What So Not

What So Not is an electronic music project by Australian record producer Emoh Instead (stage name by Christopher John Emerson), and formerly a duo with record producer Flume. What So Not has toured the world, playing in various festivals, including Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pukkelpop, Ultra Music Festival and Lollapalooza. What So Not is best known for his hits such as "Gemini" (featuring George Maple), "Jaguar", "High You Are" and "Tell Me" (with RL Grime). He has featured on charts such as the Australian Singles Chart, Triple J Hottest 100, and iTunes Electronic chart. He released his debut album titled Not All the Beautiful Things on 9 March 2018.

What So Not
Background information
OriginSydney
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • record producer
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • Sweat It Out
  • Counter Records
  • Owsla
Associated acts
Websitewhatsonot.com
Members
  • Christopher Emerson, also known as Emoh Instead
Past members

History

What So Not started as a project between record producer Emoh Instead and Flume.[1] On 13 November 2011, What So Not released their debut EP, 7 Dollar Bill.[2] During this time, they had released several remixes of artists such as Peking Duk, Tom Piper, and Major Lazer,.[3][4] In early 2013, they embarked on the Massive Universe Tour, in several venues across Australia.[5] On 28 May 2013, they released their second EP, The Quack, featuring a collaboration with Action Bronson on label OWSLA.[6]

The duo released the song, "Jaguar" on 6 December 2013.[7][8]

On 24 June 2014, What So Not and RL Grime released their single, "Tell Me", with Chris Martins from Spin describing the track as "of both melodic might and percussive ferocity".[9]

On 20 February 2015, Flume announced that he has departed from the What So Not project, citing creative differences.[10][11] In a post written on Facebook, What So Not stated that "over the last while, Emoh and I have been moving in different directions creatively, we haven't made any music together in quite a while", and thanked Flume for his time and effort put into the project.[11]

"Gemini" which features George Maple, the first track from the Gemini EP, debuted on 9 May 2015.[12] The track was named on Triple J Hottest 100 later that year and peaked at number 52 on the Australian Singles Chart.[13] The lead and title track features Sydney-based singer George Maple.

Gemini was released as a free download on 18 December 2015, which featured collaborations with artists Dillon Francis, Tunji Ige and KLP (musician).[14][15] The EP was downloaded over 800,000 times, charted globally on iTunes Electronic EP chart and was named to various year-end "best of" lists.

In November 2015, What So Not, Baauer and George Maple co-produced a track for Australian rapper Tkay Maidza, titled "Ghost".[16] The song was premiered on Triple J.

On 9 September 2016, What So Not released the 6-track Divide & Conquer EP, which includes previously released track "Lone".[17]

In October 2016, What So Not, George Maple and Djemba Djemba co-produced a track on Australian rapper Tkay Maidza's debut album, titled "Afterglow".[18]

On 3 November 2016, RL Grime released the single "Waiting" in collaboration with What So Not and Skrillex which was in production since 2013.[19] The track's release was teased through a promotional video which parodied chat-line advertisements and featured footage of 1980-era-influenced vixens with a phone number flashing across the screen, where by calling the number listeners can hear the song in full.[20]

A collaboration between What So Not and New York artist LPX, "Better", was released on 8 September 2017;[21] and was debuted on Australian Radio Station Triple J on 7 September 2017. "I had a few productions I’d been working on in this sonic field but struggled to find a vocalist with the right attitude and tone to fit. Lizzy and I clicked instantly on this trajectory & began jamming on the tune," stated What So Not about the track's production.[21] He released "Be Ok Again" which featured Australian musician Daniel Johns on 28 November 2017.[22] The track was produced after Johns noticed What So Not working with Slumberjack as he walked by the studio, which prompted him to invite What So Not to work together at his Newscastle studio.[22]

On 31 January 2018, What So Not announced the arrival of his debut album titled Not All the Beautiful Things which was released on 9 March 2018.[23][24][25] The album featured collaborations with several artists, including Skrillex, Slumberjack, San Holo, and American rock band Toto.[26] Together with the announcement, he released lead album single "Stuck In Orbit" which was co-produced with Jono Ma from Australian psychedelic dance band Jagwar Ma.[27] What So Not released a third album single titled "Beautiful", a collaboration with Swedish singer/songwriter Winona Oak,[28] on 27 February 2018 and announced a national Australia tour for his "Beautiful Things' World Tour" where he visited cities Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in June 2018.[29]

