Nervian Society are a new, Brussels-based act mining the glittering electro and disco depths for nuggets of pure sonic gold. In a previous life, their members founded the Spector Studio in Brussels where they record, produce music and collaborate with many artists of the Brussels’ scene, including Flemish French speaking Pop band Que La Suite Soit Douce, electro-prose duet The Cultural Studies (a favourite of 6 Music’s Tom Robinson) and Punk-Hardcore act Instructor.
Connect with Nervian Society on Soundcloud
Their debut single was Club D – released back in 2021 as a homage to the Brussels parties they ran of the same name. Now they’re coming in hot with their debut EP, Ducpétiauxlaan, an infectious, dizzying five-track release that explores various shades of electronic music.
Thanks for talking to us today – how’s the year been treating you so far?
Hi, it’s been a good year so far, lots of DJ sets, personal and external music productions, videos too, many modules from our brand (D&D Modules) sold worldwide, and the release of “Ducpétiauxlaan”.
First of all, we want to get to know you “from the beginning”. How did your history with music begin?
When I was 4 years old, I was with my parents and a band was doing a soundcheck, then the drums played and it was like a wave of wellness, the rhythm went through me never to leave again and at that very moment I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
For you, what is the magic of music? The thing that makes it such a big part of your life?
Music is the hope for a better world, a source of pleasure within reach, music unites human beings. The great emotions of our lives are often linked to a song, a riff, a melody. Being able to create, play, and produce music is an unbelievable gift and bringing emotions to others is a must.
The members of Nervian Society have a diverse musical background – do you think being open to various genres is important when trying to create your own music?
It’s good to work on different music styles, it opens the mind, it forces respect, and one returns to one’s own projects purified.
Your debut single was named after the parties you ran in Brussels – can you paint a picture for us of what these parties were like?
It was on Sunday afternoons, at the start of the set, we played at a low volume so that the children could dance, and then we’d continue with the adults.
What is the main message behind the new Ducpétiauxlaan EP?
It’s a tribute to dance music with a retro-futuristic disco background, and lyrics about human relationships. Have fun, dance, and get some compassion because we’re only human, after all.
What does your current studio set up look like? Lots of hardware, or are you mainly ‘out of the box’ type producers?
The studio is hybrid and has the same philosophy as in the 60s when each studio made its own equipment and had its own sound. A lot of hardware (preamps, compressors, equalizers, tube microphones) built by ourselves, our modular synth (D&D modules), some old synths (Korg Trident, Prophet VS, Ensoniq ESQ-1, etc.), an old-school Akai MPC60, but also completely digital machines and virtual synths. The mixes go through a homemade summing amp so yes, it’s a bit ‘out of the box.’
What is the best advice you ever received as an artist?
It was in Paris with Ras Jumbo, the bassist from Aswad, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear and many others. I was playing the drums with him and the reggae musicians, and he told me:
“Reggae music is simple, you just have to repeat a loop as simply as possible and with a lot of humility, then the emotion will appear above.”
This can be applied to any kind of music.
Anything else you’d like to tell us…?
Are you doing well?