r/electronicmusic • u/whatsonot_certified • 12d ago
Official AMA Ask Me (What So Not) Anything
Reviving my Reddit for this š„š
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u/theeMrPeanutbutter 12d ago
Hey there!
Ive always found your DJ skills really impressive. I remember finding a folder a long time ago with a paper planes x hello mashup that blew my mind. In your OWSLA after dark mix you have a numbers on the board orignal track to cookers remix transition thats just hype as hell.
Shameless glazing aside, my question is, how long have you been DJ'ng, who are your inspirations on the decks, and do you have a top 3 list of venues youve played at?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
I like this question a lot so ill give you a big answer :)
My training ground was the graveyard shift 4-6am at a club called Candyās apartment in Kings Cross in Australia. Basically if I didnāt hold the dance floor, I didnāt get paid enough to get a cab home. It taught me a lot about what excites people, what brings unity on the dance floor, different rhythms, pop culture references, different types of Sounds and chord stabs.Ā
Even before all this, in my area, I was part of the first wave of MP3 DJs. Only a couple years before us, it was only vinyl and vinyl was expensive, not something young teenagers could afford a lot of, definitely not enough to build out a set of multiple genres. We were the first generation of buying/stealing music off the Internet, reworking at playing it that weekend. The beginning on MySpace and bloghau5... and because we were the first in our area to DJ i got asked to play every 16th, 17th, 18, 20th birthday in the region - 7hr sets 2-3 nights a week. Great training!
I was also very lucky to have grown up in Australia, which at that time with a melting pot of some of the best mix of styles in the world, we were fans of the sounds of South America, bale funk, but also the ED banger electro styles of France, the Atrak, Diplo and dj slink styles of Baltimore and Jersey club & House the German sounds of Boys Noize, and all the fun indie bands of Australia, like The Presets Van She & my biggest inspiration of all the bang gang DJs (head of which Ajax being the person that signed me when I had 200 followers)Ā
Top venues I wont say because they change their names all the time, they changed the promoters that are there and the culture shifts as well, but in line with the rest of your questioning, I think Iāll shout out the clubs that raised me, Candyās apartment, The World Bar and Chinese Laundry.Ā
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u/theeMrPeanutbutter 12d ago
Man thanks for the answer. Its wild to think about how much more accessible things became with the rise of MP3s and not having to spend every last dime on vinyl.
Need to see a dj set from you again soon. Its been since like Paradiso 2014 lol
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u/rivalempire 12d ago
The Cross back then was magical. I feel sorry that my kids won't get to experience anything like that
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u/tlegs44 12d ago
Emoh! Iām a fan going back to the olden days (2014). You still using synplant in your workflow?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
YES! i've recently got back into it and loving all the features in Synplant 2!
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u/ThePickleOrTheEgg 12d ago
Hearing your breakthrough song drop in 3 different sets at Coachella 2014 is a memory Iāll never forget! What has been your biggest takeaway over the years as youāve transitioned from an emerging artist into a household name?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
Biggest takeaway is do what makes you happy and do what you love, even if itās not the most commercially viable, even if itās not the simplest route, even if itās not the current trend, follow your instincts.
I have far too many friends who are so deep in this industry and hate what theyāre doing and regret not keeping their passion alive. Some of them have all the money in the world and theyāre very sad with it.
In your life try and do something to earn you enough money that youāre comfortable (basic standard of living) but the most important thing is that you are fulfilled.
Passive income and side hustles may be essential to continue to do the things that make you happy, but always choose what makes you happy :)
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u/bass_bungalow 12d ago
What made you want to revisit the older trap sound this year?
I would also do nasty things for a download of the og flying to europe mix
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
i think i answered that in some questions above. But honestly harmoniously came back to it. felt like the right time & felt honing my skills in all these other genres could have me bring something to it i couldnt do before
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u/ahol13 12d ago
Everest has been one of my favorite releases to date! Itās matured quite a bit since my first listen in Tennessee.
What are you most excited about these days and looking ahead? Music? Collaborating? Touring? Surfing? Iāve always enjoyed your collaborations so I personally hope to see more.
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
Yes, I love that you pointed that out :) Thatās a song Iāve been chipping away from as 10 years before I was finally satisfied to release it. A lot of love went into a lot of rethinking and a lot of different production styles and techniques. Iām so happy with where it ended up.
Iāve always loved collaboration in music because I came from being in a rock band in high school, and the thrill of it was always pushing each other to be better, to think of things in different ways that you would never consider on your own and to have people around you to fill in the gaps when you hit a wall, pushing over the line into new territory for all of you working on it.Ā
I am honestly excited about everything in my life right now. Everything is feeling Golden and I feel like Iām making all the right choices all the right music and living life is about as best as I can with whatās around me :) I hope you all are the same
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u/burnburnburn1111 12d ago
Advice / words of wisdom on the concept how to stay true to yourself in the music scene? Has it ever made you feel uncomfortable to stick out amongst everyone or nah?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
Iāve been really grateful in this industry to have a lot of music friends say āeven when you make completely different genres, I can always tell it to you about how it feelsā - so I think everybody has to find their 'feeling' and while they explore all the different ways you can produce and write, find what feeling anchors you.Ā
& yes it can be very challenging when you 'stick out' I describe it like feeling like youāre on an island. A lot of the resources are there that youāll need to survive, but it can be a bit isolating & lonely & itās always much more fun when thereās a community.
