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Dissolved Girl, welcome to VENTS! We’d love it if you could tell us about your recently released third single, I’m a Beast, and how it fits in with the band’s style and ambitions.
Hello VENTS!
Our third single showcases a rockier side to the band – although the track is still underpinned by a rich and layered sonic backdrop. It certainly represents one side of our musical direction going forward.
We always strive to engage the listener in a number of ways. One of those is through a rich palette of sounds that offer interest and intrigue to the ear. To us it seems a rare thing in modern ‘mainstream’ music – a vast orchestration of sounds, where each constituent part has its perfect place. Every element should improve the song, and the intended result is greater than the sum of its parts.
The key foundation however, is always the song itself. Above all we are dedicated to getting that right. We might go through 15 different versions of a chorus before we settle on a version which is ‘the one’. We might even spend a couple of days just on one word.
After playing and writing for established artists, how did it feel to start from scratch with an independent band?
It can be both inspiring and daunting starting a project from scratch. For many artists, a blank page can be intimidating. That said, it has been gratifying forging our own particular sound.
In a sense, it is a similar feeling every time you start a new song – there are no rules and you can go anywhere. That can be exciting. But the lack of any constraints can also feel overwhelming.
It is a very modern problem. Home recording means that artists are not in a studio where time is extremely limited. You could spend days, months or even years crafting and recording a single song. Therefore we have to constantly invent ways to self-impose constraints. It helps you to get out of your own way and unlock the creative process.
Dark trip-hop sounds will always attract comparisons to PJ Harvey, Massive Attack, and Portishead; how do you plan on moving out of their shadow?
Obviously we love those artists. They are icons of British music. In a sense we will always be standing on the shoulders of those giants. But we don’t necessarily sound closely alike to any of our influences.
Every artist has their unique fingerprint. Whilst trip hop is a major foundation of our sound, we equally float between alternative rock, indie music and film music. Some of our favourite ever music has come from films.
Our own very unique blend of influence is thus the way we can stand musically on our own two feet.
What is an essential component of Dissolved Girl you wouldn’t sound the same without?
The key to Dissolved Girl is the organic instruments and vocals – blended with painstakingly layered sounds and samples – but delivered via songs that have some kind of ‘edge’. That is our sound.
Our songs have attitude. They are not necessarily for everyone. But we feel that they can really connect with anyone drawn to these genres.
I think there is a healthy appetite right now for music which offers more. People are tired of highly sanitised pop, with the same four chords and a******* everywhere. I recently played a song from today’s charts and then put on an old Nina Simone record. The difference was astounding. One was full of emotion and totally authentic. The other just sounded like lift music.
You aim to orchestrate sophisticated music; how do you ensure that this doesn’t register as ostentatious instead?
It’s always up to the listener to decide what is inspiring to them, or what is simply pretentious. To some, Bitches Brew (Miles Davis) is a work of genius, whilst others say it sounds like musicians ‘warming up’. Some prefer the simplicity of the Beatles’ ‘Ticket To Ride’, to the massive ambition of ‘Day In The Life’. It’s all a matter of taste.
That being said, I think the public can always tell what is simply posturing, and what is authentic. If you are trying to be ostentatious just in order to look a certain way, then people can see it.
We are just trying to write music that moves us and moves the listener.
If you could choose your legacy in the music industry, what would it be?
We’re only at the start of the journey for this band, so hopefully we will not have to think about any legacy for many years to come.
When all is said and done though, it will be about the songs. We ultimately hope to leave behind a body of work that we are proud of, and that makes people feel something. Art should move the soul.
If even one person says that some of our work has inspired them, or helped them through a difficult time, then that would be incredibly rewarding for us.
Dani Castelar, known for his work with Paulo Nutini, mixed I’m a Beast. How did his involvement shape the final sound of the single?
Dani certainly brings his own personality – and incredible wealth of experience – to the mixing process.
His style really brought an added excitement to the songs. He never makes anything too ‘polite’ sounding, which we love. His mixing can feel aggressive. It might even feel in your face. But it has attitude.
He also worked tirelessly until the mix was right and everyone was happy, which is a wonderful thing, and testament to his professionalism.
Dani of course produced Paulo Nutini’s incredible album Caustic Love, which is a major reason we first got in touch. You can hear the raw emotion dripping from that record, and Dani was of course instrumental in shaping that. ‘Iron Sky’ is one of our favourite ever songs.
What else will your fans hear on your upcoming debut LP?
This is the third track from our debut album, which will be released throughout the rest of this year. We are excited for everyone to hear the songs coming next.
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