Hailing from East London, Wilza has cultivated a rich and eclectic sound that spans genres, taking inspiration from various influences. With a diverse musical background and heritage, he has developed a unique style that seamlessly blends elements to create contemporary House music, aiming to add a modern touch to the sounds of the late 80s and early 90s New Jack Swing/RnB/Hip Hop/Soul. Having founded his own label, SwingBeat Records, Wilza has emerged on the Electronic Music scene, poised to introduce his innovative productions and unique approach to listeners worldwide.
Today, we delve into his musical journey, the inspirations behind his sound, and what lies ahead. So, join us as we discover the creative mind of the talented Wilza in this exclusive interview.
Hi Wilza, how’s it going? Could you start by sharing details about your journey into the music scene?
Being of mixed St Lucian and English heritage whilst growing up in East London, I was heavily influenced musically by a combination of my mother’s music tastes (Soca, Steel Band, Classical, and Gospel), pirate radio, and those of my friends. At that time, East London was heavily influenced by the Jamaican and American music scene, so Dancehall alongside RnB and Hip Hop dominated both the airwaves and my headphones. I started playing the piano at around 7 years old and was classically trained up to Grade 6. I’ve been DJ’ing at local gigs and parties I put on since I was 16 years old. I specialised at the time in RnB, Hip Hop, Dancehall, Jungle, Garage, Funky House, New Jack Swing, and 70’s/80’s Soul Music.
I decided from a young age that I wanted to contribute to the music scene rather than just play other people’s music. As a result, I moved into music production and studied it at college. I then decided I wanted to learn more about the music business side of things as so few in my social circle really understood it. I went to London Metropolitan University and studied Music Management. On the back of this, I spent time tour managing a UK Hip Hop band called the Foreign Beggars, and then I moved on to manage two record labels, Casual Records (Foreign Beggars, Foresight, Urban, Lady Sovereign, Sunship, Soul2Soul) and Need2Soul Records (Glenn Underground, Ron Trent, Robert Owens, Jerome Sydenham).
It was whilst managing Need2Soul Records that my love and true appreciation for House music began. Following record label management, I then spent time working for PRS for Music to get a fully rounded view of the business of music. During all of this, I had been continuing to DJ and develop my craft as a Producer.
Which artists have been the most inspirational to you?
Glenn Underground, Ron Trent, and Kerri Chandler mean a lot to me as they were the reason I fell in love with House music. Their soulful, timeless sound will forever resonate with me. They are true pioneers, and their excellence is reflected in their longevity. These guys will be packing dancefloors till such a time that they choose not to, and that’s the dream that I am chasing.
Your New Jack House project comes as a unique blend of New Jack Swing with contemporary House music. What inspired you to bring back the sounds of the late 80s and early 90s into your modern productions?
DJ S.K.T. made an edit of the track ‘Poison’ by Bell Biv DeVoe back in 2016. I still love that track to this day and try to play it whenever I can. What that track did for me, however, is made me realise that this New Jack Swing era of music, which I know better than most, has been rarely utilised in House music. Most other vocal genres you can think of have been reworked in the House scene in a multitude of ways, but this one I didn’t think had its due representation. House music is a great way to keep classic tracks from other genres playing on dancefloors in almost perpetuity. New Jack Swing and 90’s RnB and Hip Hop, in general, have such great material to bring back to dancefloors everywhere if worked in the right way.
I also aim to bring New Jack Swing into the 90’s RnB conversation. Other than on the Grand Theft Auto 5 soundtrack/radio station (CSR 103.9), today’s generation does not get exposure to this sound if you are outside of the USA. So, I saw this as an opportunity to educate, stimulate, appreciate, and recreate this sound for House music lovers everywhere.
Can you describe your creative process when starting a new track? What steps do you take from the initial concept to the final production?
