Q+A: Ferdous
Dutch Afghan artist and producer Ferdous is a prominent force that needs to be on your radar.
Photographer: Nick van Tiem
Known for his blend of silky R&B tones and lush electronic embellishments, Ferdous' sound is distinctly his own. On his latest single, “Wasteland,” the rising star imprints his presence with a bold statement of overcoming hindsight. These smooth R&B grooves are paired so greatly with a luxurious electronic production, and accentuated with nostalgic-feeling uptempo beats, truly showcasing Ferdous at his best. Alongside the release of his latest single, the R&B newcomer announces his second EP, Doors, set to release in early 2022. The project promises to be a collection of silky R&B tones laced with intoxicating electronic undertones that perfectly paint Ferdous’ sonic palette.
Born in the Netherlands to Afghan refugee parents, Ferdous continues to use music to express his personal identity. Experimenting and discovering the opportunity music provides to explore, Ferdous became hooked on the thriving nature of music and has since harnessed its power to unveil his own narratives. First finding success in pop duo Klyne, a pairing which saw him as tour support for Metronomy and Christine and the Queens, and his electronica moniker Turbo Recordings-signee TRACE7000, his musical trajectory continues to be impressive. With his journey into his own musical identity showcasing an authenticity that listeners adore, Ferdous continues to work alongside critically acclaimed photographer Nick van Tiem to express the roots of his musical identity.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Ferdous via email about the release of his latest single “Wasteland,” along with the release of his forthcoming EP.
Photographer: Nick van Tiem
Do you mind introducing yourself?
Hey I’m Ferdous, I’m an independent artist based in NL and used to be in a duo called Klyne. I write and produce my own stuff and usually like to switch between Hip-Hop, R&B, Synth-Pop, Disco, Ambient, or Club music, kinda depends on what mood I’m in. I just released my new single Wasteland, which is part of my upcoming EP that I’m releasing on January 21.
You released your first track “Stillness” in 2019. How do you think you’ve evolved as an artist since then?
I think I’ve been able to come to terms a bit more with how I overthink stuff. There was a time when I would feel crippled by it, in the sense that I kept second-guessing myself and every creative decision over and over again. I feel like rational thinking works anywhere except in music. It’s really about chasing a feeling or intuition rather than trying to make logical decisions for a desired outcome. My attitude towards music gradually shifted this way since I started self-releasing. I still try to be critical of my own work but only to a certain degree where I feel like it helps me, after that point, I just tell myself to stop. I don’t beat myself up anymore when I’m not able to create anything exciting in the studio, doesn’t matter if I need a few days or weeks until I find a certain sound that I’d like to build on.
How are you feeling about the release of your latest single “Wasteland?”
It’s the most fun I had in a while when I was making the song, a lot of negativity in there for a change haha. Honestly, I’m just wondering if anyone checked the lyrics and said “wow that’s one bitter mf’er”.
Your sound is incredibly rich and I want to say it sounds very ahead of its time right now. What are some of your inspirations when it comes to creating music?
Thank you so much! I usually get bursts of inspiration when the timing is as bad as it can get, like when I’m as far away as possible from a place to make music, I hate my brain for that. But at the same time, being away from the studio definitely helps and fuels my desire to make music. I feel like it’s important to be exposed to things that change your way of thinking or things that evoke a certain emotion, whether that happens through films, memories, dreams, stories, nature, human interactions, anything really. In one way or another, I’ll take these experiences with me when I produce or write. Sometimes I can feel stuck with a certain feeling I don’t fully understand, and when music helps me to externalize and capture something I wouldn’t be able to express otherwise, it’s the most satisfying thing.
You’ve also built this incredibly immersive world through your sound and the use of symbolism from your own personal experiences. What is your creative process like?
I try to work as consistently as I can before I even reach a space where I feel capable to express myself to the fullest. It’s a process that could take days, sometimes weeks. At those times I tend to isolate myself from people and distractions, and whatever happens, I just try not to lose the consistency. Once I’ve grown into the habit of it, my mind just automatically switches to “creative mode” and the ideas start to come more freely. I know that sounds silly but that’s what really happens. I’ve read that your unconscious mind quickly adapts to how you spend your time, the more it’s challenged to come up with new ideas one day, the better it’ll be prepared for that task the next day, and so on. At that point, I’m able to dive into it completely and it feels easier to draw connections between thoughts, melodies, lyrics, drum patterns, everything - it can feel like being in a dream where suddenly you’re having a conversation with your innermost self, you don’t really have to think, you just go with it and see where it leads you.
You also just announced your upcoming EP DOORS! What can fans expect?
Lol, I don’t know what people should expect! The new songs on the EP are completely different and a lot more harsh, abstract and chaotic. Overall I think the EP is kinda dreamy. Just definitely don’t expect one type of style or genre!
Who are you currently listening to?
I’m currently listening to Mixed Matches, Ekkstacy and Shygirl.