Jonas Wang is a full-time music producer and musical student based in North London. His latest project ‘Imaginary Farm’ is characterized by a Chillhop/Nature/Animal Crossing vibe. While studying music, he developed a fondness for Chillhop, which was helpful in focusing on his coursework.
The first track, “Raccoon Walk”, was inspired by jazz practice, with the chord progression and structure influenced by jazz standards. The trumpet improvisation was provided by a friend named Ope Brass, with the aim of creating a “nostalgic yet broad” sound. The melody of the second track is sampled from a traditional Chinese Hulusi solo tune called “Peacock Girl”. Jonas was drawn to the sound of the Hulusi from the original tune, which he believed accurately captured the instrument’s soundscape. They used this melody as the basis for the track “Imaginary Farm”. The track “Casual” was created around a main guitar progression, with the him aiming for a neo-soul vibe. He was able to quickly arrange the track once they were satisfied with the guitar sound.
The final track, “Otter Fam”, was arranged with Wang’s favorite animal, the otter, in mind. The field recording of otters at the beginning of the track was made during a visit to a wildlife park in Southampton. The track’s melodies and stone percussions aim to evoke the playful image of an otter family in the listener’s mind. Check out the EP and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
JONAS WANG: I’ve been making music for 5 years now. I first started when I attended a summer school at a local music college and got hooked by how magical the music production process is. Couldn’t drag myself out of the music world after that.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
JONAS WANG: I finished my Music-Tech undergrad degree at Birmingham Conservatoire.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘JONAS WANG’?
JONAS WANG: Jonas Wang is simply my name is real life. My strongest musical influences are Prince, Tennyson, and Middle School.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
JONAS WANG: The authenticity yet delicate quality of my sound, since I am trying to keep my sound as relatable as possible and trying to make it as professional sounding as possible at the same time.
5. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
JONAS WANG: I am not at the stage, nor have the power or authority yet to evoke anybody. But will do that in the future. Just got a lot more to prove now.
6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
JONAS WANG: My music gives me the biggest fulfillment when I’m making it. But I definitely do care whether it’s giving the audience a good time or not.
7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
JONAS WANG: With instrumental music, I usually start with a chord progression or a drum groove, and with lyrical music I usually start with the concept and the initial hook of the lyrics.
8. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
JONAS WANG: To realize you might not be able to “make it” at a very young age, like some prodigy did, and the right way is to be down-to-earth.
9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
JONAS WANG: I am not very familiar with the current social media scene, to be honest, since I am completely focusing on my music right now. But in UK for example, I think it is definitely helping aspiring artist to promote their sound and find connections, but at the same time it creates some peer pressure and impetuousness.
10. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
JONAS WANG: A live audience excites me the most, since we got real human interactions there, and It’s important to see how your music impacted other people in real time. I think live performance is the most importance element of music. Yet I do enjoy working in the studio, since that’s where my creative self can flow.
11. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
JONAS WANG: I believe all art forms are initially there for people to understand them in their own way. But at the same time, I do think there are general criteria that should apply. Different criteria applies in different social occasions, but there still are criteria.
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