After recently wrapping his Dance Dance Revival tour around the country and successfully rallying Bunnings to host an epic warehouse party, Australian DJ and producer What So Not unveils a stunning new EP, ‘Motions.’ Described by What So Not as “a love letter to dance music”, the four-track EP is an emotive collection of electronic compositions including the top 40 Shazam hit ‘Lights Go Out’ with Benson and Lucy Lucy, and new single ‘Realise’ with Habstrakt featuring Maiah Manser. We caught up with the artist to discuss his new work, collaborations, and the future!

WWD: Your new release ‘Motions’ has just dropped! Can you tell us the story behind it? What inspired the EP, and how does it reflect your current artistic direction?

I think every song comes from a moment. I like to build out these moments in my mind – what does it look like, what is the texture, the feeling, what other senses does it trigger? It becomes a place I can revisit to channel direction, inspiration & authenticity for what the song wants to become.  This EP became an exploration of my psyche & what these micro worlds mean to me “A bee lands in a pond. Ripples expand far beyond its small circumference. The sound you hear as one passes is only now visual through a new medium. This is the exploration of the Motions EP. The many surrounding forces we are yet consciously discover. A movement that must be felt to be seen”. 

WWD: The dance music landscape is constantly evolving. How do you perceive the current state of the genre, and where do you see it heading in the next few years?

I think we’re in the first era of algorithmic rather than artistic success. Monolithic giants with big corporate/marketing backing dominating the space, artists that organically explode struggling to make careers out of their moment & iconic & loved events & venues barely turning a profit or collapsing. It’s a bit dire! But I have seen first hand the power of community. Help new artists break through, become inspired, build friendships & local scenes & it will compound all the way up. You can’t beat inflation, but you can have the best time trying & making memories & moments that will forever hold in all of those around you.

Collaboration is a big part of the music industry. 

WWD: Have you been working with any other artists or producers lately? If so, what can we expect from those collaborations?

I found so many small but mighty emerging artists on my ‘Dance Revival’ tour in Australia. Dreamsuite, Jack Blom, Claire O’Brien, Mincy, Pao. Right now I’ve been staying with Buunshin in Europe finishing a bunch of exciting experimental tunes.

WWD: As someone who’s been in the dance music scene for a while, what trends or emerging sub-genres are you most excited about right now?

MPH, Notion, Blow 33, Mincy, Pocket all have me pretty gassed. I saw Duskus just got a Fred Again/Skrill collab which is so amazing for him! I feel like DnB’s sound design is making its way down into the slower tempo’s allowing for more swing, groove & access to fuse with different audiences. I love the lush, warm, foley filled worlds Simon (Duskus) is bringing too. ‘Moss’ is my go to ‘put on repeat & think about the world’ tune.

WWD: Your music brings people together on the dance floor. What do you think is the role of dance music in today’s society, especially in terms of community and connection?

 I think it is what it has always been & maybe more important now than ever: an escape, free of judgment, to lose yourself in a moment in unison with others.  

You’ve likely had some memorable moments this summer. Can you share a standout experience or performance that particularly resonated with you?

The Australia ‘Dance Revival’ Tour felt like one of the most important decisions of my career. I could see my home Country hurting, the struggle of artists big and small, venues & festivals. I did a reach out to find who the greatest new talents were that weren’t getting their shot & went into regional locations around the country putting them all on show, for their home town & the world. I built a spreadsheet to share with the world categorizing all the young acts i could find, their location & getting their info to local promoters & international agents & labels

WWD: With your new release out, what’s next on the horizon? Are there any upcoming projects, tours, or experiments you’re looking forward to?

We’ve had some unusual things going off & compounding. A pop up rave at a Home Depot type store (‘Bunnings’) that’s been all over the news in Australia. DJing a dungeon rave for my favorite video game (Diablo) at the world’s biggest gaming convention in Europe, bout to hit burning man, Just had a big waves surfing feature on the iconic ‘Kookslams’ & all the usual touring & music creation too. I hope to be announcing a big MOTIONS TOUR shortly too.

WWD: Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring dance music artists who are trying to make their mark in the industry? What’s the key to staying true to oneself in a fast-paced environment? 

There is the phrase ‘stand on the shoulders of giants,’ but I think I have an evolution to this: Study the greats, match their strengths as closely as you can, but most importantly find their weaknesses. If you can find another great person, who excels at said flaw & matches this closely too, you will be unstoppable. Stand on the shoulders of giants on giants shoulders. I think through this process you will never ‘mimic’ anyone. You will be your own unique & authentic combinations of the greatest paths laid before you.

WWD: Well said! Thanks for the chat 🙂 

‘Motions’ is available here