Whethan Breaks Down Every Track from His Debut Album “Fantasy,” Out Today [Exclusive]
“It’s getting in a spaceship and leaving Earth off this electronic rainbow,” Whethan told EDM.com of this album.
As of today, Whethan‘s fans can now rest easy, knowing that the long-anticipated release of his debut album has finally come to fruition. Out now via Atlantic Records, FANTASY is the kind of album you did not even know you’re missing before it came, making it well worth the almost yearlong wait we have suffered because its announcement.
Comprised of 15 tracks of pure pleasure, FANTASY acutely blends Whethan’s quirky avant-electronica audio with the perfect punch of retro pop and rock undertones, making it the perfect display of talent and creativity to the young producer. Each song comes paired with its own visualizer, lyric video or audio video, released this morning through YouTube.
From the infectiously happy sounds of”Clouds” featuring The Wombats into the downtown edginess of”In The Summer” featuring Jaymes Young, FANTASY’s 15 tracks render no mood, style or sound left unturned.
“Drumdown Mambo” featuring Jasiah stands out with its own dynamic groove and filtered synths, as will”Ocean Energy” with Mr Gabriel, a seamless blend of indie rock and electronic sensibilities. Concluding using the previously released”Outta Here,” a high profile collaboration using RL Grime, FANTASY is nothing short of”getting in a spaceship and leaving Earth off this electronic rainbow,” just as Whethan hinted it would be in an earlier interview with EDM.com.
To celebrate the release of FANTASY, Whethan reconnected with EDM.com to offer up an exclusive track-by-track deep dive into the process behind every song. Read his words under.
1. “Intro”: “The intro is the entrance to the portal falling down into my world and it features one of my favorite artists in electronic music, Chrome Sparks. He came over to my studio / house last year and we made a handful of beats all using my Juno-60 keyboard, which makes appearances all over the album. This song feels like a rush of synth wave euphoria and reminds me of my favorite things about vintage synthesizers and modern beats.”
2. “Freefall” (feat. Oliver Tree): “Me and Oliver have been working together forever. We put out ‘When I’m Down’ four years ago, and it was our first song that really blew up and got us both record deals. Here we are, years later, still working together, and we’re putting out our best song to date.”
3. “In the Summer” (feat. Jaymes Young): “‘In the Summer’ picks up where the ‘Intro’ left off and takes you back on the spaceship through a dream. It takes place in a futuristic, psychedelic world. Jaymes Young and I wrote this song at my studio, and Jaymes right off the gate was all about getting experimental. He began writing about the summer of 2025 or 3025 in a world in which you never die. It inspired the futuristic dance sound of the instrumental. I got the opportunity to play versions of this song live at Lollapalooza and Red Rocks last year and it was my absolutely favorite song in the set; it had everyone jumping.”
4. “Hurting On Purpose” with K. Flay: “It all started when K.Flay sent me a song three years ago, and I really loved the message. I spent the next couple years working on it and perfecting the beat. The song refers to indulging in things like ‘drinking, driving fast, etc.’ really just indulging in self-damaging behaviours, but finally realizing that you’re in control of these items which are damaging you and you like it.”
5. “Drumdown Mambo” (feat. Jasiah):”The wildcard inclusion that could not have turned out much better. Had this crazy rhythm laying about that had this crazy world feel that have picked up to an Apple commercial round precisely exactly the identical time my album was coming out. I have been a lover of Jasiah for a while and delivered the beat over and’Drumdown Mambo’ came into existence. This was the final song added to the tracklist and makes the album feel otherworldly and distinct.”
6. “Sunshine” with The Knocks:”The Knocks and I had flipped this particular sample, ‘Sunshower,’ awhile back while working with a single people put out called’Summer Luv’ (feat. Crystal Fighters). It started off as something that we both would play pool parties and other DJ sets. As soon as I was putting together the tracklist for the own album I believed this trail fit in with the futuristic sunshine vibe which I’m heading for. We’d the sample re-sung by this incredible kids choir who brought the song into a completely new lighting, and I knew it had to be on the album.”
7. “So Good” with bülow:”I needed to work with bülow for a while. She’s an awesome artist and on top of thatwe were able to compose a song together that I think everybody that has gone through any kind of heartbreak could relate to. It ended up being one of my favourite songs off the album if you want to go hard.”
8. “Clouds” (feat. The Wombats):”It’s difficult to pick favorites from whatever I’ve worked on, but this one gives me the maximum excitement for folks to hear. The quick video game audio is a style I’t achieved before. This one features The Wombats, who’s a ring I’ve been listening to since I started making music, and a dream cooperation I’ve gotten to make real.They delivered me the demonstration of this song and I connected with the lyrics of swimming in the clouds so much, since that’s a feeling I’m always chasing and a place which makes me feel in peace. I did many versions. Trying to capture the sensation of floating in the clouds while being able to head bang and dance, and I really like the result.”
9. “All In My Head” with Grandson:”Most of my thoughts start off as dialogue between the artist I’m collaborating together and myself, if it be with STRFKR, Grouplove or bülow. The 1 exception was my song using Grandson. He sent me a rough song idea with the lyrics, I took the song and reimagined it from start to end. I realize that through this procedure, I could end up with super intriguing outcomes .”
10. “Ocean Energy” with Mr Gabriel:”The sea is a very strong visual to me yet still a very calming place. My album FANTASY takes you on a trip to many unique atmospheres, and’Ocean Energy’ will be the one which brings one into the tranquility of the water.”
11. “All I Needed” with The Front Bottoms:”The Front Bottoms had been an incredible group to use and also the track’All I Needed’ came together quite naturally. We jumped from the studio and wrote the idea mainly with an acoustic guitar vibe, and also the song spoke to me personally at a really refreshing way.”
12. “Stay Forever” (feat. STRFKR):”This song instantly felt like the perfect sound and direction to the album, which explains the reason why it had been our lead single. It almost feels like a Western guitar, then all these verdant, synth-wavy synths arrive in. That’s where my thoughts ’s been, which was a excellent cooperation, STRFKR was only in my checklist which I’t had been dying to do indefinitely.”
13. “Wave”:”I created this instrumental inspired by the sounds of the sea. While the sea is calming and serene, it may be a dangerous place, with racing waves and raging waters. This is the only song on FANTASY not comprising a full vocal in the singer/artist plus it captures the sensation of sitting around the shore, hearing the waves crashing. As the song builds up, you’re racing into the water. It’therefore feeling of this moment when you jump off a huge cliff into the wateror off a diving board.”
14. “Upside Down” (feat. Grouplove):”Grouplove is among my favourite groups from the alt area and I’ve wanted to make a song with them because I could remember making music. They wrote the initial idea having an remarkable songwriter friend of mineSarah Aarons, who I’ve worked with previously. I immediately fell in love with the song and wanted to bring it in the world of my album.”
15. “Outta Here” with RL Grime:”RL Grime, the trap legend, playing some of his tunes at any festival will find any crowd going. Getting from the studio had been a thing I always wanted to do since I believed our sounds together would be an excellent combination and potentially make a banger I could perform. The sensation of’Outta Here’ reminded me a bit of this classic RL Grime, enormous sound blended a bit with my old future type stuff. This really can be the perfect ending to my debut album and it’therefore rocket ship taking you back home.”
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