Chris Emerson, widely recognized as What So Not, is an Australian electronic music producer and DJ who has made significant waves in the industry.
Photo credit: What So Not – Official
After charting America’s #1 Dance Album with his debut ‘Not All the Beautiful Things’ in 2018, Emerson took a step back from the spotlight to reconnect with his roots and rediscover his passion for music. This period of self-reflection and exploration led to the creation of his album ‘Anomaly,’ a work that showcases his artistic evolution and newfound confidence.
‘Anomaly’ is a testament to Emerson’s versatility as an artist, featuring an eclectic blend of genres from cinematic builds to bassline-driven anthems and celestial vocals. Collaborating with notable artists such as Oliver Tree, Killer Mike, Louis the Child, and MØ, he has crafted a musical masterpiece that defies trends and stands the test of time. The album is complemented by a visually stunning immersive live show, exploring themes of purpose, existence, and impact through 3D animated film.
After his successful Anomaly tour in the US and Australia, Emerson continues innovating in electronic music. His creative vision and genre-blending releases cement his status as a pioneering artist. What So Not’s latest release is the captivating EP, ‘Motions’. He describes it as “a love letter to dance music,” offering an emotional journey through four electronic tracks.
In this exclusive interview with EG, What So Not offers insights into his latest release, creative process, and future projects, giving readers a peek into the mind of this captivating electronic music artist.
EG: Hi, Christopher! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
What So Not: Hey! I’m in Europe. Things are manic but I’m great! 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, about to hit Burning Man, just had a big wave surfing feature on the iconic Kookslams, and all the usual touring, and music creation too.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your latest collaborative EP, ‘Motions’! You must be amped to finally have this one out. What has the initial reception been like?
What So Not: It’s been received really well, I’m super proud of it. To sum it up, the EP is a trajectory of love — passion, longing, deciphering, acceptance, trust, separation, and ever after.
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Lights Go Out’? Is there an emotional trigger or concept driving the piece?
What So Not: 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. I wrote a little note about this song to point me to this place: “A sea of faces part as eyes lock. Engulfed in passion, ecstasy & movement, two bodies are entangled. Rhythm & touch converge before an undue departure. A reciprocal longing resides, howling through the elements, as a call from a mountain top.”
It’s the first song I’ve had added all over commercial radio. I don’t know why this or now, but hey! I’ll take it. I premiered it at Red Rocks last year & it pretty much got signed that day by a label rep in the crowd asking about it at the end of my set. I took a lot of inspiration from DnB sound design but applied it with a softness & lush textures and having it at this slow tempo allows for a lot more swing & groove. My long-time friend Benson who I wrote it with usually sits in the house/tech house space but the clash of worlds comes together so seamlessly. Lucy’s voice was the perfect pairing for that airy euphoria. It feels like flying over mountains.
“The EP is a trajectory of love — passion, longing, deciphering, acceptance, trust, separation, and ever after”
EG: ‘Lights Go Out’ sees you linking up with Benson and Lucy Lucy. How did this team-up come about? What was the creative process for this one like?
What So Not: We are the oldest of friends! Benson let me stay on his couch so I could afford one of my first-ever interstate shows. Lucy was practically my neighbor, with her family living down the road from mine. The song’s conception came on Christmas Eve of all times, that period when we were all still locked in our homes & unable to be with our family for the holiday. Benson sent me a demo, with a garage beat that he actually sang on. He wasn’t really sure what to do with it, where it fit, or if his vocal was good enough. I thought it was so raw & emotive. The honesty in people performing outside of their comfort is one of the most beautiful things in music. I think that’s why the record is having so much impact.
EG: ‘Lights Go Out’ is the first single to stem from your forthcoming ‘Motions’ EP. What can you tell us about ‘Motions’?
What So Not: I wrote a piece about this too, to hold me in the right moment: “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 to consciously discover. A movement that must be felt to be seen.
EG: Were you expecting ‘Lights Go Out’ to be such a success? How do you feel about all this ‘attention’? Do you feel like anything has changed?
What So Not: I always make music with my friends, I’ve never chased ‘numbers’ or big features, so it’s quite fulfilling when one kicks off organically.
EG: Does this feel like a platform to do even ‘bigger’ things?
What So Not: I’ve been using this attention in particular in Australia to bring light to the struggling music industry, many of our festivals & clubs failing & shutting down. Sadly it looks like something happening or about to happen the world over… but what I found is that there is always hope in community. Help new artists break through, become inspired, build friendships & local scenes & it will compound all the way up.
“The honesty in people performing outside of their comfort is one of the most beautiful things in music”
EG: Now, on to one of those hot current subjects… What’s your stance on AI? Do you see it driving the scene forward? Has any form of AI been applied in your recent productions?
What So Not: The most valuable resource in our lives is time & it can save you multitudes of that never before possible. I think it’s that simple. The end of digital labor maybe? Companies exploiting their coding off artists’ work, yes? But it feels like when computers replaced paper on a whole other level. It feels like our activities will just hybridize with it.
EG: Finally, what can we expect from What So Not in the next months? Where can your fans catch you playing live?
What So Not: Diablo Dungeon Rave in Cologne!, Burning Man! Bunnings Rave & On Night Stand in Australia, and a big ‘MOTIONS TOUR’ I hope we announce shortly!
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Christopher! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
What So Not: Thanks for chatting! Hope you enjoy MOTIONS!
What So Not’s ‘Motions’ is now available via Create Music Group. Stream and download here.
Follow What So Not: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram | Facebook
