In Conversation With #206 - WYSE
South Coast based producer and songwriter WYSE has just released her sophomore EP ‘Allusions’ - which is a piece of powerfully seductive alternative pop. She took a moment to talk to us about how is all came together.
Hey there WYSE - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Hi! I’m great thanks.
Releasing an EP is a very bizarre feeling.
You’ve put so much work into something and seen it go through its various stages, over the course of probably a year, and then it’s just sort of….sent out into the cosmos lol.
I find my sense of accomplishment comes when the whole package is completed, which is normally weeks or months before the release.
So right now, I’m very excited for it to be out in the world but I’m already planning the next thing and the next next thing!
It is called ‘Allusions’ - what is the meaning behind that?
Some of the lyrics reflect an internal battle where I’m needing to express myself but not able to be fully honest about who I am yet, which is where the word allusions comes in.
Alluding to something but not being explicit about it. It’s funny how you can come up with a word for something – a record or some lyrics, without fully understanding the definition and then when you look it up, you realise it was the perfect description!
The subconscious mind is a powerful thing in songwriting!
Where was it recorded?
The majority of the instruments and all the vocals were tracked at StudiOwz in Pembrokeshire, Wales, but some of the guitars were recorded at The Bookhouse in London
Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
The challenge with this EP was to give all the productions their own identity to stay true to the spirit of each song, but to also tie them together as part of a record cohesive record.
This was a development from my previous EP, Anomalies, which I saw as four individual songs that just so happened to be on a record together!
However, with Allusions I enjoyed the challenge of trying to achieve individuality between the songs, but with a sense of cohesion.
I love to feel challenged when writing and producing music.
I’ve picked out a few thoughts about the creative process for the three singles from the EP:
Run Away
How I created the track:
Musically, this song was a total experiment. I had this idea to make this song fantasy-movie-like… think alternative rock meets Jurassic park.
I am obsessed with pop but I’m also partial to progressive song structures.
I like music to feel like a journey with twists, turns, highs and lows.
In ‘Run Away’, I wanted juxtaposition between the angry war-like verses, and the dreamy choruses.
At the end of the track, I went totally nuts with building up so many intertwining parts, and constant key changes until the very end.
This song was one of those songs that I didn’t necessarily intend to release. I was seeing how far I could push my song-writing, and just having fun!
What Instruments were used to create the track
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Jen synth bass, synths, bass, drums, vocals, trombones
Some recording trivia facts about the track
At 1:17 – the piano run into the chorus was impossible for me to play, so I played it in half-time and we sped it up. But as I was working out the scale by singing, Owain the engineer recorded this and sped this up so I sounded like a chipmunk. This got deeply hidden in the premix as a joke and forgotten about. I was the chipmunk vocal which resurfaced so prominently in the final mix!
From 2:19 – Where I create these productions in my bedroom with a fairly makeshift set up, I find that I often think I need a lot more elements in the production than I do, because each instrument has less depth. There is an insane amount happening in this section of the song, and this became apparent in the mixing stage. I didn’t want to lose any of the parts because I liked them all equally, so the mix was a bit of a nightmare in this section! But I think we reached a balance that I had in my head after some juggling about.
Belladonna
How I created the track:
Belladonna was originally written and performed on an acoustic guitar and it took a while for me to convert it into a production.
Since University, I have been developing my skills as a producer so that I can turn these ideas into something I can create myself.
I wanted the production to dance between lightness and darkness, and to feel stormy, moody and menacing.
This song is best listened to by sitting back, closing your eyes, and letting the song take you on a journey.
The structure is designed to build up slowly and carefully until the climactic final section.
What Instruments were used to create the track
Electric guitar, baritone guitar, a Jen synth bass, synths, bass, drums, vocals, trombones, electronic drums
Some recording trivia facts about the track
Several things were done in the studio to build on the “tempestuous” energy and build-up of this song.
From 2:01, we tried to get the toms to sound as much like thunder as we could, experimenting with different drums, mics and post-production effects.
I wanted something to emulate a lightning strike in the outbreak of the guitars and the drums. Owain has a pipe that runs all the way from the live room to the control room and when he kicked it and pressed record, it had a rattling sound that for me was like lightning!
It’s in the background of the recording but it adds some drama to that section I think.
Whole Days
How I created the track:
I wanted the production of this song to have a sense of humour beneath the dark and difficult lyrical content.
Hence the dance-like drums, the orchestral slide, and the over-the-top majestic ending with the brass section.
The progressive sonic structure of 3 Whole Days comes from several different ideas that I played with and put together over a span of a year.
I created the song so that the momentum builds more and more, reaching a climactic ending which ties all the ideas together into one.
What Instruments were used to create the track
Electric guitar, baritone guitar, Jen synth bass, synths, bass, drums, vocals, trombones, electronic drums
Some recording trivia facts about the track
I asked an old childhood friend, Joel Knee, to record the trombones in the last section of 3 Whole Days.
I had a vision of how I wanted these to sound, and he admitted to me that we were asking the trombone to do a trumpet’s job… but he was determined to get the sound I wanted so he pushed the instrument beyond its capabilities.
I kept the demo guitars, which achieved those “western” sounding guitar riffs. Even though it was just DI and a couple of boss pedals, I think those demo guitars achieved the vibe I wanted.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
I wanted Allusions to feel cinematic – like a film soundtrack meets alt-rock, and a bit of pop! I’m influenced by Radiohead and Awolnation, and on reflection, I think there’s some subconscious influence by Massive Attack with Belladonna.
‘Allusions’ is, in some ways, a story arc.
At the beginning of the EP, in ‘Run Away’ and ‘3 Whole Days’ I am facing an internal battle to accept my identity, my sexuality, and above all, my insecurities.
As the record progresses through ‘Don’t Come Back for Me’, ‘Belladonna’ and finally ‘What You Gonna Do’, I start to be able to confront my emotions in a new way.
This allowed me to embrace and work through difficult feelings rather than deny them and cover them up with metaphors and productions.
I found writing lyrics in a way that is truly honest with myself helps me to understand myself better.
Throughout ‘Allusions’, I explore the concept of “contrast” and blend pop writing techniques with a less conventional approach to alternative and progressive production.
In the EP, I have pushed my abilities as a producer, writer and musician far beyond anything I have done to date.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
3 Whole Days – I think could be Broke Back Mountain, super gay, super twangy and western.
Run Away - Jurassic Park.
Belladonna – not sure about the film but I visualise a chase scene in a storm, hence the music video ( https://youtu.be/67_BuQt4Eag ) although I wasn’t about to try and create a CGI storm!
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
My favourite lyrics definitely have to be from Belladonna, probably verse 2
Can I say that I don’t know you?
Now that you’re all laced up, Belladonna
Now that I fall
All knowing, serotonin
Making me crawl
Belladonna is named after the poisonous but beautiful plant, which is also used as medicine. I compared this concept to my fear and self doubt connecting to the potential future of my career. The song was also referring to my struggles with stage anxiety.
Normally if I make a song title or lyric with such a specific title or theme, I double check the history of the word first to make sure I’m not referencing something that doesn’t sit well. After I came up with the concept of the song, I googled the word and discovered that Belladonna is also a famous stripper! So I made the above line as a sort of humorous reminder to myself towards that, whilst still referencing the poison.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
I’ve already written the EP that follows! I’m in the middle stages of recording that at the moment. Then plenty more gigs and just pushing forward in every way possible. I’m only just getting started.
