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ArticlesFeatured
May 14, 2025
almark

Subvert – join the resistance

When was the last time you released music and it found a few people, even 10 who were like-minded and wanted to see more of your work? This may sound like a dream in our modern day, but I assure you, this was the Internet before 2014, but they have caused us to forget about it. Imagine a place where your music matters, where you as the artist can find a real group of people who want to discover and dig into your actual catalog? We who lived in those days remember it and that memory is still fresh in our minds, thanks to places like, SoundCloud, Tumblr, and of course Myspace..

At this hour, we are living in such a time where the threat to the indie artist is the greatest and what do people do when they feel threatened? They fight for change. That change starts with you, and what you do about it, or where you release music and where you listen.

Streaming companies have taken over the scene and with the acquisition of Bandcamp in 2022, we have lost, the last indie platform to release direct to, in fact, the new owners ‘twice over’ fired many who were on the original staff. The major labels themselves are all holding the cards now and you’re left holding the bag. Now there are other efforts such as Nina Protocol so we wait on them to become larger but – with as much arbitration going on, no one can really do anything about it. Bandcamp was the last hope we had, and what independence was ours, now belongs to them. How can you really thrive in a ad-driven social media society that requires you to be a marketing rep, where your music does not hold its merit or find like-minded people?

They’ve duped the public into believing that ‘this is the best place to live and play, but you can’t move ahead unless you drop that new single, create content, upon content, or push yourself to death’s door just to be found by a small few.’ Tiny fragments of people might trickle in now and then and by the end of the day, you either hate being a musician or you hate releasing music. “this isn’t how it’s suppose to be” even in the real world, you have more from your effort by talking to strangers in a coffee shop at least, or the store – and that is what Subvert plans to do, give The Internet back its balance, its place of rest.

Artists were suppose to be the value of the era; the art that helps us enjoy believing, there is something good in the world. – #WEATNU

– With big tech pushing us down daily, no one, not even the major artists have a place to live online. If YouTube takes down your music, Spotify might complain about your music being ‘bot-driven‘ or worse, removing your whole catalog, not to mention paying you only if you achieve 1000 plays per song. These are the kind of things we question right now, those things are in the minds of the artist who uploads to Bandcamp – I wonder what will happen in the near future now that my so-loved platform I have relied on since 2010 is now owned by the bad guy?

Subvert takes the stage, finds a way around all these changes, and gives us back the power, by making us co-owners with them. What a concept in terms of the modern internet where the next billionaire might pop up today, taking even more digital real-estate from us.

#WEATNU

What is going to happen when they buy up all the small .com domains and .fm and what not? No freedom left and we better do something right now to stop it. Start making websites, push the music out of social media, put it on your homepage, make places that people want to come to visit – form web rings (again). The mind-set is strong these days, and people are tired of being bought out by big tech, but your music matters and so do your fans. The future holds the key and the vision is a marketplace that lets your music find its listener, its group of fans, not breadcrumbs falling from big tech’s table. 

When subvert formed they realized that it was time to do something before we lost it all, and streaming might becoming the de-facto way to take in music, this of course, is a travesty. If all the digital download and direct download sites go away, they will have complete control, and labels such as Warner Bros and Universal will hold all music captive. Do you want that? I don’t, no thank you, and we need to stop it from happening. WEATNU is actively taking part in spreading the word across the board to everyone, all artists, all supporters, anyone who makes music, anyone who loves music about – Subvert.

They are in fact doing things the right way, providing a marketplace as a ‘successor’ to Bandcamp and giving us all something very soon – ownership – where we as the label, artist, supporter have a share in a company – together – where a platform never changes without request upon the board. There is no worry about a 3rd party coming in who are shareholders, and investors who are quietly changing things that you hold dear. The marketplace becomes the free internet we will own, not one owned by outsiders who aren’t music-driven. Subvert it taking back the scene and continues to draw over 5000 into their website. (their marketplace will be an influence for others in the future and help us grow a thriving scene for the artist on other websites)

With the right amount of people and those with a heart for change, we will see a future for the indie artist that doesn’t have to force people to listen. The old way of posting till you drop – ends – social media has become that late night informercial that continues to play until you either go to sleep or turn it off, it is twice dead now. We’re in a time of re-runs and complete boredom through ad-content and requirements from these companies that if you work hard enough, people will find you. It’s all for nothing, but we will press on and move with those who are breaking us out of our bubble.

