Rocker Nix Dadry is influenced by a wide range of musical genres, including blues, folk, soul, grunge, funk, and alternative pop. He is originally from the UK’s Midlands and spent some time in London honing his craft before relocating. Along with performing there, he also performed in bars in New York City, Montreal, and Istanbul while traveling.
Nix respects fellow artists who work quietly and wants to reclaim music for those who want to express themselves. The World Goes Round, his most recent EP, is now available. Suicide Sunshine and Papillon, two of the singles, were played on BBC Introducing.
Our contemporary human world has a significant influence on The World Goes Round EP. Additionally, Nix Dadry has never worked on a project with as many collaborators as this one. It was produced by Dan Willett and has a wide range of talented guest singers and musicians. The final product is a diverse rock album that incorporates grunge, folk, pop, blues, and even some prog. Check out his latest EP and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started?
NIX DADRY: I’m from the West Midlands, UK. Back in the day, my eldest brother’s friend was the only musician I knew in our neighbourhood. They were the cool older guys so I wanted to emulate them.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
NIX DADRY: Self-taught. I can’t read or write music so it was all by ear. Playing along to my favourite bands’ albums was good practice.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘NIX DADRY’?
NIX DADRY: Guns N’ Roses had a massive impact on me. Even though they emerged from the 1980s LA scene, they weren’t of that scene. The songs were better, their sound was grittier and there was a street sophistication.
Nirvana introduced me to the world of grunge. They turned rock on its head. I gained confidence in writing after I heard Nevermind. To this day, Kurt Cobain is one of my favourite guitar players.
Black Crowes really went against the grain. Their love of authentic blues, country, soul and folk ran so deep, I could drown in their songs. I gleaned so much about roots music from them. This is what makes you search for the old pioneers.
Dadry is my surname. Nix is a nickname my cousins gave me and it stuck. It’s anglicized and derived from the word nickaa which in Punjabi, means “youngest one” or “little one”. My background is Indian and I’m the youngest of three brothers.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
NIX DADRY: I’m a story guy and a seeker so I hope the whole piece will speak to someone. Being groovy and memorable is key. Lyrics are super important even when I’m writing something tongue-in-cheek. Since I’m influenced by so many styles, I would describe my sound as eclectic rock.
NIX DADRY:
Yes that’s true. Almost all of us start out that way. As a kid I was obsessed with all the badass rockstars of a certain era but as I grew older, I wanted my ideas to be timeless. Also, rock wasn’t the only music I heard. My parents listened to 60s & 70s Bollywood, my brothers liked Soul, Funk, Pop, Electro, Folk and Disco.
When I moved to London, I made friends with some fascinating people who opened my mind. I’m glad I was around all that. It made me think differently about writing. Not that I wanted to do fusion. It would still be rock but I became intrigued by music that crossed over, so even a non-rocker might enjoy it.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
NIX DADRY:
Some of these themes are definitely present in my work, especially on the new EP. However, they’re not my concern all of the time. I don’t think artists should feel pressure to always comment on such matters. Just be sincere. I enjoy a variety of subjects, emotions, personal narrative and entertainment.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
NIX DADRY:
This is a big question and something I’ve been wrestling with a lot recently. Most DIY artists don’t make back the money they spend or get the reaction they hope for. We pour our heart and soul into it too. Being gluttons for punishment, we keep coming back for more! While I love making a new EP, album or video, I wonder if anyone will be into it. In the near future, I’d like to write for other artists or do more collaborations.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
NIX DADRY:
My skills are very basic. Most of the time it’ll start with a riff or chord on my acoustic guitar. There are many approaches. It can be a title or phrase. A melody. A few lines that sound good. Once I’ve got a skeleton of the tune, I refine it.
Even if I have a solid idea in my head, I deliberately leave it quite bare before I go into the recording studio. My favourite producer and collaborator, Dan Willett, helps me make rough guide tracks and we go from there. Then we get the musicians in. It’s exciting to see what others will bring to the table.
9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
NIX DADRY: The late great Tom Petty said: “Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks”. Most humans go through difficult stuff. I’ve experienced violence, poverty, addiction and heartbreak. I made big mistakes which led to heavy regrets. On the other hand, close people in my life helped me get through those times.
In music, what eludes me is riding the wave of live performance. I can’t get a consistent band together. Musicians can be a strange breed and hard to deal with. Thankfully, the ones I know now are brilliant in every way. Unfortunately, we’re all spread out in different cities. Playing live is the essence of rocknroll. You’ve got all this energy built up inside and need to release it.
Since the internet arrived, making audio and video is easier but promoting it by yourself is very difficult. Constantly being ignored can get to you, so having thick skin is handy! It’s healthy to take a step back from it once in a while. The industry is like the wild west at the moment. Like me, there are others sitting on great work but we don’t have the connections. It’s why I’m a big supporter of new, underrated bands and artists. There’s so much incredible music under the radar right now.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
NIX DADRY: There are a handful. I’m most proud of the 3 projects I’ve made with Dan Willett (the Magic Water album, Screwface EP & The World Goes Round EP). I’m grateful to everyone involved.
There’s a rap/rock track Dan and I did with hip-hop artist DeMar The Illest Poet. We made up an instrumental piece, sent it over via email as he’s based in LA. He came up with lyrics and vocals, sent it back and we finished it with a few final touches. Finding DeMar was a happy accident. For fans of his genre, I highly recommend his debut album “New Vintage”. It’s perfection.
While I haven’t achieved material success or notoriety, I’ve worked with awesome musicians, singers, visual artists, filmmakers and photographers. We’re a creative community. Two of my new songs (Suicide Sunshine & Papillon) were played by BBC Introducing which I appreciate. Some years ago, I did a solo acoustic gig in a bar in Birmingham. Spike from the Quireboys was there, staring at me as I performed. It made me a bit nervous as I admire him. Afterwards, he came outside, had a cigarette with me and we talked. He said he loved the set and asked if I wrote those songs. That question can be a big compliment.
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Photo credits: Paul Ward, Mark Remmington & Nix Dadry