At just twenty-one, alt-electronic producer and DJ, Whethan, has accomplished more than one could ever fathom.
This Chicago-born talent has been working his entire life, as he was already touring with The Chainsmokers before he could even graduate high school. In drawing inspiration from artists such as Flume, Daft Punk, and Skrillex, Whethan began mixing and recording music at a very young age. By 16, he was recognized as the youngest producer to launch a record on Future Classic, an Australian EDM label.
Having amassed over 800 million streams, Whethan has built quite the discography, having released his 2018 EP, Life of a Wallflower, Vol. 1, sundry remixes which have garnered widespread acclaim, and several singles featuring major artists such as Dua Lipa, Oliver Tree, Ashe, Charli XCX, Louis the Child, Portugal. The Man, and many more. Not only that, but Whethan is known by millions for touring music festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival. He is on fire.
Whethan just released “Hurting on Purpose (Feat. K. Flay),” a palpitating beat, one that ebbs and flows in perfect electronic rhythm.
“Hurting on Purpose” is the latest release off of Whethan’s forthcoming album, FANTASY. In listening to this track, it is clear that we are in for a treat.
Ladygunn had the great pleasure of interviewing Whethan, the new age of electronic music.
How has quarantine life been for you? What does your day-to-day look like? Do you work on your music everyday?
During quarantine I work on music most days but not all days. At first it allowed me to take a break which was much needed. But after some time I was able to reset creatively and am back to working on music much more regularly.
Was there a singular moment in your life/upbringing when you knew that you wanted to pursue music?
I would say that the singular moment for me was when my Uncle took me to Vans Warped Tour as a kid. He was able to take me on stage and it was so cool being able to experience that music up close and feel that energy.
Having racked up over 800 million streams, having performed sets at the most popular music festivals, and having worked with generational icons, what has been the most defining part of your career?
It’s hard to say that there’s just one defining moment for me. But one standout moment was playing Lollapalooza in my hometown of Chicago. Being able to play for kids I went to school with as well as family and friends was amazing. Plus, playing for a crowd that size is always a blast.
At only twenty-one, you have been hustling for years in the music industry – do you feel your age? Or do you feel older considering the amount of work you have accomplished?
I honestly don’t feel my age. I still feel the teenager inside of me and I doubt that energy will ever go away. That being said, there are kids on Soundcloud making music that is blowing my mind and making me feel old.
What did the creative process look like for your new single, “Hurting on Purpose (feat. K. Flay)”? What is the song about?
This was actually a song that dates back a few years to a writing camp that K. Flay did. When I heard what she wrote I immediately fell in love with the track and began working on the production right away. It took some time for me to mix the right emotion with the vocal. But the outcome is one of my favorites and K. Flay is an amazing person to work with.
What can we expect from your forthcoming album, Fantasy? How does it artistically compare to your former work?
You can expect the unexpected. I wanted to create a diverse group of songs that are still able to live in the same universe. This album is all about leaving Earth whereas my previous music was very grounded here on-planet. I also wanted to make this project louder and heavier than what I’ve done before.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Elon Musk will have made a music studio on Mars by then and I will be taking trips there every week.
What does our world need right now?
Now more than anything we need a lot of love in the world. Love is the answer to everything.
CONNECT WITH WHETHAN
TWITTER // INSTAGRAM // SPOTIFY
photos / courtesy of artist
story / Taylor Thompson