Join Subvert – and get your free zine, if you live in the US.
Their free PDF will outline this future we will have in 2025.
Their hope is a level playing field, and all supporters can take part in them.
As things develop, so will our articles about this.
Their platform will be a place where our artists and many others will release for years to come.

Act now before the window closes, they are taking in a limited amount who are the co-owners with them, and WEATNU is one honored to be one of them as their 600+ labels and growing.

Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine – May 2025

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April 29, 2025
almark

Echostation returns as sub-label

Once part of the 6 streaming internet radios we call portals from WEATNU [OUR] Online Underground Radio. – Echostation was an underground beacon for the experimental dance scene on twitter in 2015. Now it returns as a sub-label to WEATNU Records. The time was right as we are now 10 years as a movement from 2014, and coming soon this summer of 2025.
A new line-up is evolving, and some are releasing from WEATNU to Echostation Records – new artists can also join us by releasing their experimental DJ sets right through us. EchoStation specializes in some of finest underground techno and dance alive today, along with dj mixes from the superior experimental sound – deep house – DnB – electronica – liquid dub and more. -stated from our Bandcamp page. It’s an exciting time to take in these artists, some could be just starting in the DJ scene and some artists who have been doing this for much longer in the industry. Artists such as Jazzykat – US, who has been with us since day one, AMNIOTIC – NY, and just as long, has been releasing tech-house for many years with WEATNU, Breezy – UK, who releases electronica as well.

On either side, home musicians or abroad, they just want to get their works heard, and noticed.
We’ll have the music sent direct to our Bandcamp and even Beatport, along with streaming, and YouTube. Echostation will be the center of the underground sound for dance electronica for us for years to come. We want to grow with the community and form bonds with the scene, connecting with other groups and spreading the word that the internet hub called WEATNU is the place where you will be heard without compromise.
Be sure to bookmark our Bandcamp, so when the artists begin to release, you’ll see them.

https://echostation-records.bandcamp.com/
Keep up with us on Substack daily – https://substack.com/@weatnurecords?utm_source=user-menu

Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine – April 2025


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April 17, 2025
almark

We are the New Underground

When both sides meet up under a mountain, while drilling for years, a tunnel is connected. Our movement has been drilling endlessly since 2014, hoping to get past that hard wall that is so difficult, but with the right people, artists and communities around us, we have finally accomplished this feat. The artist was drilling under the same mountain we are so covered by. The mainstream, and modern internet with its walled gardens, and opinions, that hold us down and house us in due to old rules that no longer apply (the music industry and forced ‘content’); were not allowing us to branch out. But the human spirit is powerful thing, it finds ways outside of prisons. The Internet is a tool, a communication center and a space to share ideas. – WEATNU – is one such idea for the experimental scene, a – machine – that continues to help the unknown experimental musician, because experimental music in general is important. Artists are seeking to be found, not by means of modern ways, or an overly active social media lifestyle, either with branding or intense marketing schemes, but actual passionate music and a longing to be heard. We are the community, we are a place for people to gather in a hub online, the city, the center of the indie scene for these musicians, – as artists – with our obscure audio paintings, that are on display for all to see; while passerby’s notice them.

By tunneling under the norm, we have achieved a new underground, one that ensures survival of the artist, without being a detriment to them and offering them free tools, radio, magazine, interviews, – label releases and podcasts. – People want to find like-minded fans in an overly-stimulated online world. This is a place where the attention of the fan is on you, and with the help of ‘both sides’ the artist and the movement, communities are created. They not only connect left and right under the mound of rock which covers us, but by way of other tunnels, connecting us across the world, in the place where it matters, where you find organic people, like small net-labels in the past, even outside the internet. Where a follower loves your music for you, not just your style, not your brand, and certainly not your viral status. These are the artists we house and people notice and take a stand against these norms that so plague us daily. –

  • The musician wants to make music for the sake of loving their work, and others who aren’t musicians, don’t necessarily understand, especially today in a hyper-driven Internet society. Websites use to be the place where the artist was found, even YouTube. This movement and its artists are moving forward under those tunnels connecting together to other communities, their artists, fans, and branching out selecting across the digital sea we are under because of actual footwork, and seeking out among a network online through communication and collaboration.
    We are seekers not only for others to listen but for a career in our music, that is final goal.

