A solo artist and multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne, Wes. produces electronic, pop soundscapes that sit somewhere between the worlds of Moby, The Postal Service and Glass Animals.
Also a guitarist for Melbourne blues, neo-soul act Rokai, his latest solo release is the beautiful instrumental 'Undertaker'.It melds epic guitar and key lines with modern electronic production and follows his November jam, 'Touchstone' which continues Wes.'s shimmering pop production but adds his achingly fragile vocals to the mix: 'I've been trying to let you go, it's a total mess but I keep hanging around.'
"'Touchstone' is the result of having people in your life who are often just there because it's convenient, but you may find it's simply unhelpful for your long-term happiness," Wes. says.
Wes. (who is also writing new music with his ambient pop duo side project Ash and Wes.) debut single, 'High Friends', has been streamed almost 25k times on Spotify.
Who is Wes.? I'm a producer, singer-songwriter from Melbourne. I produce all kinds of music but my solo artist project (Wes.) mostly wades in and around the electronic-pop genre.
I sound like... My production is in a similar vein as Clairo, Sylvan Esso, Jordan Rakei.
The first gig I attended was... Slayer at Festival Hall in 1998. I was maybe 13 or 14; have fond memories of crowd surfing. I still have the tour t-shirt.
When did you settle on your artist name, and was it a unanimous decision... I also wanted to use a mononym, but I actually just wanted to use 'Wes'. Then, because of Spotify etc., I had to make it unique so now it's 'Wes.' (with the dot).
In the studio I usually... Create way too many tracks that one song could possible need and then spend the next few days wondering what I can get rid of.
If I could tour with anyone... The Shins. I just think they are magical.
Social media is... Annoyingly necessary. I'm not someone who enjoys posting, but I understand the benefit too acutely to ignore it completely.
My favourite app at the moment is... Centr. I like staying fit, but I'm also not one for routine, so having my daily exercise regime worked out for me just makes sense.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... When I was like three or four, I lost my mother while running around in a shopping centre and then when I thought I found her, turned out I was hugging some stranger who had the same white dress on. That scarred me for life.
Life on the road can be... Well, I've really only started releasing music during COVID so I guess unexperienced is the right word at this point.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that the rider contains... I'm easy. Water is fine.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... Do you ever get that feeling between your car and walking to the front door that someone is behind you? I get that feeling way too often.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be your spokesperson... Noel Fielding. He just oozes cool and that's how I want my brand to be seen.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Alive or dead: Stephen Fry – the man just has so much knowledge and I can't imagine a minute being boring.
Christopher Hitchens – I think Hitch would have had some brilliant retorts to some of the absolute drivel that comes out of people's mouths/ social feeds these days. Jurgen Klopp – I'm a Liverpool fan, but he's such an interesting character.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I'm not a great cook, so I'd Ubereats it for sure.
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Belvedere vodka. Nothing else will do.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... This morning. I go almost every day.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Hanging out my washing. If there was one thing I could never do again in my life, it would be that. I hate it with a passion.
Do you have any phobias? I have a thing about the TV or radio volume being on odd numbers. I get this weird anxiety if the car radio isn't on an even number. I feel like I'm going crash or something.
It's only for volumes though. I don't have any issue with odd numbers outside of that. I'm not crazy...
Would you ever partake in a reality show? Bach in Paradise.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? Physical pranks do nothing for me. I'm more of a smart-arse who likes to push people's buttons. There's just so much more satisfaction in winding up someone into thinking they've embarrassed themselves beyond repair.
