Alasdair James Dodds started teaching himself piano at the age of 11 on whatever school pianos he could find, worked around dyslexia that made formal lessons impossible, and spent 20 years developing his style while holding down a management job. The British composer has released 13 singles so far, blending what he calls romantic impressionism with cinematic feels, and he’s caught the attention of people like John Lubbock OBE, who’s planning to perform his work with the Orchestra of St John’s.
“Where words fail to name the ache, eighty-eight keys find the language of letting go.”
Let’s talk about his latest release, “Disillusionment.” He spent a full year on this piece, and you can hear every bit of that careful work. This is a gut-punch moment when something you believed in turns out to be less than you thought. That person you trusted, that dream that didn’t pan out, that moment when reality pulls back the curtain.
The piece starts quietly, almost hesitantly, like the first inklings of doubt creeping in. Dodds uses the lower register beautifully here, grounding the listener before things start to shift. If you’re into piano music that actually says something, “Disillusionment” is worth your time. And if it speaks to you, explore what else Alasdair James Dodds has been creating.
Muse Chronicle 
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