Because of this connection, we have achieved victory as a movement, with over 500 artists helped in ten years, and many countries who have released along-side of us. The label/s we house and highly passionate and talented musicians has caused WEATNU’s vision to become accomplished. Now a visual place to show ourselves and the fans who are unknown will find us, by way of podcasts in this year and beyond. The future of the indie artist is not IG, Twitter, Threads, or the like, it is you. You are the artist, if passion for the music is lost, what do we have left? We are not ruled by algorithms, or big tech, but by the human heart, – that simple nature to create song, and write, because you love to make music.

  • All of us, the very indie artists themselves are this driving force to behold, and your stories will be told to others who haven’t heard them before. Just like in the beginning those 10 years ago during the summer of 2014, now once again, and one artist at time, visually you will be heard. We must unite and break down the walls that separate us, that tell us we can’t be heard without major marketing or spamming social media daily. #WEATNU is promo itself because of your self-promotion, and you are the artist, not a product but a team of strong people who love their music and simply want it to be found. This next evolution of WEATNU marks our 10th year as a movement, we are a city with other communities around us – We are the New Underground. We are all one!

Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine – April 2025

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ArticlesFeatured
March 21, 2025
almark

End algorithmic control

“Our music, our passions, the connections we form, the fans we lose, are all lost because of the control these tech companies have over us. The next generation is taking down the walled garden we have all been under for 10 long years. The control must end, it must fall like the great wall that separated two countries long ago. The human spirit can’t be pushed down forever. It has become akin to 1984.”

“There is a great divide separating us online”, the musician cannot find their fanbase, that once attainable organic group of people who are interested naturally in your craft. The artist who paints, or the filmmaker who directs, the creator who invents and wants to reach their audience. From the small business owner who wants to sell her flowers, or trinkets online to a fresh list of people. The once free Internet that we all had is now controlled. We are in a walled garden. Even our thoughts are encased in a digital prison. – Imagine if you will your home being boarded up with barriers on all sides, and you can’t talk to your neighbor, you can’t find new friends in that coffee shop, because they install cubicles that reach the top of the ceiling. This is digital tyranny and we have to get the word out and let others know what is happening.


WEATNU for 10 years has spoken out about the unfair music industry, and we are the new underground. We are musicians, the artists the people that these systems are hiding, one from each other and also from groups who may find them by discovery alone.

The tech giants that all came up like skyscrapers around our fair city, the old internet are now in full control over our daily lives. We – live and play – online, and we pay our ISPs for this, but these companies are not playing by the rules. They funnel our posts, our music, our links, our passions and our purposes into a computer program that dictates and directs where and who should see what we have posted on social media, YouTube, Instagram, and the like.

People rely on these companies because it’s all we have, and because there is no way around this, they are controlling their user-base by unethical means, they change the algorithm just when you think you have it understood; there is ‘no’ transparency. The rulebook is closed and no one knows the secret.

We have been whittled down to ‘content creators‘ the very things we love to do are hindered, hidden and lost to a sea of 1’s and 0’s online, only to be fed into a machine that Google, Facebook, TikTok, even Twitter, which have all the cards, hold all the power and where people use ‘with good faith’ that their posts and passions will be seen for all. They are walled off from their friends and even their families by showing them a feed of useless garbage to distract them, so that shareholders are appeased.

The artist has no way to break free, no way to expand and show their works to others. The Internet didn’t use to be this way, it was a free enterprise, where thoughts and uniqueness was upheld. Now we have no freedom to speak of. Musicians are without a fanbase, and fans likewise without new music. We have to fight to be heard, more than we should, or attain viral status which is absurd. We are fed ‘cookie cutter’ artists who seem to rise to the top, instead of the next Prince or Bowie. We aren’t allowed to find natural progression to make a simple living from our works.

