Johny Dar is a man of many talents – artist, designer, musician, director, and boundless creative architect, Dar works simultaneously in many arenas, and now in linguistics to boot. Perhaps his most momentous creation yet, Dar’s new language has depth, meaning and musicality.
According to Dar, ‘alien-rap’ packs more punch than human languages because each word condenses many meanings within it, so to translate one word of ‘alien’ takes several english words, and even those often do not capture its fullness. ‘It’s not really a human language,’ he explains, ‘I’ve been speaking it since I was a kid and no one on earth understood it – my parents were wondering what was wrong with me! I’ve always been an alien in this world, somehow. For a minute I tried to fit in but failed, so I had to re-create my own world from scratch, and this language was a part of that. My new single Alien Animal is about that journey – it’s a celebration of individuality and fearless self-acceptance.’Available from July 15th, Alien Animal is the third single from Dar’s debut album (due for release later this year). Interested and curious, we caught up with the originator for an interview for more information about his recent musical and liguistical creations.
Hello Mr. Dar, how are you doing? As an acclaimed artist, designer, musician and director you
must be busy with several things at the same time. What are you currently working on?
Several things at the same time! Finishing the Dardelica album is one of my current priorities – then I also have a new fashion collection coming out, a new body art project, and a couple of art exhibitions and Dardelica shows coming up. I’m completing a painting series and at the same time planning my new exhibition and runway show for London Fashion Week.
You have just shared your upcoming single, ‘Alien Animal’. How would you describe your sound, and what is remarkable about your new track?
My sound is a technique that I developed over the years – I practice making the sound reversed- I don’t shout it out- I sing it inwards, so its an effect that comes from circulating vibrations internally. I believe a good part of my sound is produced this way. It’s what differentiates my style of singing and also alien rap. The sound is designed to invoke various parts of your body causing the movement in the dance to be triggered from the inside. The sound, instead of bouncing off your skin, is diving into the skin. Like a fish into the water. It ends up tickling the body from the inside, giving you a big smile
and relief… we have seen this a lot from first-time listeners – I believe its because things
inside your body are moving that haven’t moved in a while.
Let’s give a listen to new single ‘Alien Animal’
Your new release includes vocals referred to as ‘Alien rap’. How did the idea to create an
unknown language develop? And how did you notice its potential?
I was born speaking this language. My parents had no idea what was up! But I definitely didn’t advertise it growing up, I tried to fit in and be like everyone around me. But in the end that just wasn’t possible. So you can say I developed it over decades but you can also say that it took me decades until I was ready to share it with the world, or until the world was ready to hear it – maybe a bit of both.
Does this ‘alien language’ have a comprehensive concept and is based on what you have heard
alongside your lifespan?
It’s a language of the stars that does not originate in any human concept. It has grammar and syntax and meaning and everything that human languages have – actually more because one word in alien-rap has a much greater depth of meaning, and it would take many words in english to describe the same thing – but it’s beyond the scope of the existing human programmes. That’s why it’s liberating to listen to, because it’s not limited to the same patterns of speech or behaviour or belief systems that known human languages perpetuate.
In what way does your linguistic design contribute to your music?
It delivers the real message of the music. The mind doesn’t necessarily understand that message but the body and the soul does. The sound of ‘alien-rap’ moves the body in ways that it’s not usually moved so all kinds of things can happen to you physically, mentally and emotionally when you hear it. That’s why I keep telling my team that we are going to need lots of people helping out at gigs – because I’ve seen it many times when I’ve shared this language with individuals or small groups before – people can react in ways that are not always predictable…
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
The songs really just drop into my head from outer space! I can be anywhere and then I have to take out my phone and record. I don’t have a specific system or routine when I get in the studio with Dan, my producer. I like to keep things fresh and exciting, so we work on good vibes and going with the flow, therefore every track has been given its own life and its own individual process. I like to keep things unpredictable – repetition is what makes you age.
Is there any “non-musical” ingredient that is essential to crafting your sound?
The emotion – I need to have a certain feeling before going to the studio – without it, its like standing in front of the canvas without paint, which is what I feel like is the story of a lot of the music out there these days. I need an empty stomach to make my sounds – but I do like to drink mate or matcha, and to smoke while I’m making music. Also berries and grapes. And juice. I drink a lot of juice.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music productions?
Good question. After finishing a track at sunset, being so inspired, that we laid out another track and couldn’t stop before it was done. By the time sun was completely risen, the track was final – and its one of the best tracks on the album.
Breakdown the news for us: what can await from you? Can we expect more ‘Alien Language’ in the near future?
Plenty. This is the first dose. After this album I’m planning to record an acoustic album. There’s also the Dardelica chill out album in the works. You’ll be hearing plenty more that’s for sure!
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