Label: Basslight Records · Artista: Whattsun · Titolo: Believe in calmer · Voto: 7
Whattsun, it’s a fresh dj producer future garage from Wales. We discovered him during our radio show, Sweet Dreams. So, now, we are proud to present our first interview with him.
We’ve spoken together for almost 2 hours about music, next trends, life and other.
It was an exciting meeting…
So, let’s start with the reportage. 🙂
Dubneo: Hi Tim, We have just discovered the music you produce and I think it is very interesting. But before talking about your music, I’d like to know something about you. Where are you from? When did you start your career?
Whattsun: Hey Dubneo, firstly thanks for the kind words regarding my music and for setting up this interview. I’m from Wales, I’ve lived in Cardiff pretty much my whole life. I went to Bangor University in North Wales, and during these 3 years is when my passion for bass music was born.
My first ever gig was with a group of North Wales DJs called The Locked Soundsystem. I guess you could say they ‘showed me the ropes’. They played intelligent dustep at a time when the same old wobbly baselines were all you would hear elsewhere. This new post-dubstep sound influenced me heavily in my first few productions. One of the trio now runs a record label called Epoch Records, keep and eye out for their stuff!
Dubneo: Let’s talk about your work as a dj. Could you tell us something about your dj sets? Do you play any instruments live, are there musicians, do you use plates or digital?
Whattsun: I play my DJ sets using CDs. I love playing vinyl as much as the next guy but had to sell my turntables to afford rent and what not. I’ve been thinking about playing some live stuff, that would be fun but once again I can’t afford the equipment at the moment. Live sets are definitely on the cards for the future though.
Dubneo: Let’s say something about your last EP “Believe in calmer”. It’s deeply future garage, and it’s really interesting how you created that atmosphere, using the bass and drums lines and melody. What inspired you in making this EP?
Whattsun: The track ‘Believe In Calmer’ was made at quite a rubbish time in my life; I had just finished university and landed myself a dead-end job. I would get angry with myself at times and venting the frustration through music seemed like a productive use of the negative energy. Parts of it were made during angry periods and others during calmer times (hense the name of the track).
In terms of direct inspiration, the artists Phaeleh, Synkro, Troy Gunner and Lung have influenced the EP very heavily to name but a few.
Dubneo: How did you start working with Basslight Records? Did they choose you or was it you who went to them?
Whattsun: The tracks ‘Believe In Calmer’ and ‘Should Be Us’ were actually made about a year ago. I wasn’t really sure what to do with them, but I came across Basslight Records on soundcloud and loved what they’d been releasing. I got in touch with Randle (the guy who runs the show) and just asked about getting them released, he was keen on the idea and it went from there. I then made ÔAdrift’ with Basslight and this release in mind and it all came together nicely. As a label I think Basslight will go on to do big things in the future, its in good hands and going from strength to strength. The next release is absolutely beautiful, by an artist named ‘View Of Argonauts’ and is one to look out for!
Dubneo: You also are a half of the project Slik Pikinz. Could you tell us something about it? What do you do together, how do you arrange your live sets?
Whattsun: Slik Pikinz is the combined efforts of a childhood friend who goes by the name of JobiOne and myself. I’ve always loved playing and producing huge, aggressive bass heavy dance-floor tracks, but that’s not what Whattsun is about. This project provides a much-needed chance to produce and play music on the other end of the spectrum so to speak.
Playing back to back with someone has one obvious advantage: two extra hands for button pressing. We’ve been putting together a three-deck set and are playing at Eclipse Cardiff on May 31st where Dusky and Phaeleh are also playing, so psyched to be on the same flyer as them!
Dubneo: Future garage has just been born. It’s a new way of making melodies that take their inspiration from UK Garage, from Detroit’s dub techno, from down-tempo and so on. It’s a fusion of many genres that had probably been a common thread that led to this. Perhaps it’s the most interesting genre after broken beat and it sounds good as club music, as well as home listening, or perhaps in a chill-out atmosphere. What do you think about this genre? Will it be the music for the next 5 years?
Whattsun: The barriers between genres are clearly becoming more and more blurred. Future Garage is a prime example of a hybrid genre, created through the inevitable crossing of ideas and influences. Every genre has its time; House is blowing up once again right now. I don’t think Future Garage (or 2step/post-dubstep, whatever you want to call it) will ever be as popular as House or Drum and Bass. Having said this, for me, it’s a lot more fun to make than Drum and Bass because of its tempo. Being a fair bit slower its allows far more room for complex percussive patterns, and drums are my favourite element to make.
It’s great that people want to hear this sort of thing when they’re out nowadays, opting for more complex productions rather than massive basslines consisting of about 3 notes.
I think Future Garage will stick around for a while and go through cycles like any other genre. It’s a milestone in the post-dubstep sound, standing out in the myriad of chilled atmospheric tunes that came as a refreshing wave in response to the huge Ôdirty’ Dubstep phase. Whatever happens I love the genre and will continue to make it until I get bored of it or my ears fall off.
Dubneo: Well, our interview is over. I do thank you for your time. Please, let us know about your future productions. See you soon.
Whattsun: Thanks very much, I really appreciate this opportunity and look forward to more of your shows.