What So Not's first single of 2019, "We Can Be Friends" featuring American singer Herizen, was released on 22 January 2019.[30] He previously met the singer at a songwriting workshop in Nicaragua, while citing American record producer and rapper J Dilla as the track's main inspiration.[31]

Awards and Nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2019[32] "Beautiful" (featuring Winona Oak) Best Independent Dance, Electronica Or Club Single Won

Discography
Main article: What So Not discography

Studio albums

References
  1. "What So Not - Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  2. "7 Dollar Bill EP by What So Not". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. "I Love to Rap - What So Not Remix by Peking DuK, Panama Black on Beatport". Beatport. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  4. Howe, Dave (22 April 2012). "Major Lazer – Get Free ft. Amber (What So Not Remix)". inthemix. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. Cunningham, Katie (29 August 2013). "What So Not: "When we started the project the scene was the absolute worst it got to"". inthemix. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  6. "The Quack - Single by What So Not on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  7. Sarah Bella (29 November 2013). "What So Not Release New Song 'Jaguar'". moshtix. moshtix Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  8. "Flume's What So Not Returns with 'Jaguar'". TheMusic.com.au. Street Press Australia Pty Ltd. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  9. Martins, Chris (7 March 2014). "Destroy Your Speakers With RL Grime and What So Not's 'Tell Me'". Spin. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  10. Baroni, Nastassia (23 February 2015). "Flume Has Officially Left What So Not". MusicFeeds. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  11. "Flume Leaves What So Not". Magnetic Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  12. ""Gemini" Is the First of the Last From Flume & Emoh as What So Not". NestHQ. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  13. Ryan, Gavin (9 May 2015). "ARIA Singles: Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth Are Still No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  14. Mccarthy, Wll (17 December 2015). "What So Not give away long-awaited 'Gemini' EP, includes final selection of Flume production". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  15. Rubinstein, Peter (17 December 2015). "What So Not's Gemini Ep Is Finally Here, and It Slays". Your EDM. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  16. Jarvis, Nick (17 November 2015). "Hear Tkay Maidza's new track with Baauer, What So Not and George Maple". inthemix. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  17. Bein, Kat (9 September 2016). "Hear a Solo-Emoh Sound on What So Not's 'Divide and Conquer' EP". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  18. "Afterglow - Tkay Maidza | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  19. Buerger, Megan (3 November 2016). "Songs We Love: RL Grime, What So Not And Skrillex, 'Waiting'". NPR. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  20. McCarthy, Will (1 November 2016). "RL Grime, What So Not and Skrillex share 'Waiting' teaser ahead of release this week". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  21. Bonavoglia, Brian (8 September 2017). "What So Not Releases Powerful New Single, "Better" Featuring LPX". DJ Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  22. Newstead, Al (28 November 2017). "First Spin: What So Not and Daniel Johns team up for 'Be Ok Again'". Triple J. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  23. Lee, Valerie (31 January 2018). "What So Not Announces Debut Album 'Not All the Beautiful Things'". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  24. Kocay, Lisa (9 March 2018). "What So Not Discusses New Album and Working with Toto and Skrillex". Forbes. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  25. "Not All the Beautiful Things by What So Not on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  26. Wiedenman, Ian (9 March 2018). "What So Not's Debut Album Not All the Beautiful Things". SoundGrail. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  27. Bein, Kat (30 January 2018). "What So Not Teases Debut Album With Single 'Stuck in Orbit': Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  28. "What So Not Introduces Winona Oak With "Beautiful"". NYLON. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. "What So Not Announces Aussie Leg Of 'Beautiful Things' World Tour". the music.au. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  30. Bein, Kat (22 January 2019). "What So Not & Herizen Hit Lofty Future Moods On 'We Can Be Friends': Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  31. Powell, Karlie (22 January 2019). "What So Not drops new standout collab 'We Can Be Friends' with Herizen". Your EDM. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  32. "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
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