Where are the leaders of the new music? Where did pop culture go? The musician needs to be heard, and WEATNU has been fighting for 10 years to help them. This is no different, and it is a hope that the word is spread far and wide to get them heard. Congress needs to know how much control these tech monopolies really have over us. The algorithm is hurting the arts and art is needed in a dull and dismal world.

There are studies being done on the effects that this level of control is having over society in a whole. Entire generations are leaving that world and going back to simple tech, just to have a normal existence.
Where do we go to share our music and art, music videos and films we put intense passion into?
It is hard to say, but until these barriers are removed, we have little to no freedom.
The websites of tomorrow are our last hope.

Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine – March 2025

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New artistNew Music+1
April 24, 2024
Graham Jackson

Review: “The Promise” by Weeping Boy.

From the opening haunting notes of “your last touch” through to the end of “empty grounds”, the Promise by Weeping Boy is a work of experimental electronic music that hits you in the feels. When I first heard “lonely nights”, in some weird way that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, it almost reminded me of sombre indie rock from the early 2000’s even though that’s not at all the genre of the work itself. Then it hit me; vulnerability. That’s what it was. Vulnerability on full display.

Glassy ambient synth textures combine with occasional subtle, noise-oriented, percussion. Occasional pulsing arpeggios and sparse melodies float around the listener’s space. Inventive spacey pad-synths float above minimalist bass pulses on “inching closer” while subtle percussive samples carry the listener forward. “hearing voices” is another inventive and haunting piece, where sample aliasing and subtle bit distortion are used as an emotive textural backdrop that swirls about the listener’s head, while samples drift overtop.

“breaking waves” is a truly unique collage of almost melodic string type pads and digital bassy pulses, evolving into monosynth lines in the vein of classic experimental electronic music from the 70’s.

Packaged with gorgeous abstract artwork that complements the sonic qualities of the release, “The Promise” is a quirky, experimental and haunting release that will leave you aware that you’re longing for something, even if you’re not quite sure what that something is.
Fantastic release.

#WEATNU Digital Magazine – April 2024 – Graham Jackson

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FeaturedNew artist
August 21, 2023
almark

The Nightwalker – Nobody Can’t Escape From Karma

Finnish artist The Nightwalker comes to WEATNU Records with his debut release (Nobody Can’t Escape From Karma)
Le Clotêt Avec Garcés hails from homeland of Catalonia, originally releasing under a folk-grunge album in 2015 and moving this year to an electro sound. Producing music in the cold north under the land of lights. The Nightwalker brings influences from GusGus and classic electro. His music has been heard worldwide.
Hearing the melody that penetrates the heart and soul, you’re soon not to forget this tune.

“Nobody Can’t Escape From Karma” by The Nightwalker
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Articles
July 8, 2023
almark

Awaiting a new dawn

“Looking back in retrospect to a time where it was hard to be seen or discovered, we have a lot that we have accomplished as artists. But now music is being discovered, and the system by which its being found, allows artists to take charge in where their music goes. without labels and without the middleman. We’ve come a long way as musicians and composers in the independent world. Instead of using our platform as a way to force the industry, we’ve become a part of the music scene itself, a part of music history. #WEATNU is at the sunset of its former days, as ideals and motivations change, and this idea we have has helped the many.“

An artist dreams of being heard, at least for the mere sake that you “climbed that mountain” and it feels good to accomplish a goal. To make a notch in the music scene with others, to make a change to help the niche artist and their fans. After 8 years We are the New Underground has been doing the same thing, but we are looking at the sunset of those 8 years and looking forward to the sunrise of the next era in a future not yet known.

What worked then, no longer works now, what was needed then is no longer needed. If the artist now has complete control over their music, their entire catalog and their fan base (which they should) then what about labels and free communities that help artists? Those places are still just as relevant, as they allow the artist to seek out new listeners and fans. Not just radio and streaming, or even Bandcamp but the indie label itself still matters. The artist may feel proud that they climbed to the top on their own, but none of us really make it there by ourselves.

