Name: Alessandro Salvatori aka Alex Dolby
Nationality: Italian
Occupation: Producer, DJ, label founder at Affekt and Sequenzial Shift
Current release: Alex Dolby's RAL Series  1.1  is out via Sequenzial Shift.
Recommendations: I don't have any particular sites to recommend, but I think that any person, even the youngest, can learn something from them. Personally, I’m someone who studies a lot by watching tutorials. I always try to deepen my knowledge of the things I use in music as much as possible.

If you enjoyed this Alex Dolby interview and would like to stay up to date with his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, and Soundcloud.  



When I listen to music I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

Most of the time I try to listen to it with my eyes closed, imagining what can happen in the appropriate club.

How does listening with headphones compared to a stereo system change your experience of sound and music?
 
It changes quite a lot. Honestly, I feel more when listening to music on a stereo system than on headphones; there’s more ambience around me.

Tell me about some of the albums or artists that you love specifically for their sound.
 
There are many artists that I like, mainly in other genres such as Boards of Canada or Aphex Twin.

In techno, Jeff Mills his still the main man for me; there are a lot of people that copy him but he still maintains an original sound.

[Read our Jeff Mills interview]
[Read our Jeff Mills interview about scoring for film]

Do you experience strong emotional responses towards certain sounds? If so, what kind of sounds are these and why?

I’m really fascinated by raw modular sounds, they cover all frequencies from very warm, to ones which are really hard to replicate.

Those are really interesting to me and they motivate me to do more.
 
There can be sounds which feel highly irritating to us, and there are others we could gladly listen to for hours. Do you have examples for either of these?

Yes, there are sounds that can be irritating and others that can be satisfying. What I love about certain producers is their ability to make tracks with extended loops that remain interesting and satisfying; it’s very special.
 
Are there everyday places, spaces, or devices which intrigue you by the way they sound? Which are these?

I’m fascinated by the sounds of nature, especially at night. I love to sample these on occasion when making tracks.
 
Have you ever been in spaces with extreme sonic characteristics, such as anechoic chambers or caves? What was the experience like?

Natural reverb is something special; I’ve never tried to record it, but I’d love to in the future.

If I’m ever involved in a band, it would be great to record vocals and other instruments in areas such as churches to enjoy natural reverb.

What are among your favourite spaces to record and play your music?

My studio is the best place :)
 
Do music and sound feel “material” to you? Does working with sound feel like you're sculpting or shaping something?

For me, working with analog lets me experience this feeling.
 
How important is sound for our overall well-being, and how much do you feel the "acoustic health" of a society or environment is reflective of it’s overall health?

I think a culture of acoustic health is very important, but I don’t think the current generation is experiencing this.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds?
 
I think natural sounds outside of cities and without human interruptions are amazing.

Many animals communicate through sound. Based either on experience or intuition, do you feel as though interspecies communication is possible and important? Is there a creative element to it, would you say?  
 
I have two dogs and sometimes I feel like they can understand me. Interspecies communication is very important.

Tinnitus and developing hyperacusis are very real risks for anyone working with sound. Do you take precautions in this regard and if you're suffering from these or similar issues, how do you cope with them?

I have heard about this and know people who have these conditions. I try to avoid high volume in studios and when I’m performing.
 
We surround ourselves with sound every second of the day. The great pianist Glenn Gould even considered this the ultimate delight. How do you see that yourself and what importance does silence hold?

Silence is very important sometimes as it helps us to refresh ideas and generate new ones; it’s an important part of the journey of life.

Seth S. Horowitz called hearing the “universal sense” and emphasised that it was more precise and faster than any of our other senses, including vision. How would our world be different if we paid less attention to looks and listened more instead?
 
It would be a better world.