The creative process for my tracks has started in a variety of ways. I’d say my sample-based work usually kicks off by hearing a track playing, and I decide that it would be a great sample to use. I would then decide on the type of House track I want to make, i.e., Tech House, Jackin’ House, Deep House, etc., and that would influence whether I keep the pitch of the sample or change it. I would then build out the drums and percussion that way, making sure I have the right kind of cadence I’m looking for. I would then drop in my samples and build out the rest of the track around the key of the sample, starting off with the bassline and working up the layers from there. I continue adding elements until I feel the track reflects the story I am trying to tell. If my work is non-sample based, then like the above approach, I tend to always start with drums and percussion first. I would then work out what key I want to work in and build out the track from the bassline upwards.
What has been the most unexpected challenge you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I would say that, as with most people, COVID provided me with the most unexpected challenge. I was DJ’ing regularly at the time and generally loving life. Then COVID hit, and all my gigs dried up on the spot. COVID brought about many challenges to us all. Some were commonplace challenges, and some were unique. COVID had so many negative effects on the music scene, but if there was one good thing that came out of COVID, I would say it was that so many Producers found they had a lot of time to make music which they may not have had before. Spending time in my studio got me through many stressful days and nights during that period, and my productivity skyrocketed.
How would you describe your signature sound to newcomers to your music?
Currently, my signature sound involves utilising New Jack Swing or early 90’s RnB and Hip-Hop samples in my music. I like to make music in different sub-genres of House music depending on the mood I may be in at the time or what genre I feel would best suit the sample. Expect funky basslines and thoughtful chords from someone who plays the piano and loves listening to 90’s RnB chord progressions.
Can you share a standout moment that has been particularly significant to your journey into music production and DJing?
My standout moment is easy. The release of my first track ‘What You See’ on my own record label, SwingBeat Records. I have had all the tools, knowledge, and experience to make this happen, but for various reasons, the dream of doing this has just stayed a dream for far too long. I’m glad to have finally taken this step, and I cannot wait to share more of my amazing music I have sitting on my hard drive waiting to be released!
Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself that might surprise fans?
A fun fact is that, as per the Marvel multiverse type view of the world (I’m a sci-fi and superhero geek), I have an alter ego/alias/multiversal character who is also a DJ and Producer. His name is Will B, and he focuses on another one of my passions—Afro/Melodic/Organic/Progressive House. He has yet to release any music, but he has many ready-made tracks, some of which he is aiming to release this year, so keep an eye out for more details soon… exciting times are ahead.
How do you balance the creative and business aspects of your career?
This is a tough question. Tough in the sense that it’s one of my hardest struggles. I’m a victim of my own drive and knowledge in that, because I know how to run labels, I struggle with the idea of letting anyone else do that side of things (if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself).
The answer to your question is that I work a lot of late hours doing label admin or social media stuff, but I am getting better at delegating these days so that I have more creative time. Thankfully, I have a large back catalogue of unreleased music that I feel could go at any time, which takes the pressure off me needing to create here and now. However, my creative brain is always thinking of something new, and I know my music can always improve and get better, so sitting on what I have is not an option.
So that leaves me with a very simple answer to your question, which I say whenever I’m questioned about why I overwork myself…‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead.’
Finally, how do you see your music evolving in the next few years?
I’d like to see a niche market carved out for myself with the New Jack House project. I want to release a few EPs/compilations in this genre, like the ‘Mastercuts New Jack Swing’ compilation albums that were released back in the 90’s, which served as a catalogue of New Jack Swing hits to those in the UK who didn’t have much access to that USA market at the time. My New Jack House project will hopefully have a similar effect on House music listeners today, with the hope that they enjoy my tracks and then take the time to go and listen to and enjoy the original I may have sampled too.
Outside of the New Jack Swing music, I do plan to release some original composition House music, but that is completely under wraps for now. I’m having too much fun with New Jack House!
As we wrap up our interview with Wilza, it is evident that his passion for music and dedication to his craft remain the driving forces behind his innovative sound and creative ambitions. From his early influences in East London to his latest musical ventures, Wilza continues to push boundaries, working to breathe refreshing vibes into the genre of House and make a mark with his original approach. So, an exciting project that is only just getting started, be sure to stay tuned to Wilza’s journey by following him across social media today.
Wilza Online
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