While we don’t know much about the Spanish-speaking producer DWYR, what we can say is that he wants his music to speak for itself. Keeping his name, age, and location a secret, DWYR enters 2014 will the initiative to have his music heard. With influences ranging from Gorgon City to Pink Floyd, his first official release for Atlantic Records puts the young artist on our list of producers to look out for. Taking on Sevyn Streeter & Chris Brown’s single “It Won’t Stop”, DWYR turns the R&B gem into a dance floor destroyer. Bouncy vibes, experimental instruments, and a echoing reverb make this breakout track a surefire winner. We had a chance to go one-on-one with DWYR to discuss everything from time travel to winning the lotto. Check out the remix and get to know DWYR below.
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EARMILK: Introduce DWYR to the EARMILK readers?
DWYR: DWYR is the culmination of all the different music I’ve been playing and writing over the years and trying to narrow it down to a direction that feels the most natural to make. I can say that I have tried to create many different styles but right now I finally feel like I’m tapping into my sound. I don’t want to use genres to try and describe it, but I really like to make melodic music with feel good vocals and energetic beats. If you can dance to it than I’m happy. This is also my first endeavor, as a solo artist so more pressure on me but the music feels more personal.
EM: Tell us about your remix for Sevyn Streeter & Chris Brown?
D: I never imagined having an opportunity to remix such a well-known artist, nor did I picture myself working in a mainstream setting but I really think it was a good opportunity to get my music heard more outside of just my bedroom. I did this bootleg remix under my last DJ name ‘Beat Mass’ for that Drake – “Hold On We’re Going Home” and this was really the first song I made that actually had over 1,000 plays. It ultimately was the reason Atlantic approached me for a remix and now we have a great relationship.
This remix is mixing a lot of the influences in dance music now that I love with the vocals of Sevyn Streeter, it has a smooth R&B feel on top of a more driving beat. It’s definitely this kind of classic 90’s house sound that I just cannot help creating right now. It’s not even intentional, I make a song, go back and listen then think well there it is again Mike you are trapped in a cheesy 90’s rave for the remainder of your musical career.
EM: Are you a classically trained musician? What is your musical background?
D: Definitely not classically trained, but I have been playing instruments since I was a child. I took some lessons a couple times but most of it came from sitting down and listening to songs on the radio and trying to figure out how they did it. Probably my main instrument is the Drums and I used to play in quite a few bands but I picked up the guitar early as well and that became like another extension of me.
Electronic music is a fairly new venture for me. When Daft Punk first came out I remember thinking Whoa! What is this? It’s so cool and different, but I didn’t get it. I was primarily interested in Rock and Indie stuff with a nice helping of hip-hop as well. The whole sampling and producing music on a computer came much later in my life. I remember my first program was Fruity Loops and I used to make these really heavy rap beats for my friends and it was funny but I liked it. Right now I’m just a computer and MIDI controller guy but of course if I have the opportunity to get back in a studio I would love to do some real instrumentation and see what happens.
EM: What's a typical day for you?
D: Right now I’m living in Spain and I feel like I’m pretty integrated with the Spanish lifestyle. Everything runs later and is a bit more laid back so my days feel pretty easy. I have a pretty stress free job with not a whole lot of hours so I can spend a good amount of time producing…or playing video games ha. I think I’m enjoying it a little too much though, because when I eventually do go back to the states its going to kick my ass how hard I will have to work but for now I am enjoying the work to live lifestyle and its good for the soul I think.
EM: Do you prefer production to DJ'ing?
D: While I love to DJ, and there is nothing quite like a good party when the crowd is dancing and loving the set, I really feel like I’m the most comfortable in front of the computer. Something about the creative process feels so rewarding when you make a song and just throw it out there and see what the response is. It’s kind of scary too, because maybe people will hate it or ignore it and then you feel bad but I’ve learned to really just trust in the feeling if you like it go for it, someone is bound to enjoy it.
EM: If you could score any movie, which one would it be?
D: This is a tough one. I don’t think I would be good at doing something dramatic just because it’s hard for me to take things so seriously so maybe a comedy with Jonah Hill or Will Ferrell would be a good place to start. I could see it being this epic musical score, but so overdramatic that it just makes you laugh.
EM: What artists make you go – "WOW! That's Dope"
D: Definitely guys like Duke Dumont, and Grum are being so consistent and creating this music that even a commercial audience can identify with, but it’s still just great music. I think all these UK guys like Bondax, Gorgon City and of course Disclosure are opening doors for the next big wave in electronic music. Other favorites are Blonde, Route94, and anything that comes out on the French Express label, they are killing it.
EM: If you could time travel, what decade would you be making music in and why?
D: Maybe this sounds cliché but I think the 70’s were undoubtedly my favorite era of music. I feel like when I finally started to understand music and by that I mean when I started smoking and listening to albums it was all the stuff from the 70’s that just affected me in the deepest way. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix were my Gods, but on the other side there was this funk and soul movement that I later realized was my favorite all time style of music. Curtis Mayfield, Sly and the family stone, Earth Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye etc.… these were the sounds that started to influence my directions later on and how can you not want to dance when you hear ‘Move on up’ blasting through the speakers.
EM: There’s a briefcase outside your door one morning with 1,000,000 dollars in it and a note that says "you only have one day to spend this," What do you do?
D: Renting a club on a private island and then flying all my friends out for the weekend sounds like the best way to waste a million dollars. Probably would try to book Kanye West too.
Sevyn Streeter Feat. Chris Brown
"It Won't Stop" (DWYR Dub Mix)
- Atlantic Records
- 10-02-2014