Our efforts are not alone, as #WEATNU has loyal followers, some seen and some unseen, who help the new artist while they themselves benefit from the scene itself. The element to making music is greater than the career that comes from it. Art and music are the beating heart of what it means to be human, and the greater care taken to ensure that survives is above all. WEATNU isn’t a label, it’s a movement, of musicians, artists, poets and dreamers, all of which long for others to simply enjoy the work they have left behind.

We can’t all be David Bowie but there are others who are just as talented yet unseen, even underappreciated. This article should go to the labels, their indie artists and the fans that keep them going.

Most of us don’t make a dime from our work, but at the end of the day, that music you create is being heard by someone. Those people who take the time and put together large radio shows, for the artist, without payment, for the mere pleasure of getting the music heard, we salute you here at #WEATNU.

We’re all working together in some way to strike the balance for the artist. And there will always be artists who think they can do it all on their own, but adding their work to other places actually brings them newer connections and helps build a foundation, and new friends. No artist ever made it to the top alone, someone somewhere helped them see the peak that was hiding over the next cliff side. WEATNU continues to move with the DIY scene, and that means we move with your music.

#WEATNU Digital Magazine – Almark
July 2023

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June 7, 2023
almark

Beyond the algorithm

‘In a music scene that is nearly impossible to be heard, yet alone be noticed, #WEATNU has been fighting for experimental music since the summer of 2014. Starting by forming the group We the New Underground, on Soundcloud that summer, but that was just the beginning of an idea that became a movement and finally a label that artists could stand behind‘

In this world we have formed, the musician is appreciated, not underrated. It is a city all its own, a hub for artists who long to be found, found by anyone they can. The seeker who wishes for something more than top 40 finds it here. Along with the many artists who release to us, with other sub-labels connected, forming a network, a machine for the avant-garde, a world that is so well hidden, few know about it, yet alone care to seek it out, but it’s there, and it’s been building for these 8 years. That machine is a self-running creation, that is helping the indie artist.

In a digital realm that is vast, a small drop of water that is made creates quiet ripples across the digital ocean. The original logo becomes those quiet ripples moving across the music scene.

The mainstream is this imaginary wall that we all fighting. #WEATNU didn’t climb that wall, we tunneled under it, forming our own underground. Using the internet as that underground, an underground that long existed, before this movement was made, even before the internet itself was conceived.

The mainstream is this imaginary wall that we all fighting. #WEATNU didn’t climb that wall, we tunneled under it, forming our own underground. Using the internet as that underground, an underground that long existed, before this movement was made, even before the internet itself was conceived.

We are the New Underground –

The Underground scene

The underground has always been the hidden driving force behind the music. When mainstream was releasing Disco in the 70’s, people in their own world were creating punk and later Joy Division starting the post-punk movement. Then the 80’s, while New wave was jamming and pop radio was pushing synth-pop. Industrial began to surface with groups like Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy, NIN, Ministry and Severed Heads then from Belgium, EBM came forth, with Front242 and UK, Nitzer Ebb. When dance was huge, Richie Hawtin in a club in the Detroit scene was spinning techno, then later DnB, Jungle, Electronica in the UK, and Vaperwave, Lo-fi, Synthwave, Retrowave, Dream pop on the internet. And concluding, one scene building off another, connecting them somewhat with each other.

The experimental end of this spectrum began with early hits from Coldcut, Ninja Tune, WARP Records Aphex Twin, Autechre, Squarepusher thus the IDM scene. Then trickling down to, Underworld, Boards of Canada, Tycho, Tosca, GusGus, and Röyksopp showing us the downtempo and chillout field of things. Each scene is born direct from the underground. A small niche of people find the music, and it drives straight to the heart of what they are longing to hear.

WEATNU encompasses all of these sub-genres in (4) labels.

A free existence to a musician is key to survival in a corp music world, and everything we do is free to the artist.

#WEATNU 2023

WEATNU Records

Housing all forms of electronic music, avant-garde, experimental and ever-evolving underground styles we are the bleeding edge of the DIY scene.

