Project Description

Interview with

WASTELAND

Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs

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When did you become a DJ? How did that come about? 
I started DJ’ing when I was about 19, I went to a club saw a guy playing and was like Holy Shit!!! I want to do that!!!  So sold a bunch of stuff so I could afford my first set of decks, and it all began.

Have you always been interested in making music? When did that become a serious concern for you?
It was always sort of the natural progression from DJ’ing. You start playing other peoples music, then think “damm OK if they make music I can make music”. So about 3 years after DJ’ing I dove into the making of it.

What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
My Dad was my biggest influencer of new music. He was born in the 50’s but was quite musically progressive for people of his generation. So he’d always have CD’s playing ranging from Kraftwerk, Fatboy Slim, to Blondie, Bananrama, Run DMC.
No haven’t sourced ideas from those, but I defs should, Blondie – The Tide is High defs needs a 2019 update for school formals ;)

Your new tune Paper Towns is being released soon. How does this release differ from your previous release? 
Believe it or not it’s been two years since my last release. After my last release (Tail Lights), I really changed direction; I was way more inspired by pop music and songs than my older EDM/Rave sound. So in the last two years I actually had to learn how to write a full pop song, not just a clubby dance track. Initially I thought this will be easy, fast forward two years and I’ve worked out that is not the case.

Can you share the origins or inspiration for writing the song?
The song was written in collaboration with a talented duo from Sydney who go by The Banton Brothers. Josh, Ben and myself wrote it together, and it basically tells the story of a couple that leave a small town after one of them “makes it” in the big city. This puts a strain on their relationship as he (the singer) just wishes he could return to that small town love, and leave this fake town aka “Paper Town” behind.

What made you decide to work with Australian/Norwegian singer, Mileo, on this track? 
We knew we needed a unique voice, someone who could really sell the narrative of the song. We were having very little luck finding someone with the right tone, and our label had found Mileo and asked if he could give it a crack. The result as you can hear is him smashing it out of god dam park! Super relieved that he not only did it Justice, but exceeded expectations. (Mileo Fan love moment)

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Any EP or Album currently in development?
Not right now, but plenty more singles lined up this year, then maybe who knows ;)

When the video for Tail Lights went viral back in 2016, did that open up a world of opportunities for you?
Yeah it was quite cool suddenly people were blowing me up saying they saw it and loved it. It lead to me doing some music production for other artists as a result. But I think the biggest fame was directed at the Drag Queen Scarlet Adams who starred in the video clip. I think she gained a bazillion new fan girls + boys!

If you could work with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
100% Avicii!!!! I was a fan of his since he had 400 likes on his Facebook page. He actually played my music all over the world at Festivals when I was in my EDM Bubble, and people said we even looked similar but alas I never got to meet him. I was a small producer really questioning my future in music then one day my phone lit up with someone saying Avicii played your song. I always wanted to thank him in person for that, but never got the chance. RIP Tim we will meet one day my friend!

What are your longer-term goals or aspirations as a producer, DJ and songwriter?
To have Fun! I know that’s sounds cliché as hell but I stressed myself out for years doing this, and now I want to just enjoy it and make songs I’d want to listen to. But serious answer, I’d love to produce for some of Pop Music’s royalty, *Rihanna plz return my emails babez*

Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
Album – Avicii True Stories – every song is a beast and its not some old timey album that everyone always chooses. (cough cough Dark Side of the Moon)
Artist – LANY (dope band from LA, insane vibes, insane voice)
Movie – The Hangover (I disloged a lung from laughing on first watch)
Place – Either Venice Beach in California, or a place up near the town of Woodridge, 1 hour outside of Perth, super remote, nothing but vibes and a campfire.
Drink – Well I’m a Pepsi Max fiend, (it’s the elixir of Gods), and also Tequila! (Not Together though) or…….
Meal – Japanese they really nailed how to do the whole “food” thing.
Person – Lately…..Elon Musk, what an absolute icon, he’s like a bond villain set out to do good! Elon…Please send me a Tesla.

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WASTELAND

TEAMS UP WITH

MILEO & RYAN RIBACK,

RELEASING

‘PAPER TOWNS’

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With a slew of releases under his belt, including the 2016 release ‘Tail Lights’ on Central Station Records, Wasteland has proven that he’s not just a DJ/producer, but a gifted songwriter – taking a small sidestep into the world of pop. Teaming up with Australian/Norwegian talent Mileo, Wasteland has produced a powerful and uplifting single ‘Paper Towns’.

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BUY/STREAM: WASTELAND – PAPER TOWNS FEAT. MILEO

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Releasing his favourite track to date, Wasteland explains “‘Paper Towns’ has been such a journey through it’s creation, and I’m so excited it gets to see the light of day. It’s a track about heartbreak in a big city, and wanting to return the past. Getting Mileo to sing it was like finding a diamond in a rough, he absolutely crushed the vocal and tells the story amazingly. It’s my favourite I’ve ever written, and can’t wait for the world to hear it”.

The moniker of Western Australian producer Matt Riley, Wasteland has established himself as a unique and versatile producer, releasing on various labels including Cr2 Records, Fuze Records, One Love, and Central Station Records. Refining his musical production over the years, Wasteland has re-focussed to extend his creative vision to songwriting, and further to that, self-directing the film clip for his 2016 single ‘Tail Lights’. Expertly filmed in the streets of Perth, and featuring the fabulous Scarlet Adams, the video became a viral sensation across Facebook, amassing over half a million views in just a few short weeks. Wasteland follows this up, with another sensational video for ‘Paper Towns’, featuring Scarlet Adams, and this time with three more drag queens Veronica Jean Jones, Alexas Armstrong and Katya Kokov.

Released in tandem with the original composition, is a remix from none other than acclaimed producer Ryan Riback. With over a billion streams to his name, Riback shot to fame with his take on Starley’s ‘Call On Me’, which went 4x platinum in Australia and hugely successful worldwide. With an ability to deliver amazing reworks time and time again, Riback lifts ‘Paper Towns’ into a whole new realm – building the energy and intensity with his signature clicks and piano chord progressions to create another dance floor stunner.

Wasteland’s ‘Paper Towns feat. Mileo’ along with the Ryan Riback remix is out now on Central Station Records.

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For more info on Wasteland, visit:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD

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For more info on Mileo, visit:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD

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For more info on Ryan Riback, visit:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD

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AMNPLIFY – DB