Whethan Opens Up About Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2

Whethan’s fourth album Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 is on the horizon and we chatted with him about the upcoming release, growing as an artist, and more!

Whethan has become a household name in the electronic dance community. Breaking into the scene in 2016 as the youngest producer to release a track on Future Classic, Whethan has cultivated a sound of his own inspired by the likes of Flume, Justice, MGMT, and Phoenix. Synthesizing the best elements of indie, dance, pop, and EDM the steadfast artist has produced iconic tracks like “When I’m Down” with Oliver Tree, “Savage” with Flux Pavilion and MAX, and “Can’t Hide” with Ashe. In 2018, Whethan released his debut album Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1 to much acclaim, further showcasing his creative prowess for blending genres into a cohesive work of art.

His accolades don’t stop there. He has since released two more albums, collaborated with artists like Dua Lipa and Tom Morello, and co-produced The Chainsmokers’ So Far So Good, in addition to performing at some of the world’s largest festivals and venues. Whethan’s steady grind has established him as one of the industry’s leading boundary pushers and, yet, he is forever blossoming.

This sentiment is fully embodied on Whethan’s fourth studio album Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2, set for release in June. The story of the wallflower continues as the nine-track album touches base in a variety of sonic worlds, and features collaborations with artists like AG Club, Elle Duhé, and more. Whether it’s the pop infused “MONEY ON THE DASH,” the hip-hop and bass laden “ROOM IS ON FIRE,” or the next highly anticipated single “Stealthbomber” with Flowdan, Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 is a listening high.

In anticipation of Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 and all that surrounds it we we’re so excited to have the opportunity to chat with Whethan about the forthcoming album, growing as an artist, collaborating with a variety of artists, and much more. Take a deep dive into Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 in the full interview below, be sure to listen to the singles that are already released, and catch Whethan on tour this July!

Hello Whethan! Thank you so much for speaking with us ahead of the release of your album, Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2. Can you describe how this volume is similar to or different from the first one from a motif perspective?

Sonically, Vol. 1 and 2 are pretty distinct from one another, but how each volume took its form is where they really share their similarities. The spirit of LOAW has always been about traveling, having new experiences, and encapsulating that moment in time. For all these collaborations we never really went in with an idea of what we wanted to make, we just built off each other’s vibe, the energy of the room, the city we were in, and which aspect of life was on our minds.

In the spirit of wallflowers and their symbolism of self-discovery and observing life from the sidelines, how would you say those themes manifested into Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2?

Taking time to work on other artists’ music before returning to my own project really gave me a fresh perspective on my creative process. A big part of my role when collaborating with vocalists is identifying the energy of the room and crafting something that plays to both our strengths. There’s always a certain level of pressure because I can never predict what kind of song we’re going to make, but it’s also what makes collaborating so exciting. Having to dissect the vibe in the room and explore how our worlds can mesh embodies a lot of what LOAW represents to me.

Fans got their first taste of Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 through singles “MONEY ON THE DASH” with Elley Duhé and “ROOM IS ON FIRE” with Snakehips and AG Club. At what point in the creation process did these collaborations solidify their spot on the album?

The bulk of the songs on LOAW V2 had been marinating and in the works for a long while. It didn’t really hit me til I was in London looking at these songs and realizing that even if they might not fit on the other projects I was working on, I do believe in them and want to share them with the world. I think that’s why LOAW Vol. 1 and 2 feel like a string of different experiences back to back for me, it wasn’t made with one sonic goal in mind but rather more of an ongoing reflection of everything that was going on around me.

A strong connection has always existed between your music and its visual counterpart. When it comes to the visual aspects of Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2 (i.e. music videos or live show elements), how do you see it coming to life aesthetically?

Overall, I’d say there’s a strong “desert theme” that’s weaved its way into each track. It plays into the minimalistic idea behind a lot of these songs, thinking about miles of nothing with only these massive sand dunes surrounding you, it really leaves you only to focus on your place within all of it. No distractions, just a stripped back focused look on everything around you.

Aside from that, worldbuilding has always been a huge aspect of my music. Especially with all the traveling I’ve done in the past few years, it’s really inspired a lot of the worlds these songs take me to. Most of these songs started as just a small section of a greater piece that really resonated with me, and from there it’d evolve into something with more and more depth, like a puddle into an ocean.

We heard from a little birdie that you have another single up for release that’s on the horizon with Flowdan. Can you share some insight on that track and what it was like working with that legend?

I was in London when I had the chance to link with Flowdan and even though I’d heard all his music, I knew that working with such a unique and iconic vocalist would lead to something unlike anything I’ve created. We both came to the studio ready to go and as we felt the pieces slowly fall into place, we knew we both tapped into something special. I mentioned before that identifying the energy of the room and crafting something that showcases their best side is a big part of my job. With Flowdan, it was no different.

The process of digging in and discovering how our worlds could merge was thrilling, and doing this song with a vocalist I was psyched to be working with while across the world, I knew we had to make something extraordinary. The experience in London undeniably shaped the final sound of the song and I don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off as well as he did.

When it comes to adapting your sound, synthesizing what you’ve learned over the years, and still maintaining the Whethan essence, what are some things you have learned when navigating the ebbs and flows of your growth as an artist?

Minimalism is a big thing I’ve learned to hone over the years. Letting the music breathe and keeping only the essentials gives every sound a very specific intention. While there’s a certain thrill that comes when your goal is to shock the listener, but it’s honestly way more difficult making something simplistic that still takes multiple listens to fully digest. Creating something that can either be blasted to a festival crowd of thousands while still being something that needs to be fully soaked in while in a dark room with headphones on, it’s a dichotomy that I try to hit with every release.

How have your goals changed since your early career, and what are the next big plays on your mind right now?

I’ve always had a hard time with this question. For all four years of high school we had this mandatory advisory period and they’d ask this same thing each year. Honestly, it’s hard for me to think about new goals when I’m already crazy proud of how far I’ve come and all I’ve accomplished. I guess in keeping with the spirit of the wallflower, my goal is to experience all that life has to offer and continue to create music that resonates with me at any given moment. Touring more is definitely on my radar too, but my primary focus is to just forever keep exploring life.

In your Spotify biography it mentions you are not just part of the music scene, but you are shaping it. What sort of legacy do you hope to leave within the scene?

I think about this a lot actually – where my place is within the scene. It’s not something I like to keep at the top of my mind, but I feel like it kind of has to. I’ve come to realize that I’m here to push the scene forward. It can be intimidating to collab with a certain artist when you’re not sure how it’s all going to work out, but I’ve learned to love that pressure. It can be jarring to go from working with Nessa Barrett to Flowdan, but that excitement keeps you from being stagnant. Every session is a lesson if you’re willing to learn.

It’s hard for me to imagine that I’ve actually inspired anyone, but that realization has slowly dawned on me over time and it’s insane to think about. That’s what wallflower stands for me, it never knows what it wants to be or where it’s headed, but it’s here to evolve and shape itself alongside the scene.

Finally, can you disclose any other details about the album, potential tour, etc., to get fans even more excited for Life of a Wallflower Vol. 2?

Get excited for this whole new era! New merch, new visuals, new vibe. I’ve got some US shows in the pipeline, lots of surprise pop up performances (mainly because I can’t wait to play these songs for people)! Maybe some secret bonus songs. It’s pretty hard to put all I’m excited for into words because as an artist I feel I want my art to speak for me, so I guess I’m excited to share this new side of me with everyone. That’s really how I’m best at sharing what’s on my mind. I feel that’s kind of the wallflower thing, let the music do the talking.

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