Meet The Artist: Interview with WaTa

WaTa Music — *Photography by @kristofgeneral*

Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, WaTa, also known as Tamas Varga, started his musical journey at the young age of 6. He successfully got through 12 years of studying classical music before eventually switching it up and becoming more interested in writing music for the present rather than performing music of the past. His first attempts as a beatmaker within the Hungarian underground hip-hop community gained him attention and appreciation within the scene. The step-up from hip-hop to a wider range of genres and a more electronic style is a result of a 6 year-long quest in London, where he was introduced to a wide range of UK-based electronic music.

Since returning to Budapest, WaTa has managed to combine influences of the UK-based electronic sound with his own signature noisy, experimental approach. He is constantly experimenting with his sound and collaborating with artists from the mainstream and the deepest depths of the underground. His latest project ‘On My Way EP’ has gained support from Indie Shuffle, Magnetic, Stereofox, Tonspion, Riptide, Acid Stag, and is an amalgamation of sultry synths, bouncy drums, grooving rhythms and trickling melodies. We had the amazing opportunity to catch up with WaTa to chat about his general love for music, his latest project ‘On My Way EP’ and his biggest musical inspirations! Here’s what came of our insightful chat:

Introduce Yourself?

WaTa: “Hey, I am WaTa, a music producer/artist from Budapest/Hungary.”

Was music a big part of your early life growing up?

WaTa: “Yes, most of my family is somehow related to music so I was surrounded by music from a very early age. Apart from listening to the music my parents listened to, I also started to study music at the age of 5.”

How important is music to you?

WaTa: “At the moment I am in music full time, it’s my job and my hobby at the same time. So I’m happy to say it’s one of the most important things in my life.”

How and when did you get into producing music?

WaTa: “I started my journey in classical music and while I was attending the conservatoire I realised how much more I like writing music for the preset rather than performing music of the past. This was around the age of 16-17.”

What’s your favourite track from the EP and why?

WaTa: “Well, it’s usually the latest one… With all seriousness, my favourite is probably Rain. I love the collaborations but it’s teamwork and I just feel that Rain is a 100% me with all its weirdness and chaos. Also, it’s one of the rare times when I used my own vocals which also turned out to be better than I expected.”

What’s the biggest inspiration behind your new EP?

WaTa: “I’m going through a lot of changes at the moment and I started to see the direction I am heading to. I feel like I’m on my way and there’s a lot more to come.”

Describe your typical music-making process?

WaTa: “Well, when I’m writing for others or to a brief it’s very straightforward, I’m following the guidelines. With my music as an artist, it’s a lot more difficult as I need a really strong element that sparks my inspiration. It could be anything from a new instrument, an interesting preset or sample but nothing happens until I find that one element. it just feels forced.”

How do you find inspiration when you lack motivation?

WaTa: “I find that getting away from the studio and just listening to inspiring music is the best way to overcome the barrier. When I’m filled with fresh ideas and inspiring sounds I can’t wait to get back into the studio and come up with something similar.”

Do you think you will venture into new music genres in the future?

WaTa: “I’m almost certain I will as I was never good at staying in one genre for too long. I’m starting to like this approach as it opens up a lot of opportunities but in the beginning, it was a lot harder to market something that’s constantly changing. Also now I am brave enough to blend anything and everything. It comes with age I guess.”

Top 5 electronic/house producers of all time?

WaTa: “Machinedrum, Flying Lotus, Bonobo, Flume, Noisia.”

Describe your music in 3 words?

WaTa: “Organic, Warm & Dark.”

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into music production?

WaTa: “Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t follow too many rules! It might take longer to get there but it’s a much more solid ground for anything you might want to get into later.”

What’s next for you as an artist?

WaTa: “I feel like I have been experimenting enough with genres and elements in the past. So the next phase is probably finding my unique sound and character. Less is more! Also, I’m working on a way to be able to perform live.”

Where can people find you?

WaTa: “I’m active mostly on Instagram @watavagyoxia but my music is available on all the digital platforms so follow me!”

Be sure to follow ‘WaTa’ on his social pages (linked below):

Instagram | Spotify | Bandcamp | Soundcloud

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