Ferdous - Doors (EP) + 10 Questions

Releasing his second EP Doors, Afghan-Dutch artist, writer and producer Ferdous invites listeners into his world of sublime alt-R&B. Teasing us with single releases throughout the autumn, Ferdous returns with a collection of six-tracks that present his most personal work to date.

Born in the Netherlands to Afghan refugee parents, Ferdous unravels his personal identity within his music. Experimenting with his musical identity throughout his career so far within the likes of pop duo Klyne - a pairing which saw him supporting the likes of Metronomy and Christine and the Queens - and his electronica moniker Turbo Recordings-signee TRACE7000, Ferdous' new personal project sees him harness the power in unveiling his own narrative.

With Ferdous' sonic palette being woven with the fibres of R&B and electronica, the tapestry of Doors is produced with a realistic intimacy. Crafted with the ability to tell the world his story, Ferdous uses his own words and experiences to soundtrack his narrative and offer an insight into the world of an introverted creative.

All six tracks effuse an ingrained emotive quality that showcase Ferdous thriving in his spacious realm of alt-R&B. Featuring the likes of Billboard-approved "Tolerate", COLORS-loving "Trust/Verify" and Earmilk favourite "Wasteland", the EP also sees the arrival of three new tracks. Built with an abundance of sultry yet soothing sonics, Ferdous' diverse sounds sees him include jangly motifs on "Doors", bouncy synth patterns on the dreamy "Love If" and sultry beats on "Vivid".

Ferdous sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I vaguely remember listening to Fugees’ Killing Me Softly on cassette tape when I was a little kid, in my memory that was the first time when music made me feel something I didn’t really understand. We also used to watch a lot of Bollywood films at home that had a beautiful soundtrack sometimes. Grindin by the Clipse / Neptunes sparked my love for electronic drums, that was pretty much the main reason why I started making beats. But Daft Punk’s Discovery was like my big “aha” moment, I became absolutely obsessed with them and with music in general after that.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I love artists like Tirzah, Pinkpantheress and Baby Keem, I’d love to work with them.

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the corona virus pandemic?

Ngl I’m not fully aware yet of what the impact has been on me personally, cos I’m still in the middle of it like every other artist. I guess it’s difficult at times to maintain a consistent routine for studio time, and having enough stimulations from the outside world. It also feels like now it’s more difficult than ever to not get sucked into the rabbit hole of online artist stats and comparison. If there is no way to get real life human interaction and direct feedback on our songs from a live audience right now, then what other options do we have? The more I think about it the more depressing it gets lol, next question!

4. How would you describe your sound?

I’d describe it as moody introverted late night romanticism.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Ok time to get sentimental. I can easily say that I’m most proud of the moment when for the first time I decided to choose for my mental health over everything else, no matter how much difficulty and uncertainty arose from making that decision. It took years for me to recover from that time of my life and I’m proud of having accomplished that above anything else.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Focus on the goddang craft, everything else is secondary. The only thing in music that will give you longterm fulfilment is building your craft, putting in the hours, and witnessing your own growth over the years. Social media is a double-edged sword, it’s a great way to find your community and like-minded creators, but you HAVE to be mindful of when it negatively impacts you mental health. You have to look for a balance in every aspect of being a musician, but again, that only comes after years of trial and error and putting in the hours. Do the work with what you have right now, it’s the only thing you can always control in music, it also happens to be the most exciting part.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

A few of my fav artists right now are Lokey and Overpade

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Trent Reznor and Atticus. I can hardly believe it but I have that on heavy rotation for 10 years now.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Crying

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Daylight, tea and complete silence. Shh!