When I first started exploring the web3 music space, it inspired the dreamer in me. Here was a world where artistry was celebrated; further, here was a world where an artist’s online (and beyond!) presence could be pushed to curious & unpredictable lengths; the fan experience could stretch and expand, limited only by our own imaginations.
dvdv is one of the few artists I’ve come across who bring this mysterious energy, aesthetic, and vision to life in their work. Her music is often ambient, yet full of feeling. Her visual art is dark and mysterious, but also sparkles like stars. A visit to her website (dvdv.space) reveals a galaxy of sorts. Movements of my cursor cause waves in the atmosphere while song titles float around the space. But before you enter, a message appears— something sweet and reassuring from dvdv: “Make sure the sound and your heart is switched on now.
& when you are ready for some chaos, click on the vortex!”
Like her music, dvdv’s personality is understated. Our conversations, easy and full of good will, lead me to believe that we would get along well in person. Meeting her through Twitter and a web3 context made my experience of her work more special in a way — because I know the person on the other side of it is kind, humble, and a dreamer like me. Her ethereal vocals — think FKA twigs meets Bjork — are all the more mesmerizing in this context.
To jump right into the dvdv experience, check out the audiovisual for “Distance” on Youtube (it’s also listed on Catalog). Then, explore the stars via her website while you listen to the Alcatune remake of “00030 power.” Last, get hype off the preview for her epic drop on Glass next week for “00045 forgive / AUJIK – mutual enchantment,” a collaboration with award winning 3D artist AUJIK. Below, the artist in her own words:
Artist Statement of the Moment: What’s your story?
Creative human by nature, extreme dreamer and often losing sight and touch of our reality. Struggled a lot in my childhood with constant disrupted family issues. Never felt like being at “home” or having one. Started doing music back in 2014 with the intention of holding onto its magic, however deep my skills will get in making it. That is why my music can almost be traced back to the first track I ever created online (I called that project process “00000” and the first track is “00001 SPACE”) Also I am autodidactic coder, videoeditor and musician. Released two self-written albums (“Ai am” and “What is the opposite of ambivalence” and some co-production by friends now and then) and two EPs with producer Poly Armour. Took part in several compilations. The web3 journey really really started around 2020 but I got more seriously involved in 2021. Some collaboration pieces happened with 3D artist AUJIK through Generative Gallery and some of the music has been minted on Mintsongs V1 (Gave most tokens away to Web3 friends). We are currently awaiting our drop of the musicvideo for “00045 forgive” on the GLASS Protocol, which is a song from my second album.
Generally I feel heavily involved in the complexity of human societies and its technologies and systems. I try to feel them out and through and find new imaginative pathways for us to wander towards. I hope to find enchantment again and again with the things I create for the humans that perceive and know me, but also the ones that find me after I do not wander physically on this earth anymore.
How are you feeling now?
I feel better after making it through writing the bio 😀
What does success mean to you?
Following the gift of my interconnected being. Being able to bring ideas into real form without too much worry of financial burdens or limitations. Or better: Finding a symbiotic team with similar visions that you can trust, communicate with deeply and in which you understand each other.
What do you do as an artist/creator beyond making music?
Code, video editing, painting on coats as merchandise, diving more and more into XR and 3D.
What work of yours has you excited & inspired right now?
The music video drop of “00045 forgive” on Glass on the 15th of November also called “mutual enchantment”. It is a video about the dance between human and machine. A try to connect and sync again in forgiveness, simplicity, purity and vulnerability. AUJIK’s work has inspired and influenced me for some time. I take the collaborative work with him as a deep honour and appreciation. The video is a continuation of one of his first video pieces with “YUKI / christ. – One Sunny Cloudy day”, a video that burned itself into my memory for quite some time. Not only because I love Boards of Canada, but also because of how playful, peaceful and enchanting Stefan’s work (AUJIK) feels to me. Also this won’t be our last collaboration. I hope it will continue for a long long while.
But also there is this 14-track album Poly Armour and I are currently finalising, which was funded by the Berlin Musikfonds e.V. . This is another collaboration that I really appreciate. Poly Armour is a brilliant producer and continues to blow my mind with his interesting and complex production style.
What does web3 mean to you, and what excites you about it?
It is a continuation of trying to solve complex interaction problems with a different form, while using old tools and systems from web 1 and 2. The diversity and intense amount of potential and creativity by all the humans in Web3 excite me the most. But most of all the level of abundance, that I have never felt before in my life of next level support, winning together and endless potential. Uncontrollably.
What artists/creators are inspiring you right now & why?
I have a huge pile of people that inspire, but of course in the moment I get asked my brain is empty.
**UPDATE**
I intended to update this because this has importance to me. It took me about two hours to list all these people down, but for some reason Google Docs didn’t save it, even though it said it saved it.. and I cannot write it down another time. I am sorry, it was so so much work. I wish I had done a screenshot. Anyways I will maybe list it down another day again. For now it is lost in the errors of our digital times.
Fill in the blank: I wish the web3 music world was more ___________________.
okay for introverted beans that prefer not to tweet much . _. or talk much. Even if it can be “learnable” if it sits not right with a persona, the success of their artistic expression shouldnt suffer just because the outside expects attendedness. Therefore my answer is: “.. respectful with the importance of personal time and availability in a world of overwhelmed human beans”
Describe yourself in one word!?
Synced Chaos (Agghhh two words >.<)
What message do you have for fans/supporters?
I continue going towards my passion no matter what. But knowing about your love and help makes it so much easier and more beautiful. Reassurance is a loving and wonderful thing and if you like something in this world, make sure to mention it.
How do you stay grounded in the VERY online world of web3?
I can’t much, it feels like I am constantly elevating. Constantly up in some digital air not perceiving any real ground. One main thing of my advice is though: Just don’t follow the hype without giving yourself time to breathe and really digest it. Dive in and and out of it, see it from a perspective of division and of love. The hype can distract you from your highest potential. Feel the things through, do they feel right? Do it at your own tempo, too. Every human being on this earth walks a different tempo towards their passion, while your current situation and position is the most important part of it all. Cherish wherever or whatever you are right now. Sit with the void. It will be painful but a loving emptiness. And also question my advice deeply. I am experiencing this planet freshly as you are.
Any other comments/questions?
❤🪐