Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Wotts
THE RELEASE
Wotts is a dynamic indie pop duo from Ottawa, Canada, comprised of Jayem, a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and Ricky 100, a strong bassist and guitarist. Their engaging music has graced major stages such as RBC Bluesfest, Canadian Music Week, and Junofest, garnering them praise from CBC Radio in Canada, The Luna Collective in the US, Iggy Magazine in France, and Mystic Sons in the UK. Wotts, known for their ability to seamlessly blend current and vintage elements into a distinct sound, took inspiration from the 1980s early on, as seen by their EP "garden" but this release is a bit different.
Wotts returns with a bang, releasing their new track "be kind”. This release represents the duo's nostalgic return, evoking the 1990s and drawing inspiration from famous artists such as Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, and George Clanton. Jayem, the band's multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, describes this as their closest contact with a "wall of guitars" sound. Jayem produced the song, which serves as a sincere farewell to individuals who never got the opportunity for closure, stressing the unpredictability of life's partings. The "be kind" creative process was heavily influenced by 90s films and programs, conjuring a cinematic soundtrack quality. Their unwavering dedication to musical intuition ensures that Wotts continues to be an act worth watching.
THE INTERVIEW
If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?
Great question! For this project I’d say our Mount Rushmore would be Kevin Parker, Damon Albarn, Anthony Gonzalez (M83) and Paul McCartney. There’s a million reasons why we’d choose these four, but I think what’s common between all of them is their ability to make unique but still accessible pop music.
Were there any specific experiences or events in your life that influenced the song's lyrics?
Lately I’ve been thinking of important people that have come and gone from my life. Sometimes those relationships ended badly, other times life just took us in different directions. It took years for me to realize that even though we aren’t in each others lives anymore, these people had a huge impact on who I am today. Ultimately the track is my way of thanking them for being part of my life.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?
We wrote and produced the entire track on our own, but towards the end we got linked up with a member of a Grammy award winning indie band to get some advice on the mix. Definitely a trip for us considering we started making music on a karaoke app.
What was the biggest takeaway or lesson you learned while creating this song?
I’d say the biggest lesson we learned is to not go crazy trying to make things sound ‘perfect’. We usually get our ideas out quickly but for whatever reason we kept second guessing ourselves on this song. There’s a famous saying, “art is never finished, only abandoned”. At one point we just had to say “enough is enough” and send it out into the world.
How has your recent growth as an artist influenced the direction of your future work?
When we came out the gate I think we were obsessed with sounding different. But these last few months we decided to focus on the basics and develop a good process. We still have ways to go but I think we have a much stronger foundation and we’re in a better position to take bigger creative swings.
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