WEATNU Records – Founded 2014

IFMACA Productions

Our cinematic/chillout label and company for royalty free stock media, formed in 2021, and slowly rising to help composers who make film-related music, that you can listen to and enjoy.

IFMACA Productions – founded Summer 2021
Our library of composers continues to build

Transmission Nova

The post-punk/shoegaze of Transmission Nova, alongside goth and alt-rock of the 90’s.

Opened in 2022
Transmission Nova – Founded Nov 2021, launched 2022.

Synthesis Noir

And this year Synthesis Noir, our latest sub-label will house, EBM/Industrial, Darkwave, and Coldwave music.

Synthesis Noir – Founded 2023 (opens Summer)

Echostation – opened spring 2025 – our underground dance label and greatest addition yet.

Echostation specializes in some of finest underground techno and dance alive today, along with dj mixes from the superior experimental sound – deep house – DnB – electronica – liquid dub and more.
Sub-label of WEATNU Records.
Spring – 2025.

Internet radio

WEATNU [OUR] Online Underground Radio, playing 24/7 on rotation all music that is uploaded to us.
Freely send music to us.

WEATNU [OUR] playing the best of the underground, 24/7 Electronic, Avant-garde and beyond.

Alongside our sister station, Transmission Nova – WEATNU [OUR], which also plays Indie rock and shoegaze, goth, etc. Transmission Nova radio was the first before its label came years later.

Transmission Nova – WEATNU [OUR] 24/7 | Indie Rock/Post-punk/Shoegaze and Alternative. Internet radio: Playing the best of the Underground 24/7

Our movement hones in on “The Underground” of this modern era, where people are making music directly from their small bedrooms, tiny studio in their apt/flat. That obscure musician on YouTube you’ve never heard of, or the lonely talented musician that wants to be heard.

Along the way #WEATNU has formed Radio | Label | Magazine | and in 2023 formed its net-label to help the artist, who may not wish to sell their work, but instead be appreciated for it, under creative-commons licensing through archive.org.

#WEATNU – Net-label

WEATNU Records – net-label on archive.org – under creative-commons licensing. (opened 2023)

WEATNU continues to influence the indie scene

The image of #WEATNU – becomes invisible radio waves moving across the music scene, beyond web apps, beyond software barriers, and beyond the algorithm of social media, resisting restraint from the corp world. An idea is carried across the ocean, and around the world.

mind map of #WEATNU (c) 2023

Artists from different parts of the world

Artists from many places around the globe join us, we are a world-wide event. It started in the UK and spread to Australia, and now Russia where The Underground still thrives, thanks to the pioneers who keep it going; those early 80’s artists.

Artists and fans are given new options also in 2023, now that we have our network website.

Forum and social gathering

WEATNU Network – social network + forum, opened 2023

A free to join forum / social gathering for people to come together and share music, and to join #WEATNU, where one simply becomes part of the community, sharing each others music on the internet.

We are the New Underground seems to be influencing the music scene, in some way, by the people who hear the music we release to the internet. Those unknown musicians suddenly find a niche audience.
There are micro communities across the world and have been for years, and WEATNU is here as the lighthouse for all to see from endless miles on that digital ocean we are traveling over.

Some artists who have come through our doors went on to become semi-famous, even successful and some were already this way before they arrived, only needing a boost for their self-esteem or finding a new audience, even enjoying the community we have here.
For every person who can be helped here, they find their niche audience, and this continues to happen, due to the power of the internet.

What we offer is freedom to the artist and fans who alike wish to find music that isn’t mainstream, but has true, raw talent. Both the unknown and the known are welcome to join our movement. We need you all, now more than ever.

May we continue to grow in this hard music industry, but with your help, we will succeed.

We are the New Underground – We are all one.

Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine – June 2023

Join our network and get to know the community.