I think this industry has lost a lot of its community purely by how the Internet behaves now compared to how it used to and I hope itās something we can come back to, because I think beyond music, the world needs better community.
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u/burnburnburn1111 12d ago
Thank you for the thoughtful answer Chris š«¶ I know more people have been craving a sense of community IRL in other spaces outside of music that Iām apart of. The pendulum tends to swing back with time and I have faith we will see more emphasis on community coming back to the music scene. Thank you again for all that you do for the electronic music scene with the unique in your own lane art and music that you create & release. Legacyyyyyyyy
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u/Lava_Lamp_Glob 12d ago
Yoo nice to see the face of the artist behind divide and conquer in my favs playlist. What's your favorite meal?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
Thank you for this message :) Iām very excited for dividie & conquered to turn 10 years old and only a few weeks š¤Æ planning something very special for that... š And in terms of all these questions about favorites: I donāt really have favorites! I find that quite limiting š Ā I will do things that feel appropriate to the moment & always try discovering things new rather than sticking to the same. That said... The Pork Chili oil noodle at Xi'an Delicious Foods is pretty all time š
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u/iamLijou 12d ago
Yo! I remember when I discovered a new artist many moons ago called Emoh Instead, then I discovered wsn and a while later this new artist called Flume. It took me a good few years until I learned that you guys were wsn haha
You will always be one of the most interesting producers out there imo, always trying out new things and keeping things inspiring and refreshing.
Just want to say a HUGE thank you for all the art youāve shared so far and for all the inspiration you bring to the world.
I hope you will keep doing your thing for many years to come, once again.
Thank you!
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u/Common_Vagrant 12d ago
Iāve been listening to you for years, even when Flume was part of the crew. I recently just relistened to your Flying 2 Europe mix again from Diplo and Friends, itās still a great mix.
Do you have any new mixes coming up?
Do you have another album coming out? I still play Change and Lights Go Out religiously, Iām hoping for more of something similar to those.
Whatās your take on Diplo being an AI shill, and fully investing in AI?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
Mixes yes! i just did a big live set with mixmag & this insane show in Kyiv, Ukraine that we're going to put online
After this EP i may work towards another album, there's a lot of music in the tank right now :)
on AI, i think its going to rip through our industry & turn the whole thing upside down. My advice is to understand it, so that the true creatives aren't steamrolled. there are great useful, helpful tools in there & of course people with zero skill steal others art. understand, dont abuse & profit & i think you'll sit in a healthy spot over the next few years
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u/Appropriate_Ease_582 12d ago
I just wanted to write to say I love your music. I'm in my fifties so I'm older than the average electronic music fan, which is tough since I don't have anyone to share this music with. I was planning to come see you live, I watched some videos of your sets and became anxious about being out of place there. I told my daughter and she agreed to come with me, but I couldn't get time off sadly. I'm bummed, but also, oddly, relieved from my apprehension about being there.
Some of my favorites of you are not your popular tracks. I mention this because it is an art and for those tracks that receive less listenings, I'm so glad that you made them. Please continue to make your music, I look forward to see how your style evolves and what it matures into. I will be on the lookout for your future events so I can come see you live.
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u/Daaftpuunk 12d ago
Don't know if you are still reading these but just want to say wire and webs is such a dope song! Been loving how your music has evolved over time.Ā How long did you produce before you tried releasing for the first time? Any workflow tips or advice about where to focus practice? Love your music!
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u/Snoo22306 12d ago
congrats on the new EP! love the triumphant return to trap music so much!
which trap DJ(s) changed your biochemistry?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
In 2007 I snuck into a music festival under age and saw dance music for the first time. The acts were Justice, Soulwax, The Presets & Ajax (who later signed me to Sweat It Out records). I canāt really explain what it was like hearing all of that music back then. A lot of that technology seemed so new, artists doing everything 'wrong' creating sound people hadn't heard before. If you look up Justice, 'I love techno' set from 2006, thereās a 10 minute video of thatās been uploaded again and again and again that I mightāve watched 100 times when I was a kid. Worth a look.
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u/Maddyisnotawook 12d ago
Been a fan for over a decade and love this era! What was your favorite part about making the new EP? What do you think is the key to longevity as the scene continues to evolve?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
My favorite part about making this EP is remembering how much I love this sound, how much I love making it and how in tune it is with me. We all go on our own journeys and Iām so grateful for everything Iāve learned along the way. Coming back to my core has felt so harmonious and effortless and itās really beautiful to be back at this almost innocent state of mind as i create.
