Nexcyia’s debut album, “Endless Path Of Memory,” du to be released on March 8th via Pensaments Sònics, marks a departure from conventional music structures. London-based sound artist Adam Dove immerses in a world of sonic experimentation, transcending traditional melodies for a journey through textures and atmospheres. Drawing on his background in sound art, Dove intricately weaves harsh sampling and gentle synthesis, exploring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Themes of otherness and existential reflection echo through the album.
KALTBLUT caught up with him ahead of the release to chat about his background in sound art and the album’s themes.
KALTBLUT: How did your background in sound art practices influence the creation of your debut album, “Endless Path Of Memory”?
Nexcyia: My sound art practice and experimentation are fuelled by a genuine curiosity and a sensitivity to mood. At times, my creative output emerges from a space of restlessness and anxiety. While my formal studies in sound art commenced between 2014-2015, my fascination with sound experimentation has been a longstanding interest. Following my graduation in 2018, feeling annoyed in London, I sought refuge with my uncle in LA for a period. It was there, in 2019, that I recorded the first track of the album, titled “Intro.”
KALTBLUT: In the description of your album, there’s an emphasis on exploring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Can you elaborate on how you incorporated granular synthesis and your own archived audio to achieve this exploration?
Nexcyia: I integrate my granular synthesis, primarily by layering and manipulating a diverse array of sounds. Following this, I extensively EQ various frequencies, resample, and further manipulate them to yield distinct textures. Additionally, I often disable the grid in Ableton Live during production, leveraging the fluidity it provides. This can be toggled on/off effortlessly by pressing CTRL – 4 (Win) / CMD – 4 (Mac).
KALTBLUT: The album delves into themes of otherness and existential exploration. How did you use sound, including field recordings and innovative recording techniques, to convey these themes and create a sonic world that mirrors reflections and memories?
Nexcyia: For over a decade, I’ve been incorporating field recordings, drawing from my extensive archive and even tapping into my family’s collection, to evoke memories and reflections. My approach involves not only distorting these recordings to cultivate a sense of otherness but also actively seeking out unconventional sounds and textures, which I meticulously record and arrange to craft a distinctive and immersive sonic atmosphere.
Buy “Endless Path of Memory” on Bandcamp here. Follow @nexcyia on Instagram to keep up with his releases, as well as upcoming shows. Alongside @emregirginkaya, Nexcyia contributed a track to the compilation “For Palestine” with 100% of the proceeds going to Médecins sans frontières. Buy the compilation on Bandcamp here.
All photos by @c____v____p
You can revisit all Cultural Connection interviews at #TheCulturalConnection here.