Follow us on substack, and get free newsletter right to your email: https://substack.com/@weatnurecords/p-161319775
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeatnuRecords
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weatnurecords
WEATNU Records on Bandcamp – https://weatnu.bandcamp.com
Transmission Nova on Bandcamp – https://transmissionnova.bandcamp.com
IFMACA Productions on Bandcamp – https://ifmacaproductions.bandcamp.com/artists
Discord chatroom: https://discord.com/invite/4jy5wBR

Website: https://weatnurecords.com



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FeaturedInterviews+1
April 11, 2022
Leslie Keffer

Interview with Except Elephant

“Amsterdam’s Except Elephant’s music is tempting, sensual, and very unique. She will be releasing her first single, Mermaid, from her forthcoming EP on WEATNU Record’s sub-label – Transmission Nova this April. We discuss her music and visual art making process, her inspirations, and Amsterdam’s DIY scene.“

How would you describe your music?

Except Elephant: A mixture of indie rock, dream pop, some synths and post punky bass lines?

How long have you been playing and recording?

EE: I started singing, as a hobby, about 13 years ago. I was singing in a band, started with covers just for fun and then we were writing our own songs. There was a big break from that for a while and I started making my own music about 3-4 years ago.

What is your songwriting process and what gear do you use to make it?

EE: Normally I just start writing without anything in mind and see what comes out. I usually get a bass line down first and then the drums. When I have the rest of the parts, I play with the vocal melodies and write my lyrics.

Do you play everything on the record or do you have a band?

EE: It’s just me and the Logic Pro x drummer plugin 🙂

Do you record your own music?

EE: Everything is MIDI, so I do it all on my computer and record my vocals at home too.

Photo by Except Elephant

What is your forthcoming album about?

EE: I am releasing my first single this April, Mermaid, which I believe is a very good introduction to what my forthcoming EP is mainly about. Choosing to make oneself able to see beyond the constructs we’ve been living in and imagine new worlds.

What inspired you to create it?

EE: The meaninglessness that the constructs we’ve been living in have created 🙂 By that I mean several kinds of behavior that lead to or arise from discrimination, oppression, destruction, dichotomy etc. How we treat each other (and even ourselves) and everything else around us as a consequence of the world that we’ve created. This is something I was working through also in my video art work the last few years and what troubles me the most in this life!

I love your artwork for your songs and on Instagram. What is the concept behind it?

EE: I’ve always used the human body (or body parts) in my visual art as a symbol for humanity as a whole. In my artwork for Except Elephant, I use it as a canvas to signify what makes us; a blend of everything around us, the magic of human power and the destruction this same power brings into the world. Sometimes it’s a bit more personal, just reflecting a mood or part of myself.

How do you create/make your art?

EE: I snap some photos of myself, load them into Photoshop, make cut outs and start playing with images, colors and textures. It’s not much different to making a collage.

Is Except Elephant an alter ego and if so who is she?

EE: I wouldn’t say she is an alter ego exactly. More of an exaggerated version of me. She feels like an alien in this place we live in, because she believes that life can be much different and nicer for everyone on earth. And that makes her angry and sad but also caring, almost motherly towards all humanity. She wants to embrace and heal the whole world. Quite ambitious…

What is the music scene like in Amsterdam?

EE: In Amsterdam you can find a little bit of everything, but it is primarily a clubbing/party city. A lot of the most interesting stuff for live music happens within the Alternative/DIY scene. From punk to Experimental Jazz, you can find some gems in the most unexpected places!

Do you play live?

EE: Not yet.

Your voice reminds me of Kate Bush, mystical and stunning. Who has had the most influence on your music?

EE: That’s very flattering as I consider her voice and her whole existence quite whimsical! I would mention Radiohead, Placebo and PJ Harvey, but I feel it’s all kind of like an interpretation of everything I have listened to over the years, with a lot of 90’s alternative and early 2000’s indie elements that have really seeped into my blood.

I’m dying to know what else you have in the works, any new projects coming up?

EE: I had a really nice collaboration recently with indie artist Uncool Paul, where I added a bit of a melodic synth touch to a couple of his songs from his upcoming album. And I’m excited to be working on a video for Mermaid at the moment. This will be a solo venture too, but I’m already planning ideas for my second single release and video which will be made in collaboration with another visual artist.

#WEATNU Digital Magazine – March 2022 – Leslie Keffer

Top photo: Susana Martins https://www.susana-martins.com/
Follow: Except Elephant on Instagram

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