Nix Dadry – The World Goes Round (2022)
There are a lot of different facets to the world around us that colour the way we view things while bombarding us with a seemingly unending stream of information. Across the five tracks of The World Goes Round, Nix Dadry draws on the modern world, considers what is happening and works through the emotions that just living invokes. Taking us from protests to the daily grind, he infuses a will to never give up and to look beyond ourselves into each track.
His most collaborative release, Dadry is joined by a host of musical talents to bring the modern world to sonic glory. Joining him on the EP are Chris Allan (drums), Cici Powell (bass, backing vocals), Mark Remmington (guitars, slide, mandolin), Fez (keyboards, piano), Baden Fitzmaurice (percussion), Rod Henderson (guest vocals), Dan Alexis (guest vocals) and Suzi Who (guest vocals). Meeting through friendships and word of mouth, they all converged on Birmingham UK to create this wonderful take on the world we live in.
‘First World’ which opens the EP, is a glance into the craziness of modern humanity. The light percussion that opens the single moves into a march that mimics the stomp of feet at a protest. The vocals rise with a folk chanting that leads you into a heavier rock vocal delivery. The interplay between the vocal lines is wonderful as it offers two sides of protests, with the folk-rock vocals the call of the people and the heavier rock vocals are the anger they feel at the state of everything. It is a really powerful single that captures the frustration of many people and a push against the status quo that doesn’t work for everyone. Beneath the vocals, the melody marches you down the streets before picking up the emotions and twisting them into soaring guitar lines.
The thrumming tones that open ‘Suicide Sunshine’ bring a new feeling to the EP as it creates a sense of the monotony of the daily grind. There is a weariness that has been woven into the vocals that is extremely relatable as the single highlights the slow walk through modern life. While there is this steady movement to the single, this turns later for a burst of instrumentation. Anyone who has worked a regular job will connect with this song on a visceral level. Through the lyrics, Dadry draws you into the endless cycle of daily life with a stab of melancholic isolation. After the march of the opening track, this song is a wonderful swing to another extreme of life.
‘Sidewalk Beggars’ takes us into another aspect of life with a swirl of darkness. There is a dark vibe to the creeping of the vocals that slowly build over the mists of the melody. As you head into the chorus, the vocals rise to grab your attention and try to shake you from the compliance of the world. Through the lyrics, Dadry considers how society has been conditioned to not think for itself. As the vocals push on the chorus, they let us know that walking off the main path society lays out may result in you seeing something that is trying to be hidden. The instrumental bridge is stunning as it brings the convoluted emotions of the track to life, while shaking your insides. As the song comes to an end, a serious question is shot into your senses and leaves you with something to think about.
The lighter tones that sweep into your senses through the opening of ‘Papillon’ not only bring a new facet of the world, but a completely new sound to the EP. There is a gentle drift to the music and vocals as they seem to haze over your senses like a gentle breeze. The lyrics draw on the movie ‘Papillon’ to tell a story of hope and resilience. There is an expansive feeling to the vocals, like they are reaching out for the light of the future. This track is as powerful as the others, but hits in a very different way, as the soft richness curls around your soul. The strings that swell and dance through the background are beautiful, while the vocals tug at your emotions. There is a touch of sadness that is soothed by the hope and strength to never give up.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Sputnik Sweetheart’ which is also inspired by pop culture in the form of the novel by Haruki Murakami. While the track has a more traditional indie rock vibe to it, it is still as engaging as the innovative tones of the other tracks. The arrangement highlights the lyrics that dip into feelings of unrequited love and the complex emotions that follow. As the guitars get you swaying to their rhythm, the lighter backing tones bring the softness of being in love. Through all of this, there is an acceptance of the love being unrequited which is a pleasant take on the emotion. It is a really catchy track that you sink into and will be shocked when it comes to an end.
Across the tracks of The World Goes Round, Nix Dadry and his team of collaborators turn their attention to the world around us, turning complex daily emotions into addictive songs. Each track tackles a different aspect of modern life, from protests to the daily grind and unrequited love. There is an innovative edge to each track that showcases the power of Dadry’s musicality.
Find out more about Nix Dadry on his website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
