session and then rework what I registered until I find a good way with sounds and grooves. I have many hardware machines that helps me a lot.
Tell us about your mix for //SNCMAG.
The mix is my mood at the moment about sounds that I like in the tracks. It’s a warming up from quiet tracks to the dance floor. Imagine a club situation where you try to manufacture the right mood to carry the audience to the main time. Honestly, this is the part I like the most during a party and, in my opinion is the hardest work to do.
You have been in the business for over 20 years now. Do you have any words of wisdom for the younger generation?
Over the years many things have changed. These days, people are more focused on promoting themselves with social networking instead of making good music or trying something different. Everyone’s making the same loops, playing the same sounds. I don’t see any emotions in the new music. It’s all very mechanical.
All I can ask the people is to change their mentality and have more respect when they approach the music.
What’s next for Alex Dolby?
I’m going on a China tour soon, and I will finally have a new residency with my party this next November.
Tracklist:
Architectural – opera12 – Architectural
Svreca – How To Become Nothing (Shifted Version) – semantica
Conforce – informatica – transcendent
Conforce – phase7 – transcendent
Minilogue – when sadness releases . Joy arises (donato dozzy rex) – enemy records
Marco shuttle- danza cinetica – spazio disponibile
Varg – Norrlandsbrigad 69r(hypnobirds edit) – semantica
Tin Man – nonneo (dozzy Rmx) – acid test
Artificial Drm- Pythagoreo – semantica
Rhyw – Happening rn – avian
Marco shuttle . Flusso dinamico – spazio disponibile
Terrence fixmer , claudio pro – planetary phase – prologue
Blovk – cult as panic defense – postdynamic
Zadig – Portal 58(MOD21 Rmx) – Kr3
Drafted – braman – postdynamic
Acronym – hydraulic fracturing – semantica
Lakej – Phooka – edit select
Alex dolby – cosmo – Sequenzial shift