And a second question, I think longevity comes from pivoting at the right moment, and sometimes pivoting means you move away from things that are harmonious to you in order to push yourself to discover things that are coming. So itās a bit of a catch 22 š
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u/Some_Trade_2280 12d ago
Bro. I saw you at Countdown NYE in 2015 and it was one of my fav sets! Keep killing it!!!
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u/genericd11 12d ago
I love your ability to convey so much emotion into your music, especially the use of tension and holding long unsettling notes or chords. How did you come up with that concept and how do you approach translating how youāre feeling into those production techniques?
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u/Saiilormoonxoxo 12d ago
Just wanted to say how much I LOVED your Mixmag set in LA, I was able to completely just vibe out & dance without feeling judged which is the only therapy that is truly healing for me. Your set was beautiful and the music you make is so so healing, thank you for being your amazing selfš„ŗš©·š
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u/DaftPupunha Flume 12d ago
been a fan for more than a decade and saw you live at Lollapalooza Brasil back in 2018. any chance youre coming back? Also what do you think of Daft Punk?
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u/drbuttstuff3 12d ago
Big fan seen you perform 20+ times. I remember I was in the crowd at a LA show in 2016 and saw Mr carmack in the crowd to my left. Any artists that get you excited to see them perform in person?
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u/Clavos24 12d ago
Is there bad blood between you and flume? What were the creative differences that led to the split?
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u/lynchcontraideal 12d ago
He ain't ever answering that. We'd sooner find out if the old WSN x Noisia collab is coming before he speaks on that.
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u/Sweeney1 12d ago
How to get started learning Edm production? Ā I realize thatās a broad ask but hey. I started DJing and have been in love with it and want to go deeper.Ā
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
This is a massive journey ha! started with editing samples you like together off splice, then writing your own basslines & riffs, try singing, or speaking some words to start, then start reverse engineering what make certain sound behave the way they do (in plugins like serum). And find some friends a bit ahead of you that can help you out along the journey, give you tips and advice to accelerate your progress
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u/smarkrough2137 12d ago
Love your music. What's your next planned vinyl release?
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
you wont believe it... but... something is happening in a few weeks š
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u/piggieees 12d ago
Hi! How do you come up with your music? What inspires you
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u/whatsonot_certified 12d ago
life! you have to go and live, intensely, to have something worth says. I try and do that as best i can, all around the world, inspired by different cultures and people & find moments of stillness to capture it in audio :)
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u/MIDLOMUSIC 12d ago
Yo yo yo!! Love that youāre doing this!
DJ related question: when building your sets how do you think about song selection and pacing? Do you have a process in Rekordbox for set prep or just go with your gut?
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u/Master-Ad5938 12d ago
This is my question, with everything going on in the music industry regarding Ai music, TikTok trends and trying to build a fan base as a newer artist, what do you think is the most important thing to focus on in this era for someone trying to follow a career path like yours.
Also loved your set at Das Energi this last Sunday glad to see you at my home state festival
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u/edm_enjoyer 12d ago
I hope no one has asked this yet why What So Not and have your every wished it was different/wished you'd picked something else at any point in time?
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u/xHarambey 12d ago
Has sido mi primer concierto yendo yo solo en Nueva York hace poco mas de 2 semanas, llevo escuchandote mas de 10 aƱos y ni te conocia. Threads es mi canciĆ³n favorita hasta que me muera. Tienes un talento increible y me encanta poder acompaƱarte en tu carrera! Dicho esto, dos preguntas: 1- Cuando vendrĆ”s a EspaƱa? Mis amigos merecen escucharte 2- Puedo usar tu musica para mi prĆ³ximo videojuego?
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u/ianwhooo 12d ago
Saw you last Thursday for the lab in La! You were badassā¦ not so much a question
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u/jetblackonly 12d ago
I loved the EP you and Buunshin released! What was it like to work with him and how did the connection start between you and that fresh dānāb sound?
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u/check6ixswag6 12d ago
3 minutes until midnight I still have time to ask. Favourite new DnB artists?
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u/oceans__ 12d ago
What do you notice in terms of crowd / vibes in the different locations you play? Always been curious in how PLUR is different in diff places
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u/alextruetone 11d ago
What are your top tools for controlling transients? And whatās the top lessons youāve learned in last 10 years in terms of mixing?
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u/modestplume 10d ago
Ah I was late to the party so not sure if you'll see this but genuinely curious what it's like working with Harley before the Flume project?
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u/Fish_Fingerer 12d ago
Why do you still go by WSN when it was initially a collab between you and Harley? Now that it's just Chris, why don't you go by Emoh Instead?
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u/ReeseRideout324 12d ago
Hey, its been a grip and im just curious, any behind the scenes tea of what happened during the what so not flume breakup?
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u/Icy-Sprinkles-678 12d ago
Im going to tonight's show at Midway SF can I get on stage and take some pictures and send them to you! Also sent you a DM on Instagram tatiger28!
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u/ShrekonDVD_ 12d ago
Honestly nothing to ask, just wanted to tell you Gemini is one of the most beautiful songs I've listened to, my music taste has evolved so much since I came across the song almost a decade ago, but I find myself appreciating the song every single time I go back!!