The Dolls are Good is a pseudonym for filmmaker and producer Nadeem Akhtar, using a repertoire of electronic styles, sampled snippets and psychedelic nostalgia, the Dolls Are Good is here to create a retrofitted sound for our collective future, one which can’t neatly be pigeonholed into a formulaic playlist and a sound which is only for the most discerning ear.
With over 20 years of experience in beat making The Dolls Are Good keeps getting better with each production he makes, drawing loads of inspiration from music produced in the 50s through to the 1960’s psychedelia, Shoegaze, 90’s hip hop, and the 90’s UK electronic music scene (jungle, trip-hop, big beat) to music produced in the current day, all this have are a strong presence within his music.
“One twenty-Six (126)” is the upcoming release from Canadian producer The Dolls Are Good. The music, which maintains a retro look, appears to be a jungle track. In order to create a captivating acoustic trip, frenetic rhythm sounds are hidden among varied melody parts.
This was shared during an interview with Mister Styx of Musicarenagh where he shared bits and pieces of his personal life, he also went on to share what his fans should expect next, he said
I’m finishing up an EP with a more mellow electronic vibe a bit in realm of Air’s “Moon Safari”.
get this and more from the interview below:
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What is your stage name
The Dolls Are Good
Is there a story behind your stage name?
There is, I’d been making electronic tunes for over 20 years, but more for private tapes enjoyed only by friends and family or for audiovisual pieces. Just prior to the Covid pandemic I started to get serious about putting some releases out for a wider audience but needed a new stage name as my last one was taken. I asked one of my daughters for a name and her response was my moniker.
Where do you find inspiration?
I enjoy a very broad range of music from the 50s to the current day and all the different types of music that I listen to inform how I make music. That said, 1960’s psychedelia, Shoegaze, 90’s hip hop and the 90’s UK electronic music scene (jungle, trip hop, big beat) are a strong presence within my music.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life? Are you from a musical or artistic family?
I grew up listening to a whole range of music, and although there were no musicians or artists in my family, playing vinyl and having a cassette playing in the car was a standard fixture in the household. This definitely honed my appreciation of music and expanded my taste for music as an art form.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
All of the 1990s electronic music artists that pushed boundaries with creativity and blurred the lines between played and sampled music. In particular Aphex Twin, The Chemical Brothers, Orbital, Squarepusher, Coldcut, Air and Amon Tobin have been major inspirations.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
As with most of the art I indulge in, I taught myself. Initially I was a hip-hop DJ, but then progressed to wanting to make my own beats. I take inspiration by example…Even now when I listen to a track, if I like something in the construction or processing, I make a note of it and try to replicate the element in my own track.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
That’s difficult to pin down, but in my teens I went to a lot of Hip hop gigs in the North of England. It was a mix of big names (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest etc) and up and coming artists…simply being part of that energy was exciting.
How could you describe your music?
Broadly defined, it’s retro-tinged electronic music which playfully hops between styles and genres. I am however, always trying to keep the listener guessing; striking the balance between changing elements and melody.
A little while ago I started to make collaborative compilations with Kynet Jah, Skholezy and more recently Zahkia, under the Sonic Saviours moniker. One of our projects was an updated Rave “concept album”, designed to be listened to straight through, a sort of “clubbers Dark Side of the Moon”.
Describe your creative process.
I try to work on tracks every weekend and adhere to the philosophy that the best electronic music is made at night. I have a vast collection of tracks that never quite get finished, but when I’m feeling a track I can usually get it 90% done in a single night. I then go back to it a week later and get feedback from the Sonic Saviours Crew before the finished tune is put out.
What is your main inspiration?
The city at night; memories of winter evenings in London and driving the UK highways late at night in particular
What musician do you admire most and why?
There are many, but other than those mentioned above, Bjork. She remains an all-round artist with a unique knack for accessible yet abstract expression.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
Definitely, I like to think that my production skills have and continue to refine.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
I don’t like to compete, I’m just happy that I can put my work out there for others to listen to.
What are your interests outside of music?
Film is my other passion and I’ve been quite successful as a short film maker. I do feel that Film and music are natural, complementary partners in artistic expression.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
I do have another career…but that’s top secret!
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
The same issue that no doubt most new artists encounter- how to be visible and get promo.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
Streaming; It’s great as a consumer (for myself included) but not good for artists and changes how people consume a body of work. Often the order of tracks is extremely intentional and an album listened to in its natural order is greater than the sum of its parts.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
1:26 (am) the middle of the night, when the city is at its most melodic
What are your plans for the coming months?
I’m finishing up an EP with a more mellow electronic vibe a bit in realm of Air’s “Moon Safari”.
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans?
Yes- I’m continuing to work on collaborative releases with the Sonic Saviour’s collective and I’m currently working on a new track with Zahkia (from Nashville) and DreyKickit a hip hop lyricist from London.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Sincerely- thanks for listening!
