Whethan talks tour life, waffles and Good Nights
Touring across North America with close friends and having full control each set is not a feat that many people can say they’ve accomplished, let alone by the age of 18. Proudly hailing from Chicago, Ethan Snoreck started off like many other aspiring producers, putting together beats and remixing songs, then uploading them to his SoundCloud account. Fast forward two years later and known better by his stage-name, Whethan, the Chi-town native has tackled his dreams and turned them into his reality.
Snoreck’s break into the scene was aided by his Skrillex, who invited out to open for his idol during the record OWSLA pool party in 2017, and quickly garnered attention to his name. With the support from one of the largest names in the dubstep scene and an already quirky quirky to wheat crackers, it’s no surprise his name was instantly recognizable, and talent indisputably apparent.
The blooming talent is currently in the midst of his headlining “Good Nights” tour, where he has already performed in cities across the East Coast while being supported by friends like SAINT WKND, and Ashe. With the recent releases of some brand new music, and the announcement of his NYE set at Dillon Francis‘ Ultra VIP NYE Experience, we caught up with Whethan to talk about how he’s adjusting to tour life, and his immense success over the last year.
Throughout 2017, you’ve gained a ton of success with your music, and a fanbase that extends around the world. Is there a specific moment from this year that rings true to your success?
Red Rocks was the one that really did it for me. The fact that I got to play on the same stage as some of the most iconic musicians of all time was absolutely surreal! It was also one of my favorite sets I’ve ever put together so while Lollapalooza and Coachella were ridiculous, Red Rocks was definitely my favorite show so far.
Five singles and a handful of remixes later, you’ve put out a lot of new music this year. Is there any thought of an EP or album in the near future? Even if not, can we expect any upcoming collaborations after the tour has concluded?
Yes, I’m currently working on my album. It’s my main goal right now and once I get off the road, I’m going to lock myself in my house, get a case of peach tea, 100 boxes of waffles, and finally finish this thing. I’ve been working on it for a while now, and it’s grown into something a lot bigger than I thought it would. There are a ton of features from artists all across the spectrum so I think everyone will have a song to connect with.
You’ve travelled around with future-bass duo Louis The Child a little bit this year, tell us about your friendship with Robby & Freddy, and the success you’ve all seen since growing past Chicago’s music scene.
What can I say? They’re family. We came from different places in Chicago, suburb wise, and now we literally live 5 minutes away from each other. It’s a weird and wild ride that we’re all on and I’m just happy to have them in my boat. We’re always collabing and hanging out, bouncing ideas off one another, and honestly just having fun. Having true friends that you can count on is important , and I’d put those guys at the top of my list for sure.
You’ve managed to accomplish a ton of things that many 18 year olds haven’t – do you ever feel like you’ve missed out on doing “teenage” things?
That’s a tricky one for me. It’s a little bit of both honestly. On one hand, I don’t think I missed out on too much because I graduated from high school in the normal 4 year time period and had a ton of fun the whole time. But on the other hand, yes because I’m not going to college like the rest of the people my age. That being said, being out on the road so much I sometimes feel like this is my own personal version of college. Travelling can teach you a lot about yourself and the people around you and I’m forever grateful to the experiences I’ve had so far. I wouldn’t want to live my life any other way so to worry about what I’ve “missed out” on is just something that doesn’t cross my mind.
With the Good Nights’ tour going around every major city this fall, you’re on the go for the rest of the year. Besides your hometown, is there a particular city that holds a place in your heart?
Well first and foremost, every city we go to has a special place in my heart. How could they not? My fans are amazing and they show SO much love! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people come up to me at the end of a show and give me something they made just for me. Pins, posters, shirts…you name it. I actually just met a fan who had my logo tattooed on him, which was wild! But if I had to pick one place besides Chicago, I would have to say Los Angeles. LA is my new hometown and I don’t have any plans to live anywhere else. It was the first show of the tour and I couldn’t have been any more nervous, but as soon as the lights went down and the curtain came up I was locked in. It was one hell of a way to start this awesome journey across the country.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve found living on a tour bus, and how have you coped with said challenge?
I mean there’s a lot of challenges that you could run into on tour bus but I’ve got some great friends out here on the road that make all those challenges go away. It really comes down to the people you surround yourself with. I have my good days and my bad days but my tour fam is always there to remind me that we’re the luckiest people in the world.
You’ve also just announced your plans for New Year’s Eve, playing at Dillon Francis’ Ultra VIP NYE Experience in Los Angeles – what should fans expect from that show that’s different from your sets on tour?
I play new music at every show but I might break out some ultra-rare VIP sounds for that one.
In a past interview with Billboard, you mentioned that you ended up working with one of your idols, Skrillex, in the studio. Will that collab every officially come to light?
Trust me, I’ve heard that question a million times. I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see what happens. We’re both super busy and are constantly doing a million things at once so I think it’s just a matter of time.
Buy tickets to Whethan’s tour here
Dates:
10.24 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10.25 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10.26 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Read more:
The Radar 100: Mixed by Whethan
Whethan unveils brief Bearson collaboration “Tour Beats One”
Whethan releases short but sweet track “Na Boca do Sol”
Categories: Music