Wenzday on Dancing with Demons [Exclusive Interview]

Wenzday on Dancing with Demons

11/17/2019

Tell us more about your recent EP, "Demons Dancing." What stitches the tracks together and what message do they send?
For me, Demons Dancing is a conceptual follow up to my last EP, Heartbreak House. I wanted the perfect soundtrack to a night out with your girls. I love writing in concepts and taking my fans through a story. The entire month of October (in honor of Halloween) I dropped hints, quotes, and photos to tease the title of the EP and each song. Separately the songs can stand alone but sonically they roll right into each other as well.

What are some of the new challenges you've faced with running a label in 2019?
For me, always staying ahead of the curve is important when running a label. You are planning releases out months in advance so you have to make sure the sounds are new and relevant by the time the release date comes along. When I first started releasing music on other labels, Soundcloud was king. Nowadays, Spotify and Spotify playlisting are so important for music consumption and reaching new audiences so networking with curators and peers who have strong playlists is really important as well. We (40oz Cult) want to be a platform for new and veteran artists so we want to make sure each release gets the attention and listens it deserves.

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A post shared by WENZDAY (@wenzdaymusic) on Nov 8, 2019 at 8:21am PST

For those young artists deciding between tradition college or perhaps a music school like Icon Collective which you attended, what advice would you give to them so that they feel like they are making the right decision for themselves?
I did both! I graduated from Cal State Northridge and then did Icon as my "grad" school. Personally, I wanted a college experience and I was still figuring out what route in music I wanted to take. I think that in order to get the best experience out of a music school like Icon, it is helpful to have a vision for your project and sound before going in. While I was at CSUN, I was a working DJ and really honing in my craft so by the time I got to Icon I had a clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish. Looking back, I would say that a person should go to school when they have an idea of what they want to do in order to make the most of their time and money.

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A post shared by WENZDAY (@wenzdaymusic) on Oct 2, 2019 at 12:32pm PDT

For each genre, promoters and bookers look for different stats and qualities when booking artists. If an artist already has great music, which stats or skills should they work on improving to reach higher and higher stages within the industry?
I am a firm believer in preparedness before getting booked for shows. I see a lot of producers who get shows before they have a handle on DJ skills or what it takes to build a set and take an audience on a journey. One of my mentors once told me that a good DJ is also a good sound guy-meaning, be prepared for the worst. Know how to troubleshoot and be prepared for the worst so in a situation you can handle yourself in a calm and collected manner and don't go in expecting someone else to handle your problems for you.

I also think that the music is MOST important and speaks for itself. Bookings come from people knowing and connecting to your music so don't expect bookings right out the gate. Be patient, build an audience, self promote and lay down the foundation so both you and the promoter are happy at the end of the night.

How was your experience at Lost Lands?
Lost Lands is one of my favorite festivals to play and attend. I have been fortunate enough to play 2x in a row and to date have been the most fun sets I've ever played. This is because the audience is so well versed in the music and culture that they are there for a great time and so accepting of new artists! I always stay for the weekend because it's such an organized and enjoyable experience for me as an artist and fan. I think that because Excision is a performer he is really dialed in on what his artists and fans want which is why it has been so successful.

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A post shared by WENZDAY (@wenzdaymusic) on Oct 1, 2019 at 11:53am PDT

What can you tease for us about the future of Wenzday and 40oz Cult?
I have a bunch of new songs dropping early 2020 and collaborations with some amazing artists like KANDY, Birthdayy Partyy, and Dread MC. I think that I really dialed in my sound and direction for my music this past year and I can't wait to expand on it. For 40oz Cult, we have some insane talent from a variety of genres releasing music through the end of the year and we are currently preparing new merch designs for our Black Friday drop and next year.

Thanks so much to Wenzday for taking the time to answer our interview questions! Follow her using the links below!