Meet Boston’s Wessanders, Hear His Futuristic Flip of “Too Original” (Interview)
–Written by Kevin Madert
On Tuesday, longtime friend of the blog and general musical wunderkind Wessanders put out a nifty little flip of Major Lazer’s “Too Original.” Clocking in at just over three minutes, it’s conceptually concise, executed with the calm and collected precision of a consummate professional. Sharply crafted, awash in lush nuances, and catchy as all hell, it’s the latest in a string of commendable releases from the Boston-based producer/DJ.
We got the chance to sit down with Wessanders to delve deeper into his creative process, career progress, and plenty in between.
Alternate Frequency: Your music, while often containing similar sonic components, seems to eschew any kind of genre categorization. Is this a conscious effort or just a product of your approach to production?
Wessanders: I’m still learning the basics, so right now I’m doing a lot of exploring. There’s no use in lying and saying I have any real idea what I’m doing. But I do think there are certain things my ear just loves, so there are reoccurring elements in my music. I’m also constantly honing my ability to make and recycle sounds.
AF: Take your most recent effort, a rework of Major Lazer’s “Too Original.” You took an arguably generic tune and morphed it into a unique, deceptively simple midtempo future track – deftly juxtaposing darkness and light with a roiling zipperlike bassline and wavy pulsating synths. Tell us a bit about your process in creating this remix/remixes in general. How does the approach differ from your approach to producing originals?
W: While I’m definitely trying to lean towards more original works, remixes are a lot of fun for me. When I really love an element in a song – and when it’s something I think I can augmented without destroying – it comes easily. For a while I fell into a trap of throwing vocals on top of my original tracks for the sake of attention; I’ve since learned to hold off unless they fit so perfectly you can’t say no.
I love working with Major Lazer vocals. They’re always upbeat and fun and make me wanna throw stuff at other stuff in a non-destructive way. Messing with those came pretty easily, and after that it became all about the bass sound. Once I had something steady bouncing around I got a little bored, and I didn’t want the track to lose its rawness. So I duplicated the sound and processed it. Panned that ho’ and there you go.
AF: You’re a part of the Friends With Robots collective, which we often feature on our site. Tell us a bit about your involvement with FWR. What does the group mean to you? Any unheralded names on the roster we should be watching out for?
W: All my homies have something to offer in the bigger picture of what we’re doing. Something different. That’s why they’re all my favorite people in music right now. We work off each other and drive each other to create real art. It’s one thing to watch someone from afar and try and figure out what they’re doing just by listening. It’s another to be able to ask a friend and have him show you the way to start perfecting it. You grow so much with forward-thinking people around you. You gotta spend time with the people who make you a better you, and when you find them keep them around. That’s why Friends With Robots isn’t just a place for us to stack plays; it’s a place us for us to develop our ideas and track our growth as both individual and collaborative artists.
We decided to make this edition of our mixtape series open submission because we have so many amazing friends that make music; I’m super excited to see what hits the inbox in the next few weeks. If you make music, we want to hear it.
AF: As a Wessanders listener for some time, I’ve noticed a steady, marked increase in your production prowess. That’s not to say your earlier works weren’t enjoyable and well-crafted, but with each successive release the sounds have become crisper and the hooks catchier. Is there a specific area musically where you believe you’ve grown most? Where do you see your continuing maturation as an artist taking you in the future?
W: I’m working on everything. Sometimes I see progression in my music, but that just reminds me I’ve barely breached the surface, which in turn drives me to work way harder. Right now my work ethic is shit, so I wake up every day and try and make it better. I’ve recently found myself obsessed with a whole new world of sound design in techno, tech-house, and minimal. The focus is on crafting different atmosphere, with a heavier emphasis on progression. So that’s what I see myself chasing for the next little bit – generally I’m trying to pay attention to sound better. I’ve also started working with a few producers on a vocal project called Kaiiak; that’s been fun and I’m hype to start making more and different tunes.
Inspiration-wise, the last two years would be so much different without dudes like Choppa Dunks, Sevnth Wonder, Encanti (ZebblerEncantiExperience), Nacho Marco (Spain) and especially all my Young Travolta boys. I’ve learned something imperative from all of them.
AF: Now just for fun; you’ve got a time machine and the ability to collaborate with any three artists, living or dead, at any point in their careers. Who do you pick, when, and why?
Jeez. There are so many dead that I’m going living…
1. Dave Tipper
2. Tigran Hamasyan
3. Kendrick Lamar
AF: Thanks for your time!
If you’re interested in submitting music for FWR06, all inquiries should be directed to contact@friendswithrobots.com. You can stream “Too Original (the lost flip)” below.
Connect with Wessanders: (Facebook / Soundcloud / Twitter)
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New Tune Tuesday (7/28/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Ludge – Void EP
Kicking off this week is Ludge, a new favorite here at AltFreq. With crisp, clean sound design and technical prowess that often escapes producers of far greater experience and renown, the Philadelphia native is flying criminally under the radar. Perfect example? His latest effort, the deep and dark Void EP – self-released today. The three track offering is rife with slow-churning dubstep phrases and abrasive, staccato synths, held together by the constant presence of ominous atmospheric undertones that serve to further flesh out each tune. “Light Speed” features pleasant builds and bridges juxtaposed by futuristic dub breakdowns (with bonus points for a Dr. Dre sample that isn’t from “The Next Episode”). The title track is dark through and through (as the name might suggest), sporting the heaviest moments on the EP. And “Limbo” is future trap played through molasses, with subtle horn and hi-hat accents that keep it oozing in a forward direction. In fewer words, we love this dude – and you should too. Head here to download the Void EP for free, and be sure to connect with Ludge on all relevant social networks: (Soundcloud / Facebook / Twitter).
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AltFreq Weekend Planner (7/16/15-7/18/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Sundays for our “Weekly Planner,” where we’ll cover the remaining four days of the week.
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News: Emancipator Announces New Album + Ensemble Tour, Releases Lead Single
-Written by Kevin Madert
Chasers of the chill and denizens of downtempo rejoice: new Emancipator is on its way. The trip-hop project long helmed by producer/multi-instrumentalist Doug Appling will release Seven Seas on September 25 via his own Loci Records. Just four days later, a full-fledged US tour will kick off in support of the producer’s fourth full-length, beginning in New Orleans and wending its way through the US & Canada before concluding two months later in Pomona, CA.
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Holy Ship! 2016 Lineups Released; Hear Music From Every Artist On Both Sailings
–Written by Kevin Madert
HARD released today the initial lineups for both 2016 Holy Ship sailings, crashing the festival’s website and setting off “January vs. February” debates that will surely rage until both boats have sailed and returned. January headliners include Kaskade, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, Odesza, and Steve Aoki, while February’s lineup is topped by DJ Snake, Chromeo, Porter Robinson, RL Grime B2B Baauer, and Boys Noize.
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AltFreq Weekly Planner (7/5/15-7/8/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Thursdays for the “Weekend Planner” where we’ll cover the most important 72 hours of the week.
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